Our Story

In the 1970s, a weekly meeting known as “Take and Give” (TAG) drew thousands to the D.C. area for passionate Bible teaching. C.J. Mahaney, a young preacher converted in the wake of the Jesus Movement, was one of the leaders of TAG’s successful ministry. He longed for something more than an assembly of loosely connected Christians. C.J. and other leaders wanted to build a local church like those they saw modeled in the New Testament.

So in 1977, they started a church. A small group of Christians (22 at the first meeting) began to gather in the basement of a suburban Maryland home. Together, they committed to build a community where they could learn and grow and worship God together.

As the young church grew, it met in dozens of local schools and facilities around Montgomery County. Then in the early ‘90s, God provided 40 acres in the middle of Gaithersburg, where Covenant Life began to build a permanent home.

In 1997, God drew a young author and speaker named Joshua Harris to the vision of the local church. After much prayer and counsel, Joshua moved from Oregon to Maryland to be trained in ministry by C.J. At Covenant Life, Joshua encountered a church that earnestly applied God’s Word, loved the work of God’s Spirit, and prized genuine relationships.

Seven years later, in 2004, C.J. installed Joshua Harris as the new senior pastor of the church that he founded. After 27 years of faithful pastoring, C.J. could now give himself to serving Sovereign Grace Ministries full time.

Covenant Life continues to be a growing, culturally diverse church with evangelistic passion, love for the local community, and a commitment to planting other churches. Though our family has grown, Covenant Life is still working to build a community of gospel-centered people—the same goal cherished by those first 22 members who met in a basement.