To the churches, pastors, leaders, and partners of the Canada Covenant.
Thank you.
For the year that is past and all that is to come, God, we give you thanks.
As we gather for our Annual Meeting in Strathmore, I look forward to seeing each of you, spending time in prayer, celebrating God’s faithfulness in worship, and discerning together what God is calling us to do in 2025. Please join me in prayer for our time together.
As your Interim President and Superintendent, I have the privilege of visiting churches, attending meetings and camps, and connecting with pastors. I am inspired by the sacrificial ministry that takes place each week in our conference. People are baptized, students are discipled, churches are established, camps influence young lives for Christ, and our missionaries faithfully share Christ’s love in both word and deed around the globe. I thank God for the numerous signs of mission health that are present among us.
We are not without challenges, however. Some of our pastors feel weary and require renewal. Churches are in search of senior pastors. Recruiting willing and dependable volunteers is difficult. Health issues are impacting many families. Perhaps most importantly, we find ourselves in a period of transition as a denomination. Glenn Peterson’s faithful and fruitful ministry has ended, leaving us uncertain about what lies ahead. But God is with us!
As the scriptures tell us, God is close at hand in times of change and uncertainty. Like Christ walking beside the two disheartened disciples on the road to Emmaus, He walks with us, guiding us into the next resurrection-inspired chapter of our history. Moreover, not only is Christ with us, but through the Holy Spirit, He is able and willing to fill us with hope and joy for the next chapter in our mission to start and strengthen churches, and to serve and support pastors and leaders in Canada and around the world.
In early January of this year, I shared a passage of scripture with our board and staff, encouraging them to pray it on behalf of the Canada Covenant throughout 2025. I invite all of you to join me in this prayer, trusting that God hears and answers:
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13.
Lastly, thank you for your generous and faithful financial support. Your generosity empowers our staff and board to assist churches, pastors, board members, missionaries, and leaders in their ministries. We are stronger together as we steward our resources for gospel work in Canada and around the world.
Praying for increased hope and joy,
Rob Peterson Acting President/Superintendent, The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada
May 2025
Dear Canada Covenant Delegates and Friends,
It’s my privilege and pleasure to invite you to the 121st Annual General Meeting of the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada hosted by Hope Community Covenant Church in Strathmore, AB on May 2-3, 2025. Although it was exciting last year to experiment in hosting our annual meeting and Stronger Together in six different sites across Canada, we anticipate this year’s gathering in one central location to facilitate the election of a new President/Superintendent of the Canada Covenant.
We become Stronger Together as we tell stories, celebrate kingdom work, worship and vision together. We see the kingdom flourishing as we recount the ways that we have joined God, where he is already at work, in prayer and relying on the Holy Spirit to accomplish his good purposes.
I am so grateful to the members of the leadership board for their wisdom and dedication to the ministry of the Canada Covenant. I especially want to thank Jennifer Mitchell Fetch for her service as her term is ending with this AGM. I also want to thank Glenn Peterson, our former President/Superintendent for the fine leadership he has given to our movement, and, Rob Peterson, our Acting Superintendent, for his diligence to seamlessly fill that role over these past five months. I need to give a shout out to all of our staff who often are behind the scenes but making an incredible difference: Brandi Bobee, Jason Charles, Jason Condon, Erikka Hedberg, Gavin Jensen, Sarah Pascoe, Emily Thomas, and our incredible Hanne Pihowich who holds all things together.
I pray that as you join us and listen to the stories, worship and fellowship with Covenanters from across Canada that you will be encouraged and inspired by God’s amazing work in and through the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. Our prayer is “that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in Him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Romans 15:13, NLT).
In Christ’s Love, Jenell Pluim Chair, Leadership Board, The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada
As I reflect on the past 12 months, my heart is filled with praise and gratitude for all the ways God has provided for the Canada Covenant. We prayerfully continue to move forward together - starting and strengthening churches… serving and supporting pastors and leaders across Canada and around the world. I know that my transition from serving our community as President/Superintendent to serving our community as Director of Church Planting for the ECC came as a surprise to many. It was a surprise to Bekah, myself, and our family. I wanted to take this opportunity to give witness to how I saw God at work in and through our community in the last year.
I recently heard a talk on movements, and one of the things the speaker emphasized was the importance of collaboration: collaboration that benefits others and works for the renewal of cities, countries and regions. At our best, I see this kind of movemental collaboration when we come together to serve beyond our local contexts. I see this in the ongoing faithful support of our Global Partners and Personnel. I see this in the way we support church planting across the Canada Covenant. I saw this this last year as we experimented with our annual meeting format to release, empower, and gather together across 6 regional sites the first weekend of May. I see this in the way churches and individuals continue to generously support our shared mission. When we collaborate, we are stronger together.
The impact of women and men across the Canada Covenant who faithfully live out of their gifts and call in pastoral roles cannot be understated. God has blessed our community with great pastors who work alongside great servant leaders. Similar to our Stronger Together event last spring, we experimented this fall in offering both a eastern and western location for our Fall Pastor’s Retreat. Canada Covenant staff continue to prioritize creating spaces to encourage, equip, and empower even as we pray and invest in noticing and raising up a new generation of pastoral and lay leadership. I am grateful for our investment in the Canada Covenant internship experience, the discipling of young adults at Headwaters, as well as camps and ministries that are intentional in discipling and developing emerging leaders. We also continue to see women and men making a difference around the world as Global Personnel. I am particularly grateful for the volunteers who champion our efforts in Haiti, Ecuador, and the Middle East and North Africa.
These are just some of the reasons I’m encouraged by what has happened and what is happening as the gospel is shared and expressed across Canada and around the world. The testimonies and stories in this report are just a snapshot of the great things God is doing in and through us. I hope as you read this report you will have reason to praise and thank the Lord for his goodness and provisions through the work we are blessed to do.
Lastly, I’d like to give thanks for the incredible team I have had the privilege of serving with over the last several years. They are a gift to us. They are a gift to me. Thank you for your ongoing prayers, efforts, and financial generosity.
Grateful for you and the journey the Canada Covenant is on!
Glenn Peterson Outgoing President/Superintendent, The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada
MARCH 2024
Dear Friends in the Canda Conference,
Greetings and grace to you all as you gather in Jesus’s name to celebrate what God has done within your conference this season.
Thank you for taking the time to be present together, to pray, to worship, to fellowship, and to collectively discern how God is moving within your conference and where you are being called to partner with God more deeply in this coming season of ministry. I love that these annual gatherings are often referred to as a “celebration” as there is so much to celebrate in the Covenant Church.
Thank you for taking the time to be present together, to pray, to worship, to fellowship, and to collectively discern how God is moving within your conference and where you are being called to partner with God more deeply in this coming season of ministry. I love that these annual gatherings are often referred to as a “celebration” as there is so much to celebrate in the Covenant Church.
As you join in worship and the business tasks before you, I hope and pray that you will experience the gift of being united in mission and the blessing of being present to one another. I look forward to hearing more of how God has been doing immeasurably more through you.
I am excited about the upcoming gathering of our local churches for Gather 2025 in Orlando, Florida! We will be joined by many of the presidents of our sister Covenant denominations around the world as we come together to celebrate 140 years of shared mission and ministry. Our global ministry and partnerships have been transformational to both our local churches here in North America and to communities around the world. What an amazing grace we participate in when we work together in service to Jesus and follow him where he leads us. The theme of this year’s gathering is “Follow Me.” Throughout the week, we will hear Jesus’s timeless call to “Follow Me”—the invitation that has transformed countless lives across the centuries. Come connect with sisters and brothers, joining guests from around the world, as we celebrate, discern, and dream together—following Christ into the next chapter of the Covenant story. Please plan to attend in person or online as a delegate or a general conferee. This will be a time that you will not want to miss out on. Details, including how to register, are available online: covchurch.org/gather.
I am excited about the upcoming gathering of our local churches for Gather 2025 in Orlando, Florida! We will be joined by many of the presidents of our sister Covenant denominations around the world as we come together to celebrate 140 years of shared mission and ministry. Our global ministry and partnerships have been transformational to both our local churches here in North America and to communities around the world. What an amazing grace we participate in when we work together in service to Jesus and follow him where he leads us. The theme of this year’s gathering is “Follow Me.” Throughout the week, we will hear Jesus’s timeless call to “Follow Me”—the invitation that has transformed countless lives across the centuries. Come connect with sisters and brothers, joining guests from around the world, as we celebrate, discern, and dream together—following Christ into the next chapter of the Covenant story. Please plan to attend in person or online as a delegate or a general conferee. This will be a time that you will not want to miss out on. Details, including how to register, are available online: covchurch.org/gather.
