Stories & News
The Covenant Companion
Official Magazine of the Evangelical Covenant Church
News
Alaskan Covenanters Rebuilding from Massive Storm
Covenant communities of faith are beginning the process of rebuilding after a massive storm caused flooding and left widespread debris across the cities, towns, and villages of western Alaska.
Excel Church Rallying to Serve, Rebuild After Fire
An August fire at Excel Church in Conyers, Georgia, is teaching the Covenant congregation new lessons on worship and outreach.
Covenant Church Serves Up Pies and Prayers for RAGBRAI Cyclists
Pomeroy (Iowa) Covenant Church turned their front yard into a rest stop for thousands of cyclists along the cross-state RAGBRAI route.
Telling the Truth: How Frederick Buechner Changed My Life
Once upon a time, Fredrick Buechner upended everything I believed.
Tiny House Assembled in Summer Worship Service
Lakebay (Washington) Church addresses the needs of unhoused populations in their area by helping to build a micro-dwelling during their Sunday morning service.
Covenanters Collaborate with Neighbors to Reduce Gun Violence
According to their preliminary estimates, shootings in the neighborhood have dropped by 60 percent.
Featured story
The Table of Redemption
Raising a biracial family, Peter and Tracy Hilts have learned that none of us reflects our Creator nearly as well as all of us.
Features
Small Churches, Big Impact
Cesar Buitrago, pastor of Amigos de Jesús Covenant Church in Patterson, California, thought he knew what his new church plant would look like. But three years later, it looks nothing like he imagined it.
Lessons from My Bisabuela
In honor of Latino Heritage Month, Evelyn Perez shares her thoughts on her heritage and faith.
The Table of Redemption
Raising a biracial family, Peter and Tracy Hilts have learned that none of us reflects our Creator nearly as well as all of us.
Child Care
Covenant Ministries of Benevolence celebrates the 100th anniversary of ministry to children.
Changing How We Care for Children Around the World
The Santiago Partnership in Cayambe, Ecuador, provides a safe place for vulnerable children.
Listening with Our Heart
TJ Smith, president of the Indigenous Ministers Association, talks with the Companion about The First Nations Version translation of the New Testament.
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Featured story
Lessons from My Bisabuela
In honor of Latino Heritage Month, Evelyn Perez shares her thoughts on her heritage and faith.
Commentary
Learning to See Jesus
Learning from Jesus’s parable of the sheep and the goats to see people at the margins.
Interrupting Your Regularly Scheduled Program
Moving away from the familiar sometimes moves you closer to what God has for you.
Where’s the Antidote to Deconstruction? It’s “Everywhere”
‘Everything, Everywhere, All at Once’ is a metaphorical pathway for people experiencing spiritual deconstruction to find their way back to a deeper version of the faith.
Arts & Culture
When the Wind Is with You
Listening closely to CeCe Winan’s, “The Wind” provides needed inspiration to persevere.
Sound Bites
Throughout the denomination, Covenanters are creating original music to express devotion to God. We collected a few samples.
When Choices Remain, Who Ya Gonna Call?
A prequel to Breaking Bad, Better Call Saul depicts the journey of an amoral criminal attorney for a Mexican drug cartel. The New Testament tells us about another Saul whose life was turned upside down—this time, for the better.
Home Altar
A devotional guide written by Covenanters, the Covenant Home Altar invites us to take time in our day for God’s word, quiet meditation, and prayer. To receive printed copies of the Covenant Home Altar you may subscribe below. One subscription is for one year, which includes four quarterly issues.
Announcements
The Evangelical Covenant Church President Responds to Supreme Court Ruling
On June 24, 2022, the Supreme Court announced its decision to overturn the 1976 Roe v. Wade decision. As we recognize the impact of this decision for this country, let us continue to embody God’s love and grace in the midst of our broken world.
Dr. Debra Mitchell Named Interim Executive Director of Operations
After a diligent and prayerful discernment process, Debra Mitchell has been named the Interim Executive Director of Operations for the Evangelical Covenant Church, effective July 1, 2022.
President John Wenrich Responds to Recent Tragedies
The recent events in Buffalo and Uvalde have prompted me to ask our Covenant family to mourn and lament with families who are grieving. As Covenanters, we respond with the love of Christ through prayer and constructive engagement.
Herb Frost Nominated as Executive Minister of Ordered Ministry and Develop Leaders
The Covenant Executive Board of the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Ordered Ministry and Develop Leaders Nominating Committee has selected Rev. Herb Frost as its nominee for the role of executive minister of Ordered Ministry and Develop Leaders.
Chief Operating Officer Shares Decision to Transition from Role
After much prayer and discernment, Rebecca Gonzalez has announced that she will transition from her role as executive director of Operations for the Evangelical Covenant Church.
Grace Shim Nominated as Executive Minister of Serve Globally
Grace Shim has been nominated for the role of executive minister of Serve Globally. Shim will stand for election at the denomination’s 136th Annual Meeting in June.
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 call to continue becoming the beloved community.
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.
In Memoriam
Dick Petersen
Retired Covenant pastor Richard “Dick” Petersen died August 16, 2022. He was 94.
Christie Joann Peterson
Christie Joann Peterson, widow of Covenant minister Alton Peterson, died July 23 in Spring Valley, California. She was 91.
Daniel R. Seagren
Daniel Robert Seagren, retired pastor and chaplain, died August 27 in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He was 94.
Helen Berquist
Helen F. Berquist, retired Covenant global personnel, died in Golden Valley, Minnesota, on August 13, 2022. She was 92.
