History
Covenant began in 1952 with eleven members meeting in a store building downtown. Several moves and much construction later, the church held Easter services in 1982 in a new sanctuary on Rio Road. In March 1996, Covenant moved their worship services into a new 500-seat auditorium built adjacent to the older structure. The new facility also includes a full-size Gymnasium and recreation area.
Over the years, ministries have steadily expanded, focusing both at home and abroad. The burden for people enlarged to include other churches, retired ministers, American Indians, and pioneering new churches.
In 2002 Covenant Church celebrated 50 years of worldwide ministry, as well as 20 years of Pastor & Laila Bare's leadership of the local body. We are grateful for the mighty blessings of God upon this congregation.
Today, Covenant Church averages about 800 in Sunday morning attendance. We are trans-cultural, crossing ethnic, racial, social and economic barriers. Our missions heart leads us to assist and encourage brothers and sisters around the globe.
A more extensive history is available here.
Beliefs
Covenant Church is a bible believing, evangelical church, Protestant & Wesleyan in doctrine, Holiness in conviction and life-style, Pentecostal/Charismatic in worship, Spirit-filled in operation, Evangelistic in mission, Christ-centered in intention, International/cross-cultural in constituency, and Loving in practice.
Our complete belief statement can be found here.
Strategic Plan
Our Mission
Our mission is to proclaim God's word, to share His love with our community and the world, and to strengthen God's people through discipleship.
Our Vision
Our vision for the future is to be a growing, magnetic, encouraging, multi-ministry church.
Core Values
We are a Covenant Community bonded together by the Holy Spirit, united in Christ to serve His Church and each other, and to preach, teach, and make disciples.
Our comprehensive strategic plan manual can be found here.
Aspirations
Covenant's long-term ministry-focused aspirations are:
- To fulfill the great commission (Matt. 28:19-20, Mark 16:15-18);
- To grow our church body (Acts 2:42,46-47);
- To educate and train all members of our church body to do God's Kingdom work (Eph. 4:12,13);
- To plant and grow new churches (Acts 16:5);
- To broaden and strengthen our community outreach (Matt. 25:34-40);
- To strengthen and expand our world missions commitment (Acts 1:8);
- To strengthen our focus on corporate prayer, intercession, worship and praise (1 Tim. 2:1-4, Psalm 150); and,
- To provide fellowship opportunities for the entire church body (Heb. 10:25).
Affiliation
Covenant Church is affiliated with the Church of God, an Evangelical-Pentecostal church represented in most countries around the world, with international offices in Cleveland, Tennessee. The Church of God is an active member of the National Association of Evangelicals and the Pentecostal & Charismatic Churches of North America.