A few of the many areas where I continue to experience God’s faithfulness:
Prayer: Our Covenant O ces team continues to lean in to prayer. Each of our sta teams has been praying for one of our 11 conferences. The President’s O ce team has been curating a monthly prayer email being sent out to anyone who would like to subscribe, and we have been delighted to receive prayer requests as well as hear stories of how God is answering prayer throughout the Covenant. If you would like to join this list, please visit covchurch.org/now. I hope you will continue to find these monthly prayer emails an encouraging resource. Our 3StrandStrong collaboration in mission (local church, regional conference, and denominational team) is strengthened through our steadfast prayers.
covchurch.org/gather.
Presence: My travel schedule takes me many places where I get to see God’s people engaged in God’s mission. This year I have worshiped in many di erent settings and languages and have met with numerous groups of people. I am grateful to see how the good news of Jesus is reaching people everywhere! I plan to continue to visit and celebrate with local churches, pastors, and leaders, as well as our global partners in each of the regions where God is working through the Covenant. What a joy and privilege to experience the diversity of the kingdom of heaven.
As we prepare to gather both locally and nationally, I feel a deep burden to call our churches to pray. Pray for our churches seeking to faithfully respond to the many places in need of the love of Jesus expressed through words and through acts of compassion, mercy, justice, and peace-making. This will look different in each of your communities, but as a nation, we are facing a time where the love of Christ and his call to care for the lost and the least of these has never felt more pressing. Sharing God’s love in word and deed is embedded in the DNA of the Covenant Church. May we, as God’s people who experience the love of the Father, continue to seek the good of our brothers and sisters in need. May we act boldly as we are led by the Holy Spirit, through the resurrection power of Christ Jesus, to bring the good news of God’s kingdom to a lost and hurting world.
As we prepare to gather both locally and nationally, I feel a deep burden to call our churches to pray. Pray for our churches seeking to faithfully respond to the many places in need of the love of Jesus expressed through words and through acts of compassion, mercy, justice, and peace-making. This will look different in each of your communities, but as a nation, we are facing a time where the love of Christ and his call to care for the lost and the least of these has never felt more pressing. Sharing God’s love in word and deed is embedded in the DNA of the Covenant Church. May we, as God’s people who experience the love of the Father, continue to seek the good of our brothers and sisters in need. May we act boldly as we are led by the Holy Spirit, through the resurrection power of Christ Jesus, to bring the good news of God’s kingdom to a lost and hurting world.
For God’s glory and neighbor’s good,
For God’s glory and neighbor’s good,
Pivot: This word seemed to encapsulate how ministries redefined their approach to local church life at the beginning of the pandemic. As we re-engage a post-pandemic ministry model, the Covenant’s denominational sta is also in a place of pivoting through the beginning stages of our reorganization. This year we began a multi-phased “return to o ce” approach as we continue to restructure. Please pray with us and for us as we assess our structure, systems, and methods of delivering resources to better serve our local churches and conferences. We all have a wonderful opportunity to re-imagine ways to reach people with God’s love.
Tammy Swanson-Draheim, PRESIDENT, EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
Tammy Swanson-Draheim, PRESIDENT, EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
Thank you for endeavoring in Jesus’s name to be the good news. May all glory be to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.
In awe of what God has already done and what he will do!
Celebrating 140 years of shared mission and ministry.
Celebrating 140 years of shared mission and ministry.
Tammy Swanson-Draheim, PRESIDENT, EVANGELICAL COVENANT CHURCH
Jenell Pluim | Chair Malmo Mission Covenant - Malmo, AB
Marc Vandersluys | Secretary Minnedosa Covenant - Minnedosa, MB
Paul Campbell | Treasurer Lighthouse Community Church - Sarnia, ON
Bethany Abramson | Member at Large New Wine Covenant Church - Newmarket, ON
Peterson Acting President/ Superintendent
Planting Catalyst
Rob Horsley | Member at Large College Park Covenant - Saskatoon, SK
Clarissa Cheung | Member at Large Encounter Covenant Church - Etobicoke, ON
Jason Charles | Member at Large City Collective Church - Langley, BC
Jennifer Mitchell Fetch | ECC Liason Faith Covenant Church - Winnipeg, MB
BALFOUR, BC
I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:3-6)
As I look back over the last year:
I am thankful for the ways we have continued to gather together each Sunday as a church for worship, fellowship, and to share in the LORD’s table together. In Sermons this year, we realized more deeply who Jesus is through His “I Am” teachings in John’s Gospel, we explored new and ancient ways to grow Spiritually through our “The Way of Jesus Series.” In that series, “We explored ways to spend time with Jesus and doing what he did to become more like him. This last fall, we paired what we learned in “The Way of Jesus” series with a study through the book of James to take our faith and work it out in the world. We then finished the year with an Advent series with Matthew’s Gospel. This last year we saw people grow in faith and 3 new people become members of our church.
This year we also focused on discipleship with our sermon series and the formation of a Discipleship
Team. The team discussed ways to cultivate discipleship in our church. One of the fruits of that team was an effort to start new small groups and encourage more people to join a group.
Through this last year our church continued to seek ways to bless our community. We sought to bless our community with our afterschool program Beyond the Bell, with our VBS Kid’s Kamp in the summer, clothing share events and Christmas hampers given to families of Redfish Elementary. In addition to those ministries, we continue to serve our community by hosting Funerals and weddings, as well as leading the Remembrance Day Service in Procter. God is moving in our community and 2 people were baptized this year.
We’ve also had visits from two of our Missionaries this year with the Opiyos visiting us in the spring and Ron Homeneuke in the Summer. It was great to hear directly from them how we have contributed to their ministry.
This last year we completed the transition to become an independent church. While we remain connected to the Nelson and Junction church in terms of common mission in the Kootenays, we have become new church in 2024. This process took an enormous amount of time and work by our Transition team of John Ritchie, Mary Beth Ringheim, Colleen Wood, Rick Dickieson, Jim Edgar and me. I am encouraged to see what new doors the Holy Spirit will open for us.
As I look forward to next year:
I feel drawn to identifying and developing more leaders in our church. I plan to start a leadership cohort early in the year in order to learn and grow together. I also remain committed to discipleship and encouraging emotional and spiritual health in our church. I’m looking forward to working with our Discipleship Team to cultivate new ministries. I continue to see the people in our community struggling to find grace and the fullness of life Jesus spoke about. In response, I plan to form an Outreach Team to pray, discern, and encourage our church into more outreach in our community. While these are good ministries for us to focus on in 2025, I continue to pray and watch for where the Lord is leading. There are some new possibilities open to us, but we want to move in step with the Spirit of God. Would you please join me in praying, and watching for ministry opportunities the Lord will lead us into in 2025. We’ll be at our best when we discern His leading together.
Praying and watching, Pastor Jason Ashley
At the Erickson Covenant Church, we are committed to helping people find and follow Jesus, so we all flourish in Christ and fulfill his mission in the world. And yet, fulfilling “his mission in the world” had become somewhat vague for us as a local church. We believed in missions, sure, and we supported various missions and missionaries both personally and as a church. But the truth is, we’d become largely disconnected from our shared Covenant missions. And that needed to change.
Like our Covenant forebears, we know that when it comes to global missions, we really are Stronger Together than we are alone. And just like those Swedish immigrant churches banded together to pool enough resources to send Covenant missionaries to Alaska and to China in the 1890s, we know that our success in missions today is also bound up together with other Covenant churches.
And so, one of the most significant ways we’ve been growing Stronger Together over the last few years is by intentionally refocusing our whole church community on global missions by highlighting and supporting shared Covenant Mission projects, as well as other non-Covenant missions that align with our calling.
We empowered a new missions committee, led by a competent leader, which promptly chose the name “Covenant Missions Partner” to signal their intent and purpose. This vibrant team was tasked to research and then champion missions to our congregation, with a focus on existing Covenant initiatives. As they did that, they kept a discerning look out for two to three specific missions that Jesus would want us to back more fully. We already supported Colleen Nahnychuk, but we wanted to do better as global missions had not been very present in our community life beyond the occasional mention of Colleen or some random project. Our people knew very little about the good Covenant missions already happening, missions we were already “part” of through our responsible shares but not through our active participation.
Our Covenant Missions Partner team has catalyzed us beautifully. Two years later, and our church community is abuzz with missions. We host monthly Missions Moments in our Sunday services, sparking a dramatic increase in joyful participation and giving. We sent two people to Ecuador and Argentina and plan to send more. We farmed a bunch of virtual acres through Kernels of Hope, and hosted whole church missions weekends, including an amazing Covenant Kids Congo powered by World Vision “Chosen” weekend resulting in 21 Karawa sponsorships. Our church community now has a much greater knowledge and enthusiasm for the larger Covenant work we are all in together, and we have seen a huge upsurge in participation and giving to missions in the Erickson Covenant Church. Truly, we are Stronger now as a result of being Together. Thanks be to God, and for the privilege of being gospel partners with all of you.
