Catching Up
We have proclaimed the year 2008 to be a Year of Harvest for Covenant Church. It's happening! From the nursery to the Keenagers, miracles are happening and God is refreshing.
Ernie Deomampo phoned this afternoon and cheerfully reported that he and Ellie have arrived home. In March they had gone to Batangas, Philippines in Ernie's home village to prepare for a larger Covenant mission team of 14 persons led by Children's Pastor Autumn Graves. The objective: sponsor a VBS for about 200 children.
When the full team arrived a motorcade/parade throughout the community created a lot of enthusiasm. A church from 3 hours away brought their children. Teenagers also joined the event. Attendance peaked at 600! Most importantly, at least 120 children and 20 adults received Jesus as their Savior.
Preparing for the event had taken almost a year. Items were purchased/donated and had to be specially packed for shipping. Each person was responsible for one large box including supplies for VBS, items for give-away, and candy/balloons, etc.
There is other news that warms our hearts. Axel and Ruth Lanausse just returned from a very successful mission conference in Puerto Rico. God is graciously adding sponsors for missionaries through their dedicated and diligent efforts.
We gathered Sunday for worship. The mission teams shared with the congregation. It was inspiring. Covenant is privileged to experience the joy of seeing fruits born of our giving materially and of ourselves.
Teenagers had just returned from state competition in music and drama. Molina Hernandez won runner-up in photography and solo drama. The choir won First Place for Virginia. And our youth choir sang and blessed us. Two of our young men did the greeting and welcome of first-time visitors.
Pastor Bare shared that prayers had been answered with the Zoning Board of Charlottesville granting Hope Community Center the right to stay open without penalty during all legitimate appeals. Last night 51 homeless persons found shelter at Hope on a cold and very rainy night. Hope Community Center is raising funds to continue this humanitarian effort.
Just when it seemed our hearts would burst with joy and praise, 11 persons presented themselves to be baptized in water. An 11 year-old Sudanese girl shared her love for Jesus. A 75 year-old grandmother had to be assisted to the baptismal pool...where she said with a strong voice: "This is something I have to do."
Spike and his wife, Gloria, who had wandered away from their commitment to Christ for 28 years shared their joy of having found grace to be abundant, forgiveness of God to be real, and joy to be immeasurable...as they have confessed their sins and renewed their love for Jesus. Prodigals came home and found yellow ribbons of God's grace tied around every tree in God's front yard.
Adam, a 28 year-old man, shared that he had grown up without much knowledge of God, Jesus, or the Bible. He married and had lots of problems. His wife insisted that he come with her to Covenant about two months ago. He came. He surrendered his heart and life to Jesus. Water Baptism was a public testimony of newness of life and peace of heart. Oh, how his wife did beam with joy as he shared his love for Jesus!
Monday morning I met with pastoral staff. They are bright, energetic, creative and enthusiastic. I continue to be astonished by their willingness to explore effective ways to economize time, work as a team, and strategize to reach the harvest.
Mike Kneller, Director of Maintenance and Facilities exclaimed today: "Pastor, it is a Year of Harvest. We are only in April and God is moving mightily!"
This weekend will bring more exciting events! A core team of leaders from our children's ministry will attend and participate in a national conference in Greeneville, SC.
Early Saturday morning Martin Lee is leading a team of excited volunteers who are taking our 60-passenger bus loaded with refugees to Washington, DC. There they will tour the capital of the nation that has opened its arms to welcome them. They will enjoy a day of fellowship, with food and expenses provided by caring people.
Covenant men and their friends will meet at 7:30 for their monthly Breakfast With the Pastor. This is always a grand time of fellowship and growth, where men are able to interact with one another and hear the heartbeat of their pastor.
Sunday promises to be another "normal" Sunday for Covenant, with special things happening all day! Seven people have already met and received information for joining in membership. Over 90 newcomers have been invited to a reception immediately following second service. Our elders will meet at 3 PM to hear reports of what's happening and to assist in vision casting for the future.
In addition, both Spanish and Chinese will be meeting in separate parts of the buildings in the afternoon. Covenant is a happening place!
A UVA graduate student taking a course on Pentecostalism recently asked me: "Pastor, what brings revival?"
"Times of refreshing are meeting times between God and man, which times man may choose by humility, obedience, and a willingness to turn from sin and seek first the Kingdom of God," I replied.
Covenant Church is choosing this to be a "time of refreshing" and God is adding His blessing!
Much Love
Pastor Bare
Acts 3:19 "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;"