You Are Invited To A Celebration
We will celebrate 57 years of powerful, focused, biblical, missionary ministry.
We will celebrate an excellent children's and youth ministry.
We will celebrate a terrific music program.
We will celebrate partnership with other churches and organizations in our community.
We will celebrate a discipleship program that is strong in building leaders.
We will celebrate our heart for the poor, the downtrodden, the outcast, and the lonely (Luke 4:18).
We will celebrate that we remain strong, vibrant, visionary, and willing to be frontline leaders in these prophetic times.
It all began in 1952 when the pastor of Nortonsville Church of God and a small group of people began Covenant Church. From a rented storeroom the growing congregation moved to a first-phase building on Altavista Avenue. Eight thousand dollars was borrowed from a local bank. In time an educational wing and a parsonage were constructed.
In the late 1970's the congregation purchased about 2 acres on Rio Road. Dr. Landreth, the founding pastor, led the congregation in building an educational and apartment complex on the new property. Worship moved to the new building in 1980.
Dr. Landreth helped to make possible the Bare family succeeding him as pastor. We arrived September 1981. He was retained for 10 more months to help with construction.
In 1982 a secretary was hired. In 1983 a part-time music minister joined the team. Next a minister was added to help with education, drama, and outreach. In the late 1980's an Early Service was added. The first Sunday attendance was 60, and attendance for Early Service has grown steadily through the years.
An Elders' and Deacons' Ministry was established. Staff continued to grow.
An addition of offices, lobby, and children's church was added. In 1994 construction began on the current worship building. The congregation moved into the new facility in February of 1996.
Since 1996 additional land has been added, a maintenance building and pavilion constructed, ballfield completed, downstairs of the OT building remodeled, and the apartment has been converted to offices. In addition, the pump sewer system has been replaced by connection to county facilities, with significant savings and less maintenance.
A foundation was established for inner-city work. Land has been purchased in Juba, Sudan to plant a church. A church planted in the Philippines has grown into a body of churches with significant outreaches.
The congregation at the main campus has grown to two morning services with simultaneous translation into several languages. Additional services are in native languages.
Covenant Church has developed a Strategic Plan that includes vision, goals, Action Values, and Ministry Action Teams to accomplish the mission. Developing leaders incorporates the fundamental concept of being a volunteer-driven Body , not "paid". Paid staff are facilitators for training and engaging volunteers.
Our heart is to serve. We seek to be obedient to Christ to serve the local Body, and at the same time serve our community, and at the same time serve our country, and at the same time serve those who are unto the uttermost. We ambition, desire, pray, and earnestly work to be a 21st Century Body of believers practicing the Great Commission.
We will celebrate Fifty-Seven Years of fellowship, worship, and service this Sunday. We will have charter members present with us.
In all we do we will exalt Jesus Christ. He is the reason for Covenant Church.
After two morning services we will have dinner in the gymnasium immediately following the Second Service. Laila and I and our family, the Pastoral Staff and Elders and Deacons look forward to sharing this time with you.
Much love,
Pastor Bare Ephesians 5:27