Pastor Tom Greentree
Malmo Mission Covenant Church is a 128 year old church in a field, half an hour from the nearest town. Just the cemetery, the 75 year old church building, and the newer manse where Lauralea and I have lived for 17 years.
If you were to join us on a Sunday morning, you’d find a vibrant, multi-generational community. Families gather for Sunday School before our 10:30 worship service, where the generations worship side by side. Our services are often led by youth or their parents, and our worship teams even includes four grandmothers! The music is a blend of contemporary and older hymns, with four or five instruments accompanying our singing. Together, we read Scripture, pray for each other, and seek to be shaped by God’s Word,
We support our broader community with regular giving Sundays that encourage camp ministry, our conference, local soup kitchens and international missions.
After the service, everyone is invited downstairs to continue fellowship, as we all take turns providing a snack. This is the place where so much practical caring happens. People drive from a significant distance, so we try to do a lot on Sunday mornings, and this fellowship time is an important part of our worship. It is also the place where generations sit together, to connect and learn from each other.
During the week we have regular youth gatherings for our community youth. We host prayer meetings by Zoom, so that the people don’t have to travel far to pray together. There will be other small group meetings, and care extended to our broader community, for those who might be going through diffcult times, or having new babies, etc.
A good thing that has come about since Covid, is the live stream of our morning service. This ministry continues to grow, as shut in church members, unchurched community members, and people farther away regularly join us for worship online. We also offer daily prayers that are streamed during the week. Just a simple few moments of scripture, prayer and a blessing. This has led to ongoing ministry opportunities. As the pastor I am contacted by many who are not close enough to attend in person, but they somehow feel like they are welcome to engage with their spiritual questions or prayer requests.
Malmo Mission Covenant Church is a unique and beautiful community and we consider ourselves blessed and sustained by God each week of these 128 years.
Pastor Randall Friesen
In Norquay, we have much to be thankful for over the past year. Part of that gratitude involves recognizing how God has strengthened us together as a congregation.
In July 2024, we celebrated a full year with Pastor Marty, his wife Tina, and their family as our lead pastor. At the same time, Pastor Katy joined the staff full-time as the Associate Pastor of Worship and Teaching. She and her husband, Landon, married in June of last year, which was exciting for them and us as a church.
Youth is one area that brings us together. This summer, Pastor Katy took eight young people from NECC, College Park Covenant Church, and the community of Norquay to Unite in San Diego, California (picture 1). As a church, we were responsible for ministering to over 50 youths from grades 3-9 at Covenant Heights Bible Camp. Every year at CHBC, we, as Covenanters from Manitoba and Saskatchewan, grow stronger together as we minister to campers aged 4 to 104 in the name and Spirit of Christ. In August, we also hosted a Day Camp that brought elementary-aged children from our community to our church. Kid’s Club and Youth Group run throughout the rest of the months, which keeps us busy and blessed.
Every year, many adults from our congregation dress up as various characters from the board game Clue for a youth event. Everyone has a great time as all ages come together for a night of laughter and intrigue (picture 2).
One of the highlights this year was witnessing three young adults affirm their faith through baptism. We were made stronger together by celebrating their steps of faith, followed by a time of food and fellowship in their honour.
In February, our church ladies hosted a weekend retreat called “Just Breathe.” They engaged in sessions focused on therapeutic art practices while exploring the importance of Christian selfcare, led by former Norquay pastor and dear friend Natasha Westerhoud (picture 3). Self-reflection, worship, connection, meals, laughter, and many cups of coffee were enjoyed.
This year, we were stronger together ecumenically. Our church hosted our community’s World Day of Prayer service. We were pleased to have participants from Norquay’s churches come together to pray for our brothers and sisters in Christ from the Cook Islands and learn about their strengths and struggles (picture 4).
Space does not allow sharing all the ways we grew stronger as a congregation in the Lord this year, so these will have to suffice. We are blessed to continue as a body within the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada. We pray that gathering together this year in Strathmore for the AGM will strengthen us as a family in Christ.
Pastor Marty Johnson
Mission friends,
Stonehouse turned six years old in September! There are currently 29 households (nearly a hundred people) that call us their church home. Together we continue to be shaped by theWord and Table.
In 2024, we gathered for worship 48 times and our youth group gathered 33 times, our congregation grew, and the majority of us served + supported our church and/or community in practical ways. 2024 was our first year “standing on our own two feet” (without church plant financial support from the ECC/ECCC) and we made it, with a bare-bones budget and $1,400 to spare. God has taken us from a seed to a tree and we are so grateful to witness and be part of it.
Here’s a glimpse of the past year (and thus a glimpse of who we are):
January-March: Gospel of John series, Pastor Shannon took a much-needed month of rest, Stonehouse swimming event, youth group, Sunday school, worship, communion + fellowship, Council meetings, Donut Sunday, Intro to Stonehouse lunch after church, Stonehouse Annual Meeting + potluck, our 6th Good Friday + Easter services
April-June: In All Honesty series (Psalms), Donut Sunday, Youth group, Sunday school, worship, communion + fellowship, Council meetings, women’s evening at Barb’s, Sabbath Sunday #1 (May Long), Tara, Angelle, Anna, & Shannon attended ECCC Annual Meeting at Faith Covenant, Shayna initiated Dinner Club, Teenage Brain seminar by Angelle, Outdoor service and potluck at AD Penner Park, guy’s night - bonfire at Jon Schroeder’s, youth wind-up, incorporation prep
July-August: Keeping the Sabbath series, Sabbath Sundays #2 + #3 (July + August Long), worship, communion + fellowship, after-church picnics in the park (July 7 + Aug 11), Council meetings
September-November: This Is My Body series (being the Body of Christ), Sabbath Sunday #4 (Sept long), Baptism service (Sept 8), Fall Kick-off event (Sept 15), Donut Sunday, Youth leader meeting, Stonehouse Youth Kick-off, Food Drive (youth), Council meeting, registered our name (Stonehouse Covenant Church Inc.), Shannon & Tim attended ECCC Fall Pastor’s retreat, Youth group, Sunday school, worship, communion + fellowship, Council meetings, potluck + Intro to Stonehouse conversation, Incorporation prep, box-making for Community Christmas (food bank), sent Incorporation documents to MB Government, 55+ gathering at Shannon & Tim’s
December: Advent series in Matthew, Advent Giving Projects (Petite Anse Feeding Program in Haiti + YFC Christmas gifts), Christmas goodies after church each week, Youth group, Sunday school, worship, communion + fellowship, Council meeting, Longest Night Run (Dec 21), Kids’ Christmas program (Dec 22), Christmas Eve service, Sabbath Sunday #5 (Dec 29), we became Incorporated in Manitoba!
Pastor Shannon Johnson Friesen
See I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? (Isaiah 43:19a)
I love that our God is about new beginnings, new chapters, and new life. 2024 certainly was a year of both new things starting and good things growing stronger at Lighthouse. Encounter, formation, and mission are three foundational elements to the life of the church. We desire to meet with Jesus (encounter), become more like him (formation), and do as he did (mission).
Encounter - As most churches do, we gather Sunday mornings around the word, worship, table, and fellowship. My prayer is always that all who come would have an encounter with the living God. Other set-apart opportunities for encounter this year included: a worship night, a journey through prayer stations, Ash Wednesday, Good Friday, Easter, and Christmas Eve services, a women’s retreat, and our annual Staff & Leadership Fall Retreat.
Formation - Regular formation opportunities happened in part through our Sunday teaching times, but also through our growing children and youth ministries - Lighthouse K!ds and Rooted Youth; our adult small groups; focus groups/ courses such as the Emotionally Healthy Spirituality course (Peter Scazerro); book studies such as Fighting Shadows (Jon Tyson); and other special events such our House of Learning nights. We began House of Learning (HOL) as a monthly opportunity to invite the community to engage deeper in a variety of complex topics of the faith. Our format is to gather around some food, a teaching time, and honest & charitable conversation. We had the privilege of inviting guest lecturers such as Dr. Patrick Franklin (Tyndale), Dr. Gus Konkel (McMaster), and Dr. Lissa Wray Beal (Wycliffe) for some of these rich conversations.
In 2024 we celebrated 3 baptisms, started 3 new small groups, and a young adults ministry. We also saw growth in our existing men’s and women’s groups, and witnessed tremendous growth in our children and youth ministries, and have seen many new faces on a given Sunday. Praise God!
