Try something new

“No-one’s around during the summer in Greenville. There’s no use in trying anything new.”

That’s a statement I’ve heard at Covenant from many people. When I first arrived four years ago, I contemplated it and observed the comings and goings of our congregation. However, ultimately, I take statements like that as personal challenges. That’s why, this summer, we decided to … try something new. Read more »

The culture of GO

My wife is a packing magician. I guess it comes from moving every two or three years when she was growing up as her family followed her Air Force dad all over the world. This summer, it has really come in handy. She has helped at least five of our Covenant students pack suitcases to go on mission trips out of country. Read more »

Moving

The first blessing of heaven is…you don’t have to pack. This spring, as we combed through our rooms and storage spaces looking for what we no longer need, we discovered that we still “need” quite a few things. The greatness of heaven became even clearer when I realized we would one day move to a place so complete, you don’t even need a carry-on and even if you did, you wouldn’t get charged $20 for it! Moving is tough on the back, and it’s tough on the heart. In the short time we were in Texas, we made friends—good friends. Since we announced our move back to North Carolina, our friends have shared their “moving” stories with us.

Evidently, Texans move a lot. And, if you move outside of Texas, it’s evidently considered an international move. Read more »

Selecting Leaders

During the last couple of weeks in worship, we’ve been looking at 1 Timothy 3 and Paul’s description of the qualifications for elders and deacons (overseers and administrative leaders) in a local church. If you’ve missed either of these messages, I suggest you listen to them via our website. I have to admit, I had no idea the effect these words from 1 Timothy would have on our congregation. I’ve noticed three things: Read more »

How’d that happen?

Our first-ever Medical Mission to the Dominican Republic

What a great first experience! A team of twenty-six just returned from launching an international medical missions ministry, serving Jesus in our partnership neighborhood of Barrio George, in La Romana, Dominican Republic. The stories of how God moved in and through this team are still unfolding. Check out the “GO” blog to read about the team’s experiences. Read more »

Overflowing with thankfulness

I can’t even imagine.

If you had asked me nine years ago if I would ever move to Greenville, I would have said, “You’re crazy!” At that point, I was living in Raleigh and thoroughly entrenched in a community I had been a part of for fifteen years. Over the next year, however, God intentionally intervened and guided me to join His work in and through Covenant. Thank you, Lord! Read more »

What a Weekend!

If you weren’t here last weekend, you missed a memorable event! I was blown away by the excitement I beheld at Covenant Church on our First Fruits Weekend.

First, there was “the number.” As you know, I did not announce the total amount of our commitments together, mostly because everyone had not had the opportunity to turn in a card. Over the last three weeks, we’ve had another 100+ families join in the task of “finishing what we had started” three and years ago when we began our expansion. When I announced the number this past weekend, the worship center was electric. Read more »

First Fruits

This weekend we’re planning to celebrate the kickoff of our Crossing Together Celebration with a Firstfruits Offering.

Firstfruits was a Jewish feast held in the early spring at the beginning of the grain harvest. It was observed on the third day after Passover and the second day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Firstfruits was a time of thanksgiving for God’s provision. Read more »

40 Days of Love

One of the great parts of our recently-completed series, Crossing Together, was that there were literally hundreds of us all reading the same passages of scripture.

Enjoying the conversations around the four weeks of devotions, sharing what the Lord was speaking to each of us was equally as amazing. It reminded me that something powerful happens in a body of believers when many people are reading and praying over the same passages of God’s word. We don’t have to stop now! In fact, this can continue for you as you connect in a small group this summer. Read more »

The Power of Togetherness

OK, I was amazed this weekend. How about you? I still have’’t gotten over the expectation and enthusiasm I experienced in all three worship services.

What an awesome sight; there were tons of rocks everywhere. People came in with bags of rocks, carrying their rocks in their hands, and one person even asked me help her with her rock as she grabbed her Bible and purse! I saw rocks on the platform, rocks on the floor beside chairs, and a few people brought their rocks up with them at the end of the service. Read more »