Covenant Church

Laila and I love to go riding in the country. On one trip our attention was arrested by an unusual sight. A building larger than an ordinary home was partly covered even to the roof with vines. The front doors and some windows were blocked by the growth of wild vines.

The building had once served as home for a congregation. It was the leftovers of a structure called a “church.” We stopped. I took out my camera.

A photo of that church remains in a Bible on my desk. It is a reminder to me that local congregations can die. Churches filled with people have no certain promise of another generation if those who enter to worship do not keep the “fires burning”, i.e., maintain enthusiasm, devotion, loyalty, generosity, and instruction for the next generation.

Thirty years ago I came to Charlottesville as a student. Twenty-nine years ago I became pastor of Covenant Church. It has been most interesting to witness the journey of churches in our community.

Only a few churches have experienced remarkable growth. Covenant is one of the few. We have never gained from a group of folks coming from another church. Our growth has been gradual, steady. We have not used gimmicks. We have not followed fads and fashions. Our sincere effort has been to fulfill the Great Commission (Matthew 28:19,20). To this end we have set our hearts to be a holiness church, sound in doctrine, Spirit-driven (Acts 2:4ff), missional, and consistent.

I remember more than once ministers coming to town to start a new church. Covenant was on their radar. They visited. I have listened more than once to ministers say “God has sent me to plant a church. Our goal is a 1,000 people in five years.” None of these efforts have succeeded in that goal. Some of the intended churches did not materialize. One new church reached 150 people and closed in one Sunday because of lack of finances.

Charlottesville is a tough community for churches. Property is expensive. Building is expensive. The culture is liberal. Sound biblical teaching and a disciplined life in Christ are not welcomed by those who believe there are many paths of faith to heaven. Esoteric doctrines that cater to prosperous lifestyles are popular, i.e., folks are offered religion that caters to earthly desires. Finally, there are churches in our community that openly advocate lifestyles and values that are contrary to the biblical truths, e.g., sexual lifestyles, abortion, tolerance of idolatrous worship, etc.

My judgment is that a new church plant in our community needs about $500,000 to own a beginning piece of property. Without property a congregation is subject to the vicissitudes of a landlord. Growth means a larger building, remodeling, relocation. More than one church has spent hundreds of thousands of dollars remodeling rented facilities and had to move out when the lease was up.

I have lost count of the number of new church plants in the last couple of years. New churches are meeting in schools, motels, homes, office buildings, etc. It is certain that time will see the failure of many of these efforts.

What does this mean for Covenant? We have wonderful property. We have one of the best locations of any church in our community. Our facilities are excellent. We have remained biblically sound. We have maintained focus. We have an excellent discipleship program. We are volunteer-driven and missional.

We are not in a whimsical moment being driven by emotions or personal feelings. We are a people dedicated, sanctified, generous, and determined that grass will never grow over our doors. Moss will not cover the north side of our buildings. In another generation, if Jesus tarries, Covenant Church will remain a place for the weary to find refuge in Jesus, the lonely to find fellowship, the captive to be set free, and the saints to rejoice for victories by faith.

I look at the photo on my desk and say to myself: “By God’s grace and the power of the Holy Spirit the doors of Covenant Church will be open and ministry will be powerful until Jesus comes!”

Welcome to a blessed church building with a blessed people. Welcome to Covenant. See you Sunday.

Pastor Bare