Mission - Doing as Jesus did includes service, hospitality, outreach & evangelism, and loving mercy and doing justice. Lighthouse seeks to be a welcoming community centered on Jesus, and a blessing in our neighbourhood, city, and beyond. For evangelism, we ran the Alpha Course in the fall for the second consecutive year. To bless our neighbourhood, Lighthouse hosted our annual parking lot events –Trunk or Treat (October) and The Christmas Block Party. In loving mercy and doing justice we had a local focus and a global focus. Locally we began volunteering with a local food bank and supported a local anti human trafficking ministry - The Greater Glass Co. Globally, we partnered with the ECC’s MERGE ministries and sent 11 Lighthouse members on a trip to Mexico City to build relationships, learn, and serve. We
established a relationship with Misión DF - a covenant church in the heart of Mexico’s capital. We learned about their shared ecumenical mission with other local churches in running a migrant and refugee center. Finally, we served the center by helping them build a children’s play and therapy room, and donated screen printing machines which are being used for job training and a means of income for migrants and refugees.
We are grateful for the way God has been at work in and through Lighthouse in 2024 with so much to celebrate. While we miss our beloved interim Pastor Glenn Ronson who decided to step down in December to help other churches in transition, we are excited to announce that we’ve hired Patti Larsen as a new full time Associate Pastor of Family Ministries & Discipleship.
With gratitude and faith we lean into Christ in 2025.
Pastor Rick Penner
“GOD
“I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow...The one who plants and the one who waters have one purpose, and they will each be rewarded according to their own labor. For we are co-workers in God’s service...”
- The Apostle Paul to the Church Planted in Corinth (1 Corinthians 3:5, 7-9a NIV)
Our shared Kingdom purpose is the flourishing of Jesus’ Gospel Mission. He graciously invites us to join in the challenging yet rewarding efforts of changed lives, community transformation, new and renewing church communities.
We arrived at last year’s 2024 AGM with a replenishing and expanding Church Planting Pipeline & Ecosystem - quite significant post-covid. Throughout this most recent season of “planting and watering”, God has further blessed with a steady and increasing flow:
• Growing Interest: On the front-end of early conversations and intros, our Church Planting Team is currently engaged with potential planters literally from coast to coast, with active connections in BC, AB, MB, ON, even the Maritimes!
• Your Invitation: Notice & Make Connections. Be on the holy lookout for gifted & called women and men. Particularly note those who’ve been “faithful in the little things”, demonstrating a mix of evangelistic fruit, spiritual entrepreneurship, gathering skills, and missional impact in “word and deed”. Then send them our way with an email hand-off, phone call, or personal introduction!
Assessed to Plant | Church Planting Candidates
• Newly “Recommended”: Flowing further through that “Pipeline”, we’re delighted that Pastor Alex & Mun-Hee Song (Windsor ON) were “Recommended” at the March Church Planter Assessment Center! (along with three other Candidates across our broader movement in Canada & the US)
• This crucial milestone marks a rigorous process of communal discernment, affirming a shared conviction of calling, gifting, and building
readiness for planting the vision God has laid on their hearts.
• Following close behind are 1-2 other Church Planting Candidates well underway for a likely/ potential Sept Assessment Center invite.
• Your Invitation: Invest in Prayer & Provision. Intercede for spiritual protection and tangible provision for these Candidates as they develop their projects. Consider early “seed funding” and involvement for their early benchmarks towards a Covenant Agreement and Launch.
Planted to Flourish | Our Canada Covenant Planters
• Officially “Launched”: Having successfully reached context-specific, missional benchmarks, Pastor Yage “James” Yu signed his Covenant Agreement for a Jan 1, 2025 “official start” as a Covenant Church Plant! Already underway, Fu Yin (福音) Covenant Church (Richmond Hill, ON) is primarily (though not exclusively) reaching 1st & 2nd-gen Chinese-Canadians.
• No less rigorous than the Assessment Process, this stage follows an intense season of Prep & Prerequisites in conjunction with a six-month Church Planter Training Cohort that’s “unlocked” by an Assessment Center “Recommended”.
• This official start of a Covenant Church Plant is more akin to transplanting a well-started “Seedling” - prepped for success but still in early development, with significant growth ahead. Continued tending includes ongoing coaching calls, monthly reporting on missional metrics, and other opportunities for encouragement and equipping.
• Your Invitation: Fully Support as Family! Take everything mentioned above and raise it to the next level. Consider becoming a Parent or Partner Church. Join the Launch Team fully or become a “short-term nearby missionary” for a season. Consider above and beyond giving and pledges to help complete the overall start-up funding strategy.
There are many more “seeds” to both carefully place and scatter with abandon. Our fuller field of “planting and watering” includes:
NEW: Church Planter Cohort
• Just getting underway, Gavin Jensen & Jason Charles (our Church Planting Catalysts), are
launching this new Church Planter Cohort initiative
• Specifically geared towards the start-up years of development. They’ll gather regularly online for encouragement and equipping, with occasionally in-person special events.
• Directed by Jason Charles, with key support from our Church Planting Team and a growing bench of special guests and presenters. Focused on emerging church leaders, discerning and refining their vocational callings, addressing the three developmental growth areas of Spiritual Depth, Emotional Health, and Leadership Capacity
• Though led from the Church Planting Team, it serves our whole Family of Churches, while also integral to ongoing church planting leadership development.
• We just reach a significant tipping point beyond our church plants being the primary Hosts Sites, with our more established churches and camp ministries becoming the majority of deployment Interested in Hosting an Internship? Visit covchurch. ca/internship for more details.
Developing: Residency Program (Coming “Soon”)
• Still in the finalizing stages for late-2025 to early-2026, as an always planned companion to the Internship Program
• We may start with Church Planter Residencies, where we embed “Recommended” planters and developing teams in existing churches (such as mature Plants or other potential Support Churches) during their early formation, creating stronger launches, deeper partnerships, and flourishing new congregations.
• For other Vocational Ministry Roles, as opportunity meets timing we’ll add focused options and expand from there. More to Come!
Co-Laboring in Fruitful Multiplication
These aren’t the efforts of a singular Paul or Apollos, Priscilla or Junia. The whole Canada Covenant Family
of pastors, leaders, and members are called up as “co-workers in God’s service”. Our movement has the stated goal of “every church a Parent, Partner, or Plant”.
As you read and reflect on all God has done, is doing, and will do, please consider and commit to one or more of the following:
Partner in Prayer: We need contending and intercessory prayer for this work of church planting, our team, and the women and men planting for Jesus’ plentiful harvest.
Practice Generosity: as we rise to the new challenges and opportunities in our “nearby mission fields”, we’re committed to wise and sustainable funding development, including direct giving and pledges over time.
Skin in the Game: (John 1:14) Give of yourself - whether as a Parent or Partner Church, individual volunteer, “short-term missionary”, or full-fledged Launch Team member. We’re NOT invited to be “Fans”, we’re Called to be Family.
Contact Jason Condon, Church Planting Team Leader: Jason.Condon@covchurch.ca 585-259-7984
Or schedule a time: jasoncondon.com/connect
OR contact any Team Member directly as relevant:
Jason Charles, Catalyst West, Internship Director, Cohorts, and more: jason@citycollective.com
Gavin Jensen, Catalyst Prairies, Coaching, Prayer Gatherings, Cohorts, and more: gavin@covchurch.ca
CAMPS + TRELLIS FOUNDATION + INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Goose Collective, our staff and artist collective, which will be creating beauty here at The Harbour. Ayal Heinrichs will be our first artist joining us. She will be helping lead Headwaters, helping in various ways at the camp and coffee shop, and working out of our new pottery studio. Please be praying for her as she makes this transition.
With the addition of new staff, we have a need for staff housing. Would you be in prayer for us as look to add staff housing here at The Harbour? We would love to partner with you in this new venture.
Thank you again for our friendship and partnership. We look forward to connecting with you in 2025.
Blessings,
Mark & Jes Hagen
Executive Directors, The Harbour at Riondel
We had another great week of kid’s camp this past summer and were blessed with amazing weather! KCBC is a weeklong summer camp for kids ages 8-12. It is held in July at the beautiful Harbour at Riondel camp property on the east shore of Kootenay Lake. It is a joint ministry of the Nelson, Balfour, Junction and Erickson Covenant Churches.
My daughter Andrea Marsland, who grew up in the Nelson Covenant Church, came back to the Kootenays to serve as our Camp Director and I had the privilege of serving as the Assistant Director again this year. Jeff Strong, the Pastor at Nelson Covenant, was our Speaker and the theme was, “Level Up”, with challenges on how to grow deeper in faith. We had a number of amazing adult and youth volunteers from the four church sites. A big thank you to everyone who served at camp for the week!
This year we ran a trial program, “Leaders in Training”, led by Carson Stauffer. Eight youth aged 13-15 were lead through a program of leadership development while helping with a variety of aspects of the camp. It was a great success!
This year we have The Harbour booked for July 6-11 for our week of KCBC. Please pray that the right volunteers will come together and that we will be blessed again with safety and good weather!
