The Covenant Companion
News
Top Honors for Companion
The Covenant Companion was recognized as the best denominational magazine for content published in 2023 by the Evangelical Press Association (EPA) along with additional first place awards from the Associated Church Press (ACP).
Scott Peterson Honored with T.W. Anderson Award for Outstanding Lay Ministry
On Friday, June 28, 2024, Scott A. Peterson of First Covenant Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, was awarded the Theodore W. Anderson Award for outstanding lay ministry during the 138th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Evelyn Johnson Honored for Outstanding Urban Ministry
On June 27, 2024, during the 138th Annual Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Covington, Kentucky, Evelyn Johnson was honored with the Irving C. Lambert Award for outstanding commitment to urban ministry.
The Covenant Celebrates Juneteenth
We celebrate the emancipation of a people and the power of our liberating God; see how this holiday is being observed around the Covenant.
Covenant Doings
Explore a roundup of stories across the denomination—from legal aid for immigrants to a brush with Star Wars fame.
Portage Lake Is Making It Through the Storm
Last weekend, Portage Lake Bible Camp in Onekama, Michigan, experienced a severe hailstorm that damaged all 54 camp structures. Yet, amidst the destruction, the community found strength in one another, witnessing God’s grace through collective support and resilience.
Featured story
The Road to Unite
Features
God Moves Mountains
How rural churches in Alaska found a surprising solution to an ongoing need.
The Intangible Work of Shalom
Discover how Covenant World Relief & Development partners with local experts to foster peace in conflict zones.
Relative Freedom
The Companion asked mixed media artist and graphic designer Nathan Nicholson to share a piece of his art to illustrate his reflections on Juneteenth.
From Setback to Comeback
After a car accident led to severe health issues, Scott reclaims his health through a dedicated journey of diet, exercise, and spiritual growth, losing over 130lbs.
The Road to Unite
As youth groups prepare to attend Unite this summer, many are finding creative ways to raise the funds needed.
Five Minutes with G. Dany Flores
G. Dany Flores is a Covenant church planter in Oak Park, Illinois. This is the
Featured story
The Intangible Work of Shalom
Commentary
The Nutritional Value of Beef: Lessons from a Hip-Hop Feud
A hip-hop feud and a Netflix drama illustrate the value of working through conflict to win a greater sense of peace.
Download That New Pentecost When It Drops
How the Holy Spirit is the firmware that gives me a “plug-and-play” kind of faith.
Changing the Culture of Abuse Starts at Home
I thought I was pretty good at advocating for the rights of women—until I wasn’t.
The Surface and the Depth
Sometimes a pastor can be rebuked, schooled, and thoroughly blessed in a single precious encounter.
The Women Were Watching
How the response of women points to the life-altering, community-redefining power of Jesus.
AI Shows Us Who We Are
Before we decry the damage artificial intelligence is causing, we might consider looking in the mirror.
Arts & Culture
Not the Same Old Song
Ordained Covenant pastor Jules Glanzer invites readers to view leadership through a new lens in his book, The Sound of Leadership: Kingdom Notes to Fine Tune Your Life and Influence.
A Life-Giving Invitation
With the beginning of AANHPI month in May, the Companion shares this review of Our Unforming: De-Westernizing Spiritual Formation.
A Holistic Approach to Healing
In her forthcoming book, Does God See Me?, Dieula Previlon says, “Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can step forth and create a more just world where all God’s created beings can flourish.” In honor of Black History Month, we share this excerpt.
Who’s Missing?
A review of Church for Everyone: Building a Multi-Inclusive Community for Emerging Generations written by Dan Kreiss and Efrem Smith.
Creating Space for Humility and Wonder
Christian life through the lens of an intergalactic role-playing game.
A Bit of Earth
The Secret Garden reminds me to keep digging in the dirt because my creativity matters to God.
Announcements
Covenant Living Appoints New President and CEO
Covenant Living Communities and Services announced that David Erickson has been appointed as the new president and CEO.
Alex Rahill Announces He Will Step Down from Start and Strengthen Churches
Rev. Alex Rahill has announced he will resign from his position as director of church planting for the Covenant, effective August 31, 2024.
Jin Lee to Join Serve Clergy
Serve Clergy and Ordered Ministry are happy to announce the addition of Jin Lee as director of pastoral support and practice.
Magallanes-Tsang to Join North Park Theological Seminary Faculty
North Park Theological Seminary is delighted to announce that this August we will welcome to our faculty Dr. Sophia Magallanes-Tsang (PhD, University of Edinburgh) as Assistant Professor of Old Testament.
Cyndi Hoffman Named VP of Finance
The Covenant Executive Board has approved the appointment of Cynthia “Cyndi” Hoffman to serve as vice president of finance and corporate treasurer of the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Ieisha Hawley Named New Director of Evangelism
We are thrilled and honored to announce the addition of Rev. Ieisha Hawley to the Make and Deepen Disciples team as the new director of evangelism.
Weekly Devotions
Home Altar
In Memoriam
Jea Tae Kim
Retired Covenant pastor Rev. Jea Tae Kim passed away on December 31, 2022. He was 87.
Thorstein Burtness
Retired Covenant pastor Thorstein Burtness passed away on September 24, 2021, in Aurora, Colorado. He was 96.
Eloise Nelson
Eloise Nelson, wife of retired Covenant minister LeRoy Nelson, died May 1, 2024.
Edward Delgado
Covenant minister Rev. Dr. Edward Delgado, president emeritus of Centro Hispano de Estudios Teologicos (CHET), passed away in Spring Valley, California, on June 10, 2024. He was 79.
Alice J. Nelson
Alice J. Nelson, wife of retired Covenant pastor J. Robert Nelson, passed away on October 12, 2020.
Leola Simmons
Leola “Mimi” Simmons, wife of retired Covenant pastor Dan Simmons, passed away on May 11, 2020.
Chun Sam Yi
Retired Covenant pastor Rev. Chun Sam Yi passed away on June 11, 2019, in Las Vegas, Nevada. He was 87.
Sally Leigh
Sally Ann Leigh, wife of retired Covenant pastor Merton Leigh, passed away on September 2, 2016, in Tulsa, Oklahoma. She was 76.
Love the Cov
Podcast
Sankofa: Join Us on the Bus
Hear from leaders and participants, as well as Sankofa veteran Nilwona Nowlin, who walks us through the journey—and shares her reflections after years of getting on the bus. For more information visit covchurch.org/sankofa
We Are a Multiethnic Mosaic
Mary Chung March outlines our history of becoming a multiethnic mosaic, growing from our roots as a Swedish immigrant church. And Steve Wong, pastor of the first Asian American church plant in the Covenant, reflects on his journey into the Covenant, how he has seen the denomination change, and our
We Seek Racial Righteousness
Covenant historian Hauna Ondrey and Dominique Gilliard join us to talk about the end of the 1960s, the Black Manifesto, the Covenant’s unique response to this call to white churches and synagogues—and where we witness similar themes in our culture today.
We Make Affirmations
In the Covenant we identify as non-creedal, meaning we do not adhere to a specific creed. But non-creedal does not mean we are without theology. The six Covenant affirmations address the question, “What does the Covenant believe?” Retired North Park Theological Seminary professor Klyne Snodgrass joins us.
