The Covenant Companion
News
Miracles Abound at the Healing Cove
Dawn Choate serves a group of Covenanters finding new beginnings in Paducah, Kentucky. She leads by example, navigating a new home of hope and healing, helping people find triumph in the face of tragedy.
Covenant Doings
Short stories, activities, and events from various points around the Covenant.
Youth Gather at Unite 2024
Finding rest, belonging, and purpose in Jesus through worship and meaningful connections.
Honoring Nine Personnel for Service to the Global Church
When the Covenant was founded in 1885, we were known as “Mission Friends,” with mission outreach as one of our core identities. This year nine
Dr. Jeffry Caballero Named New President of CHET
The Board of Directors and Presidential Nominating Committee of Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos announced that Dr. Jeffry H. Caballero will become the fifth president of CHET.
Gather 2024: Covenanters Move Faithfully Forward
Delegates and leaders of the Evangelical Covenant Church met for their 138th Annual Meeting, June 27-29, themed “Faithfully Forward.”
Featured story
A New Harvest of Hope: Sitting Down with Ieisha Hawley
Features
Celebrating Latina Voices
Covenant leaders reflect on Latina identity, emotions during Hispanic Heritage Month, and ways to engage.
A New Harvest of Hope: Sitting Down with Ieisha Hawley
Recently the Companion had a virtual sit-down with Ieisha Hawley, new director of evangelism for the Covenant, to talk about evangelism in the Covenant, the upcoming conference, Harvest of Hope, and the BLESS initiative, an acronym that encourages people to “begin with prayer, listen with care, eat together, serve in love, and share your story.”
Walking to Church
An immigrant family’s journey of loss, faith, and belonging highlights the life-changing power of church community.
Grateful for the Journey: From Dreamer to Advocate
Discover how Miluska Silencio’s journey from Dreamer to advocate fuels her ministry and community work.
Would They Miss You If You Were Gone?
If your church closed tomorrow, would your community miss you? Rob Hall discusses the importance of becoming a “third place” in your community.
What Do You Call Your Pastor?
Pastoral titles and what they can reveal about cultural hospitality.
Featured story
What Do You Call Your Pastor?
Commentary
Do What You Can
Preach the gospel by doing what you can and trust God to make it sufficient and maybe even extraordinary.
Olympic Controversy: Exploring Art, Faith, and Reaction
The 2024 Olympics sparked controversy with a scene resembling Da Vinci’s Last Supper. Cheryl Lynn Cain and Jelani Greenidge discuss its impact on faith and culture.
Is It the Church’s Job to Teach History?
Considering how the past shapes the structures of our society can be an act of spiritual formation.
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.
Arts & Culture
“Sing Sing” Sings Redemption’s Song
Jelani Greenidge offers a compelling review of Sing Sing, a powerful film about incarcerated men finding redemption, echoing Christian themes of restoration and beloved community.
Rooted in Mutuality
In his book, Humility Illuminated, Rev. Dr. Dennis Edwards redefines humility as submission to God, fostering mutual empowerment and communal healing.
Engaging the Seat Fillers
Find practical strategies to engage churchgoers and improve volunteer recruitment in Angela Yee’s newest book.
Meme Your Faith
Christian memes have reshaped faith communication, mixing humor and theology, but risk misinterpretation and oversimplification.
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.
Announcements
Brian Nanninga to Serve as Senior Director of Church Development and Evangelism
Brian Nanninga, the associate superintendent of the Alaska Conference, has been appointed the new senior director of church development and evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Glenn Peterson to Serve as Senior Director of Church Planting
Glenn Peterson, president and superintendent of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada, is transitioning to the role of senior director of church planting for the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Covenant World Relief and Development Appoints New Director
Nils Clauson has been promoted to the position of director of Covenant World Relief and Development (CWRD).
Devyn Chambers Johnson to Join Serve Clergy
Devyn Chambers Johnson will join Serve Clergy as the new director of compelling preaching.
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.
Weekly Devotions
Home Altar
In Memoriam
Shirley Dahlgren
Shirley Dahlgren, spouse of the late Covenant minister James Dahlgren, passed away on August 30, 2024, in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She was 97.
Arleen “Joy” Robertson
Arleen “Joy” Robertson, wife of Covenant pastor Joseph Robertson, passed away on July 8, 2024, in Turlock, California. She was 67.
Nancy Sassaman
Nancy Sassaman, wife of Covenant pastor Marcus Sassaman, passed away on October 10, 2023, in Elkhorn, Nebraska. She was 85 years old.
James Stone
Retired Covenant minister James Stone passed away on February 24, 2023, in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. He was 84 years old.
Ted Law
Covenant pastor Ted Law passed away from a rapid onset of cancer on September 12, 2024, in Houston, Texas. He was 53.
Harold R. Simmons
Retired Covenant pastor Harold R. Simmons passed away on June 21, 2024, in Foley, Alabama. He was 81.
Patricia Hallsten
Patricia L. Hallsten, spouse of the late Rev. Edwin Hallsten, passed away on May 24, 2024 in Naples, Florida. She was 91.
Ann Maleski
Retired Covenant minister Ann Maleski passed on July 10, 2024, in Chicago, Illinois. She was 77 years old.
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.