Kerry Marsland Chair, KCBC Board • kcbcamp.org
We are grateful for all the good God is doing in our midst. He is actively working in the hearts of young people, providing us with resources we never had previously, and giving us unique opportunities to minister. One of our former directors, Bradon Pihowich, along with his wife Hanne, decided to move to Winnipeg late in 2024. We are grateful for God’s leading in their life, sad they left, and excited for what God has in store for them in Manitoba.
Two interns, Holly Ferguson and David Ewing, have contributed significantly to the work and have grown personally.
“My internship at Covenant Bay has come with a lot of growth, fulfillment and fun! It has been awesome to be able to see the behind the scenes work for how the camp operates and being able to work in practical ministry!”Holly
“During this internship, I’ve been able to get experience leading and discipling leaders for this next summer. Lately, a project I’ve enjoyed has been thinking through camp culture and how to influence that in a positive way, and its been a really good challenge to explore.“ - David
We are grateful for the increased facility rentals and the many positives within these events. This increased rental income will continue to help us grow and improve the ministry at Covenant Bay.
Growing the number of campers has proven more difficult over the last few years. We are pleased that registration numbers are higher in 2025 and we pray that many kids will respond to the gospel message this summer.
“At Covenant Bay, I have been led by fun, God-loving people who are passionate about God’s word and always willing to share it. My weeks at camp have always been a blast and at the end of each week I feel spiritually fulfilled, mentally rewarded, and ready to face whatever comes next with new knowledge of God by my side. At camp I have experienced the greatest joy, the deepest peace, and the most overwhelming sense of being loved and wanted. I have witnessed God’s great work in others and in myself, even in the midst of chaotic fun. I am so thankful that I get to go to camp and be taught and inspired to strengthen my walk in faith by people who love and care for me.” - Shaunie
We are just a few years away from starting a new dining hall and kitchen project at Covenant Bay. This new facility will cost more than 2 million dollars and will allow more people to be served at events and impacted by the love of God. [learn more]
Thank You
Our supporting churches and individuals are tremendously generous. They people and ensuring they grow in a relationship with Jesus. Thank you to partners. There is no ministry at Covenant Bay without you!
Jon Drebert
Executive Director • covenantbay.ca
Covenant Heights Bible Camp (CHBC) is located on Clear Lake, MB and is a shared camp ministry between five Covenant Churches in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Our church’s shared love for the mission of CHBC has led to 100+ years of ministry work. God is faithful!
And what better place to experience the gift of God’s great love, than among friends at summer camp?
As church partners we have such a unique opportunity to be able to send kids to camp in summer, among familiar friends and volunteers, and then be a connecting point when they return to Sunday worship and church programs throughout the year.
This past summer we held a Young Leaders Training with 6 students (gr. 9-12) attending. They were enthusiastic and eager to develop leadership skills and grow in their faith as they served during Squirt and Junior Camp as cabin leaders. Teen, Squirt and Junior camps were all well attended, and we are grateful for all the staff and volunteers who contributed their time and energies to make these camps happen. It really is a group effort! Approximately 70 people attended Family Camp which capped off our summer season with some great fellowship among friends, old and new.
In the fall we held our annual youth Fall Retreat and reintroduced “Refresh”, our young adults retreat for those ages 18-35.
We are looking forward to this next camping season with much anticipation! This year we will be fundraising for some larger projects, including a kitchen renovation and upgrades to staff accommodations. We welcome your prayers as we prepare for another season of ministry, plan camp programming, and recruit volunteers.
Visit our website at: covenantheightsbiblecamp.com or follow us on Facebook or Instagram @covenantheightsbiblecamp
Hali Wilson Camp Coordinator
In the spring and fall of 2024 Trellis awarded 8 Discipleship Grants to Canadian Covenant churches and ministries for these initiatives to make and deepen disciples of Jesus Christ:
Headwaters Discipleship an immersive school of the heart for young adults at The Harbour at Riondel, for their third year in May-June, led by Wild Goose Collective on the shores of Kootenay Lake.
City Collective Church for their spiritual gift program.
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada for the Worship Leaders Workshop hosted at Covenant Bay.
Faith Covenant Church for their discipleship/confirmation program.
Malmo Covenant Church for their lay-leadership retreat.
Emmanuel Covenant Church for their English Conversation Classes.
The Worship Project scholarships for their Wonder Conference and Fall retreat.
Plus many discipleship projects through the ECCC including the Multiply leadership development program for pastoral interns.
Trellis has been generously awarding grants, well above the 3.5% disbursement quota in the past few years. Even so, our fund has maintained a yield of roughly 6.7% since inception, as of February 28, 2025, and increased to reach up to $2 million. We continue to lead with generosity and financial stewardship in our mission to be a catalyst of biblical, intentional and innovative discipleship in the Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada.
Would you like to help your community apply for a Discipleship Grant? What disciple-deepening initiative is Jesus growing in your church? Let’s get that seedling off the ground! Apply for a grant or make a donation at: trellisfoundation.ca
Phil Adkins Chair
Since launching our first cohort in Fall 2023, we have seen encouraging engagement from churches and participants across the Canada Covenant and are excited for what lies ahead.
The Canada Covenant Internship is a 14-week program hosted by local churches in partnership with the Canada Covenant. Designed to equip interns with hands-on ministry experience, spiritual and leadership development, and personalized coaching, the program places each intern within a local church, where they actively participate in meaningful ministry work while being mentored by local leaders. One of our interns shared:
“I was given the opportunity to step into a position that I had never really considered before. I have found my passion for our church community and sense of calling grow consistently throughout. This internship has been a really important step.”
Program Highlights
Cohort Growth & Impact
Our inaugural cohort began in Fall 2023, launching what has proven to be an impactful initiative. Since then, additional cohorts in Winter, Summer, and Fall 2024 have provided ongoing opportunities for engagement. In 2024, we welcomed 10 interns from across the Canada Covenant, each bringing unique skills and a heart for ministry. Most recently, our Winter 2025 cohort included five interns eager to grow in faith and leadership. As we build on this momentum, we look forward to expanding participation and providing even more opportunities for young leaders.
Church Partnerships
This initiative has fostered partnerships with eight churches across Canada, which have created welcoming and supportive environment for interns. These churches have not only helped interns explore their call to ministry but have also benefited from the interns’ unique gifts and contributions. We are encouraged by the growing interest from additional churches eager to participate in future cohorts.
Intern Development & Training
Throughout the program, interns engage in weekly calls with experienced teachers and communicators from all over North America. These sessions strengthen their biblical knowledge, leadership skills, and personal faith while exposing them to real-world ministry. Our three-pronged development approach—practical ministry leadership, structured learning spaces, and oneon-one mentorship—ensures that interns gain valuable experience within their host churches. Additionally, they are encouraged to develop
spiritual practices and engage in emotional health discussions, fostering holistic growth.
One key factor in the internship’s sustainability is our financial partnership with Trellis. Their generosity has allowed us to provide financial assistance, enabling interns to focus on their ministry work without undue financial strain. We continue to explore additional funding opportunities to ensure the program remains accessible to as many participants as possible.
The structure and experiences of our early cohorts have shaped the program into what it is today. Through ongoing feedback and refinement, we have developed a strong format that effectively supports interns and enriches both participants and host churches. One of the most rewarding outcomes has been seeing interns gain clarity in their calling, with many expressing a desire to pursue vocational ministry within their local church communities and beyond.
Recognizing the need for continued development beyond the internship, we are actively preparing the next step: a pastoral residency program. Hosted by local churches, this initiative will provide further mentorship, training, and leadership opportunities for those pursuing full-time ministry. We believe this will be a crucial step in fostering long-term church leadership.
As we prepare for the Fall 2025 cohort, we are hopeful that even more churches and interns will take part in this transformative experience. We encourage churches to consider hosting an internship—not only to invest in the intern’s growth but to enrich their congregation as well. Developing the next generation of ministry leaders is essential for church growth, and this internship is a meaningful way to do just that. We remain deeply grateful for the continued support and prayers of our church communities and look forward to what God has in store for the future of this program.
Jason Charles
Meghan Fowler
Patti Larsen
Michel Ndiom
Glenn Peterson
Glenn Ronson
Jeff Strong
Jaisy Tam-Harbridge
Ray Wall
Heidi Weibe
From: Faith Covenant Church (Winnipeg, MB)
To: Lighthouse Community Church, Associate Pastor of Family Ministry & Discipleship (Sarnia, ON)
From: Green Timbers Covenant Church (Surrey, BC)
From: Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada, President/Superintendent (Strathmore, AB)
To: Evangelical Covenant Church, Senior Director of Church Planting (Chicago, IL)
From: Lighthouse Community Church, Associate Pastor (Sarnia, ON)
To: Nelson Covenant Church, Interim (Nelson, BC)
From: Nelson Covenant Church (Nelson, BC)
From: Avenue Community Church/Encounter Covenant Church (Toronto, ON)
To: 20 Church, Assistant Pastor (Vineland, ON)
To: Faith Covenant Church, Interim (Breton, AB)
From: Hope Community Covenant Church (Strathmore, AB)
To: Retirement
Carson Barg (Breton, AB)
Briercrest College and Seminary
Renae Drebert (Breton, AB)
Briercrest College and Seminary
Piper Friesen (Steinbach, MB)
Providence University College
Eric Martens (Mitchell, MB)
Providence University College
Alexa Olson (Norquay, SK)
Briercrest College and Seminary
The Evangelical Covenant Church of Canada has a long history of supporting discipleship of young adults. After the closure of Covenant Bible College (CBC) in 2007, endowment funds were passed on to the ECCC via Trellis Foundation to continue granting scholarships for students pursuing discipleship education.
The CBC Legacy Scholarship program has assisted over 90 students with scholarships to participate in discipleship education programs around the world, with a total of $45,500 distributed.
GLOBAL PARTNERS + PERSONNEL
We are grateful to continue our renewed partnership with Covenant Kids Congo, powered by World Vision, in Canada! Over the past two years, we have worked to re-engage Canadian churches and sponsors in this vital ministry.
We are grateful to continue our renewed partnership with Covenant Kids Congo, powered by World Vision, in Canada! Over the past two years, we have worked to re-engage Canadian churches and sponsors in this vital ministry.
Ten years ago, we partnered with World Vision to bring hope, education, and Christ’s love to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). T he impact has been profound, and we want to share some recent literacy statistics: 136 teachers and 197 literacy group facilitators were trained to better equip students.
We are grateful to continue our renewed partnership with Covenant Kids Congo, powered by World Vision, in Canada! Over the past two years, we have worked to re-engage Canadian churches and sponsors in this vital ministry.
Ten years ago, we partnered with World Vision to bring hope, education, and Christ’s love to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). T he impact has been profound, and we want to share some recent literacy statistics: 136 teachers and 197 literacy group facilitators were trained to better equip students.
We are grateful to continue our renewed partnership with Covenant Kids Congo, powered by World Vision, in Canada! Over the past two years, we have worked to re-engage Canadian churches and sponsors in this vital ministry. Ten years ago, we partnered with World Vision to bring hope, education, and Christ’s love to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). T he impact has been profound, and we want to share some recent literacy statistics:
Ten years ago, we partnered with World Vision to bring hope, education, and Christ’s love to children in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo). T he impact has been profound, and we want to share some recent literacy statistics:
Over 8,000 children (grades 1-3) participated in literacy programs to improve reading.
136 teachers and 197 literacy group facilitators were trained to better equip students.
Over 8,000 children (grades 1-3) participated in literacy programs to improve reading.
136 teachers and 197 literacy group facilitators were trained to better equip students.
In Karawa, our newest program area, the third-grade literacy rate is just 1%, highlighting the urgent need for support. Efforts like these transform lives. Together, we can make a lasting difference in literacy, clean water access, healthcare, advocacy, and women’s empowerment. Thank you for your continued support!
Over 8,000 children (grades 1-3) participated in literacy programs to improve reading.
Over 8,000 children (grades 1-3) participated in literacy programs to improve reading.
In Karawa, our newest program area, the third-grade literacy rate is just 1%, highlighting the urgent need for support. Efforts like these transform lives. Together, we can make a lasting difference in literacy, clean water access, healthcare, advocacy, and women’s empowerment. Thank you for your continued support!
In Karawa, our newest program area, the third-grade literacy rate is just 1%, highlighting the urgent need for support. Efforts like these transform lives. Together, we can make a lasting difference in literacy, clean water access, healthcare, advocacy, and women’s empowerment. Thank you for your continued support!
In Karawa, our newest program area, the third-grade literacy rate is just 1%, highlighting the urgent need for support. Efforts like these transform lives. Together, we can make a lasting difference in literacy, clean water access, healthcare, advocacy, and women’s empowerment. Thank you for your continued support!
We are committed to supporting Covenant Kids Congo through prayer and are grateful to be part of ECCC’s weekly prayer emails and the Serve Globally prayer calendar. For updated requests, churches and individuals can contact our team
We are committed to supporting Covenant Kids Congo through prayer and are grateful to be part of ECCC’s weekly prayer emails and the Serve Globally prayer calendar. For updated requests, churches and individuals can contact our team
We are committed to supporting Covenant Kids Congo through prayer and are grateful to be part of ECCC’s weekly prayer emails and the Serve Globally prayer calendar. For updated requests, churches and individuals can contact our team
We are committed to supporting Covenant Kids Congo through prayer and are grateful to be part of ECCC’s weekly prayer emails and the Serve Globally prayer calendar. For updated requests, churches and individuals can contact our team
The Global 6K for Water allows Canadian churches to support clean water initiatives in DR Congo. Th is year, 35 people from three ECCC churches participated, raising over $2500. This event makes a real impact! To learn more, scan the QR code.
The Global 6K for Water allows Canadian churches to support clean water initiatives in DR Congo. Th is year, 35 people from three ECCC churches participated, raising over $2500. This event makes a real impact! To learn more, scan the QR code.
The Global 6K for Water allows Canadian churches to support clean water initiatives in DR Congo. Th is year, 35 people from three ECCC churches participated, raising over $2500. This event makes a real impact! To learn more, scan the QR code.
The Global 6K for Water allows Canadian churches to support clean water initiatives in DR Congo. Th is year, 35 people from three ECCC churches participated, raising over $2500. This event makes a real impact! To learn more, scan the QR code.
Amid ongoing conflict in Goma, we invite churches and individuals to give through World Vision to support relief efforts. Your contributions provide essential aid to those in need. Scan to give.
Amid ongoing conflict in Goma, we invite churches and individuals to give through World Vision to support relief efforts. Your contributions provide essential aid to those in need. Scan to give.
Amid ongoing conflict in Goma, we invite churches and individuals to give through World Vision to support relief efforts. Your contributions provide essential aid to those in need. Scan to give.
Amid ongoing conflict in Goma, we invite churches and individuals to give through World Vision to support relief efforts. Your contributions provide essential aid to those in need. Scan to give.
Since February 2024, 35 children have been sponsored in Karawa by Canadians at Emmanuel, Erickson, Green Timbers, and Stonehouse. These sponsorships represent lives changed, communities strengthened, and hope restored. We praise God for the generosity of these congregations and look forward to seeing more churches join this transformative work!
Since February 2024, 35 children have been sponsored in Karawa by Canadians at Emmanuel, Erickson, Green Timbers, and Stonehouse. These sponsorships represent lives changed, communities strengthened, and hope restored. We praise God for the generosity of these congregations and look forward to seeing more churches join this transformative work!
Since February 2024, 35 children have been sponsored in Karawa by Canadians at Emmanuel, Erickson, Green Timbers, and Stonehouse. These sponsorships represent lives changed, communities strengthened, and hope restored. We praise God for the generosity of these congregations and look forward to seeing more churches join this transformative work!
Since February 2024, 35 children have been sponsored in Karawa by Canadians at Emmanuel, Erickson, Green Timbers, and Stonehouse. These sponsorships represent lives changed, communities strengthened, and hope restored. We praise God for the generosity of these congregations and look forward to seeing more churches join this transformative work!
As we continue to grow this partnership, we invite more churches to en gage in prayer, sponsorship, and advocacy. Whether through participating in Chosen, walking the Global 6K, or contributing to relief efforts, every action taken is a step toward a brighter future for the children and families of DR Congo. Thank you to all who have joined us in this mission. Together, we are making a difference!
As we continue to grow this partnership, we invite more churches to en gage in prayer, sponsorship, and advocacy. Whether through participating in Chosen, walking the Global 6K, or contributing to relief efforts, every action taken is a step toward a brighter future for the children and families of DR Congo. Thank you to all who have joined us in this mission. Together, we are making a difference!
As we continue to grow this partnership, we invite more churches to en gage in prayer, sponsorship, and advocacy. Whether through participating in Chosen, walking the Global 6K, or contributing to relief efforts, every action taken is a step toward a brighter future for the children and families of DR Congo. Thank you to all who have joined us in this mission. Together, we are making a difference! +1 224-935-0221
As we continue to grow this partnership, we invite more churches to en gage in prayer, sponsorship, and advocacy. Whether through participating in Chosen, walking the Global 6K, or contributing to relief efforts, every action taken is a step toward a brighter future for the children and families of DR Congo. Thank you to all who have joined us in this mission. Together, we are making a difference!
The people of Ecuador know radical hospitality well, as we were once again welcomed with enthusiasm and warmth during our November 2024 ECCC Canadian Ecuador Adventure trip. Our time in Ecuador involved spending moments with our brothers and sisters in Christ at our partner church in San Antonio: Iglesia del Pacto Evangelico La Hermosa. We learned from one another as we worked in their new bakery, mastering the art of making famous bizchocos. In exchange, we shared bannock over an open fire and some freshly baked cookies. We shared testimonies during the ladies’ bible study and had an opportunity to be a part of their Sunday service, sharing music and a message of Hope. This time spent with our friends strengthened relationships and connections, and Pastor Francisco valued our intentional breaks from our ‘work’ plans to get to know the community. The community’s hospitality is evident in their eagerness to provide delicious meals and spend quality time with us, getting to know us while sharing stories of hope.
Our 10-day adventure continued as we spent time working alongside The Santiago Partnership. Our trips include a tour of Casa Hogar, the medical clinic, and the Forever Flowers self-sustaining program. In all three ministry tours, we had the opportunity to conduct a soul-care workshop with the staff. At Casa Hogar, we played a game or two with the children and took them and the staff on a swimming adventure. The Canada Covenant is the only support community that brings funds to take the children out of the home on some adventure, which we all look forward to every year.
In Ecuador, 9 out of 10 women experience some form of violence and The Santiago Partnership is working alongside many in the work of ending this violence. During our time in Ecuador, our team was invited to a court session that included the SUMAK staff, that addressed concerns about and eradicating violence against women. Many Ecuadorian officials were present to listen and affirm that this is indeed the direction Ecuador must continue to pursue.
We also had the opportunity to work with the women of SUMAK and hear some of their stories of healing from domestic abuse. SUMAK is a hub of creativity, offering women who have been victims of domestic abuse an opportunity to learn a marketable skill, be a part of a community, and heal. While together, we could share an encouraging word with them and pray over them.
The ECCC Ecuador Adventure trips offer a remarkable chance to step beyond your comfort zone and embrace new experiences. Each trip brings its unique moments, and it’s always inspiring to see the incredible ways God is working in Ecuador! One participant has left this piece of advice for us: “I’ve heard people say, ‘Wouldn’t it be better just to send the money that I’d spend on flights, etc., directly to the people we’d be serving?’ and I think it’s an odd argument. I don’t think it’s what you can do for the people and places you are going to serve; it’s about joining alongside, experiencing their culture, meeting new friends, and tasting the local food. It is ‘taste and see that the Lord is good’ (Psalms 34:8) in real life.”
So, we invite you to go and “taste and see that the Lord is good” this November.
Ecuador Team: Natasha Westerhoud, Arden Gustafson, Sarah Pascoe
Thank you for being part of Here 4 Haiti this year! Your generosity is transforming lives, and we can’t thank you enough for your prayers, support, and action. Because of you, vital projects continue despite the ongoing crisis in Haiti. In 2024, you helped raise just over $85,000, making an incredible impact.
Your Impact in Action
• Feeding 160 children every week through the Petite Anse Feeding Project—giving kids the nourishment they need to grow and thrive.
• Providing life-saving medical care for over 1,600 patients at Sante 2000, including critical diabetes treatment.
• Supporting 100 elderly individuals at Sarepta, ensuring they receive essential food and care.
• Expanding sustainable food sources with 14 fish ponds through the Aquaculture Project, creating local economic opportunities.
Your generosity is making an immediate and lasting difference. And our Haitian leaders—like Dr. Manno (Sante 2000), Ismanette and Pastor Dugue (Petite Anse), Madame Mark (Sarepta), and Valery (Aquaculture)—are working tirelessly to bring hope, health, and stability to their communities.
Why Your Support is More Important Than Ever
Haiti remains in crisis. The economy has been severely impacted, making food, medicine, and fuel harder to access. Prices have skyrocketed—something as simple as a bag of rice has doubled in the past four years from $16 to over $37 USD now. But despite these hardships, our Haitian partners remain committed to their communities, and so do we.
We know it’s hard to hear about ongoing struggles without quick solutions. But here’s the good news: You are part of the solution. Your support directly impacts real people, providing tangible relief and sustainable change.
How You Can Make a Difference in 2025
Want to keep making an impact? Here are three ways to help:
1. Sign Up for the Newsletter – Get inspiring stories and updates straight to your inbox.
2. Host a Fundraiser – Engage your church or community to raise funds and awareness. We provide all the tools and support you need!
3. Give Monthly – Small, consistent gifts make a huge difference. $12/month feeds a child, $25/month supports three elderly individuals, and $75/month provides life-saving medical care for three patients.
Watch & Share
Video: Petite Anse Feeding Project – Help your church and family imagine what it’s like to be hungry and unsure where the next meal will come from. This two-minute video is perfect for sharing with kids and congregations. Watch now and spread the word!
You Are the Difference
Every meal, every medical treatment, every opportunity given—it all happens because of you. Your generosity isn’t just providing aid; it’s creating hope, stability, and a future for communities in Haiti. Let’s keep making a difference together. Share the story. Get your church involved. Keep Haiti in your prayers. Thank you for being Here 4 Haiti. We couldn’t do this without you!
Quick Links:
• Host a Here 4 Haiti Sunday: covchurch.ca/haiti4churches
• Start a fundraiser: covchurch.ca/fundraise
• Sign up for the newsletter: covchurch.ca/haiti
2024 that was forwarded to our team of Tearfund Canada a partner of the Canadian Food Grains Bank to work with programs teaching Agriculture through churches in Ethiopia. The Canadian government adds a lot to the team with varying amounts of matching funds.
Team work like the above is making the dream work in so many ways. Storage of the extra crop grown because of farming methods that mitigate much of the extreme weather conditions encountered is now needed! This followed by better marketing made possible by storage is making a HUGE difference in peoples lives. Thank you so much for any part you have had in this!
Please pray that troubles in economic, political and violent events prevalent in so many parts of the world won’t reverse the steady wonderfully contagious progress being made by so many families!
Ray Baloun, The Grain Guy
Learn more about supporting the work of Canadian Covenant farmers and Virtual Farmers (donors) in partnership with the Canadian Foodgrains Bank and Tearfund Canada.
It has been a devastating year for our friends and partners in the MENA region. War continues in Gaza. While still recovering from various disasters of the last few years, airstrikes batter Syria and Lebanon. This already complex region is experiencing the horror of war and all of the terror and uncertainty that comes with it. Lord, have mercy. We continue to come alongside partners in the region to support those in need of aid and encouragement, as well as support their work in peacemaking and discipleship. Partners like Musalaha are active in bringing people together across differences, working with young people to be change agents in their homes and communities. Bethlehem Bible College continues to invest in the education and discipleship of Christian leaders and through their Shepherd Society provides food aid to neighbours near and far. These are just a few examples of how our partners are seeking shalom and reflecting the light and love of Christ in their communities. Please pray for our siblings in Christ as they serve their neighbours and seek to be the hands and feet of Jesus while living in deeply challenging circumstances.
A group of 7 Canadian Covenanters joined our friends and partners at Bethlehem Bible College at the Christ at the Checkpoint conference in Bethlehem in May 2025. Here they heard first hand the devastating stories of destruction, pain, and loss that our Palestinian siblings are enduring in the wake of the war in Gaza. We heard powerful stories that demonstrated the “sumud”, or steadfastness, of the Palestinian people as they live in the midst of conflict. We walked through the empty Church of the Nativity, normally crowded with tourists, and saw the economic and social impacts of the war on the people of Bethlehem. Our siblings in Christ in Palestine remain committed to embodying the radical love and peace of Christ even as they endure the suffering of war. Their commitment to non-violent activism was both inspirational and convicting - how do we in the West respond to their call to action and follow their example? We were also witness to the trauma of war on the people of Israel and the impact that it has on Israeli communities. No
one is untouched by the tragedy of war. Together we spent time praying, worshipping, learning, connecting - all treasured moments with our dear friends. It was an honour to join them in their home as an act of solidarity. In this current climate of conflict, Christians being on the ground and present with our siblings in Christ is more important than ever.
One of the most exciting developments in the past year is the relationship we have built with Serve Globally Personnel serving in Palestine/Israel. And we have included an update directly from them:
“Our Palestinian and Israeli Civil Society Leaders group is nearly halfway through the workshops! Our last session focused on co-advocacy, and now we’re beginning to brainstorm projects where we can co-resist against inequality. It’s been inspiring to see Israelis and Palestinians engage in hard conversations, build meaningful relationships, and explore how they can use their skills to serve one another. In another project in Lydd and Ramla, we’ve started recruiting participants. Lydd is a particularly challenging city in Israel, with a history of ethnic cleansing, religious tensions, and some of the highest murder rates in the country. We’re also working hard on our Arabic studies, and it’s going well! We’re putting in a lot of effort to understand the history and land more deeply. We’re continuing to build community in Israel and Palestine and grow in our understanding of the cultural nuances around us.”
We ask for your continued prayers for the important work in this region. In May 2025, Eric and Sally will be leading a group of Covenant leaders to connect with our partners. Please be praying for this important trip and for opportunities to bring groups to Israel/ Palestine in the future. Our hope is to continue to deepen these partnerships and give opportunities for more Covenanters to engage in this holy work of seeking after peace and justice in the Holy Land.
MENA Team: Sally Carlson, Eric Hedberg, Jeff Anderson, Sarah Pascoe
support. While my position at AEC was largely funded by mission support, the school was forced to lay off all remaining staff and pause programming indefinitely. I remained on staff but as efforts to find school funding failed, I sensed the need to consider new employment that would keep me serving youth and young adults.
As I began exploring job options this Fall, I sensed the need to look outside of Christian ministries and check out some other youth serving nonprofits. My prayer was to find a healthy organization where I could use my gifts to continue to serve statewide. The one I was most impressed by is Volunteers of America. VOA Alaska is a nonprofit that provides a wide
range of services for Alaskan youth, young adults, and their families including mental health, recovery, and housing.
In February, I joined VOA Alaska as their Prevention Manager. While this is a new field of work for me, there is a lot of overlap in addressing the practical needs of youth and young adults within this role. I also have the opportunity to connect our statewide ministry network with some valuable resources. I’m excited to continue serving while having access to a wide range of employee benefits and resources, as well.
While we still ask for your prayers as we serve the Lord here, we no longer depend on mission support for salary.
Again, we cannot thank you enough for the ways you’ve generously supported us. We hope to stay connected by keeping the “Lantz Family Serving Alaska” Facebook page. We also want to remain a resource for partnering with Alaskan ministries. Below you’ll find our personal contact info.
“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:3-6 (NIV)
With Gratitude, Marc & Angela
814-952-5944 PO Box 876443 • Wasilla, AK 99687
Esperanza means hope in Spanish. It comes also from the verb Esperar which means ‘to wait for’. This has been a word in Spanish that has filled my life over the years. There has been a lot of waiting. Waiting for documents, visas, answers. There has been even more hope. Together it becomes a hopeful waiting. A bold, confident, faith filled, radical hope in the waiting. God has firmly rooted many ministries, has confirmed in so many ways my calling to serve him here, his will and guidance lived out in life. The words of faith, surrender, and obedience will always be inscribed on my heart and I am so grateful for the unexplainable faith and conviction in this missionary life; the strength to keep stepping forward even when I can’t see past the next step. Because I know that he has a huge plan, much greater than I can even imagine. And I know he is at work in ways I don’t know and don’t need to know. I only have to continue to say “Yes Lord” with open hands and a surrendered Heart.
Thank you for your support and prayers over the last year. The messages and chats were wonderful and encouraging. Your commitments financially have allowed the work of God to grow and expand in Argentina. I am honoured to be his servant.
2024 was filled with National Events for the Youth, Ladies, and Mens groups. These were the first in many years. I had the privilege to work alongside the various leaders in the planning, logistics and travel, teachings and also standing back and watching God move in and through various people and families.
2024 ministry included the continuation of CHET (Centro Hispano de Estudios Teológicos) seminary. I am part of the leadership board for the Centro de Capacitación (CdC) which oversees the courses; and I am also one of the tutors. In 2025 we will have our first graduation ceremony! Praise God! In addition to this, discipleship classes, Bible studies, English classes, hikes and healthy foods, and being present and living life with others filled the days and weeks. I am thankful to be used by God in whatever way he has planned on any given day; and to be able to walk alongside others in their processes, see healing in health/marriages/families.
In the North there is a new church plant that started out being a center for serving and supporting those coming off the streets, out of addiction and restoring broken families.
There are various projects in every church; and especially the Predio property in La Plata, Cielos Abiertos in Florencia Varela and their prison ministry, Congregation Nissi finishing construction on their building; as well as numerous outreach programs in every church.
There will be a lot of travel this year as I accompany pastors from Argentina to Gather in June; and to CIPE in Mexico in October. I plan to be in the USA and Canada for a few weeks after Gather and would love to connect with you! In 2024 and already in 2025 I have received a few visitors and one youth as part of the Merge/Serve Globally Immersion. The ministry of being present – within the church and within the barrios (neighbourhoods) continues. Hosting groups and families in my home, transportation, meals, the list goes on. Supporting and assisting pastors and groups in whatever is needed.
Thank you again for your support and prayers. I pray for what God will do at the AGM in Canada, and for each of you. I continue to be overwhelmingly loved on and encouraged by your commitments to serve and support alongside myself and Argentina in God’s Kingdom
JAMIE KIM
A great harvest is coming to North Korea - if only we do not give up. Paraphrasing Apostle Paul, us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest in North Korea if we do not give up”
international Christian organizations have worked inside North Korea since 1995 when North Korea opened its doors to the world due to famine. They have sowed God’s love for over thirty years and His word will not return void (Isaiah 55:11). God’s desire is for the people of North Korea to know God’s love and to have an abundant life in Christ.
Entry into North Korea requires projects. Therefore, to reap the great harvest in North Korea, we need both workers and projects. To that end, Reah International has been training workers from countries like Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Mexico, the Philippines, and the United States. Moreover, Reah is taking the initiative to begin the North Korea association whose purpose is to collaborate together to begin projects inside North Korea. The association is composed of organizations and churches from all over the world to see a great harvest in North Korea. Great Harvest, check out
North Korea is a place of humanitarian and religious needs. The latest United Nations report (2020), entitled DPR Korea Needs and Priorities 2020, tallies the needs to a population of 5.5 million prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable, namely children under-five and pregnant and lactating women. The people in need index (PiN) calculates 10.4 million people, out of a national population of 26 million, need urgent nutrition and medical support. Moreover, North Korea continues to top the religious persecution charts.
Empower 2025 in Seoul, Korea from October 1-3. Please check reah.org/empower for more information.
2. The official launching of the North Korea association will take place from September 29 to 30th before Empower 2025.
3. Please sign up for Reah’s newsletter at info@reah.org
4. Your contribution to Reah is multiplied because Reah’s thrust for North Korea is for unity and collaboration of the church. We need $40,000 for creating an animation discipleship curriculum and $20,000 for the North Korea Association meeting in September.
How you can get involved:
1. Attend Reah’s North Korea conference called
Thank you for your prayers and support.
Hello dear friends, we are the Rifes. I (Rob) was born and raised in Calgary. Rae was born in Wales but grew up in Calgary. It was there we met and married in 1988. We have two grown sons, Graeme in Calgary (but moving to Halifax) and Calum in Yakima, Washington. And we are proud to serve as a tentmaker couple with Serve Globally in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Rae works for Surgeon’s Quarter Travel, helping medical and dental surgeons travel the globe assisting, training, and, specifically, adjudicating accreditation exams. Her gifts are very much as a marketplace faith-conversationalist enjoying relationships with co-workers and colleagues drawn to Jesus through her effervescence and authenticity. She’s a born evangelist!
I serve at the intersection of creativity/imagination, faith/ formation, and addiction/recovery. What that looks like in real terms is a lot of time spent in redemptive conversations both locally and by Zoom with others like me learning to live Spirit-led lives of sobriety. The various ministry events and partnerships in which I’m involved coalesce in what I call the Creative Recovery Initiative. This involves many events and relationships of an imaginative-contemplative nature designed to help others like me to navigate their journey toward wholeness from addiction/alcoholism. It is also the title of a new video series by the same name.
Much of our ministry is rooted in a partnership with St. James Scottish Episcopal Church, a collective deeply committed to community engagement, Christian formation, arts & imagination, and recovery. We engage together in our shared journey toward sobriety in creative and spiritually transformative ways.
We’ve been so grateful to see the growing and positive response to our weekly Siloam contemplative recovery event. A monthly open mic event, The Well, offers poets, storytellers, comics, dancers, and musicians of all kinds to ply their trade and join with others suffering from physical or mental issues in a safe, supportive, and sober environment. I have loved acting as a spiritual guide and mentor to those pursuing a
life of sobriety who are thirsty to know more about the life, teaching, and example of Jesus Christ.
Life among addict/alcoholics is never a straight line; one step forward, two back at times. However, through it all, in our stories we keep seeing Jesus everywhere. We are so deeply grateful to all who support us. Now, what we need more than ever is for still others to come alongside us in prayer and as financial partners so that this ministry can have an even more solid and lasting foundation.
Ceud Mìle Fàilte (a hundred thousand welcomes)!
To view additional documents for the 121st Annual General Meeting, please visit the webpage below:
covchurch.ca/annual-general-meeting
