Church Blog

September 1 2010 at 6:30 pm

For Ladies: Saturday Morning Seminars

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This year, the women’s ministry of Covenant Life Church will be hosting two Saturday Morning Seminars for the women of the church and their guests. These seminars are designed to provide encouragement and teaching on a variety of issues, with some seminars targeting the needs of specific groups of women. Here are details on the first seminar:

Charlotte Ennis: An Ordinary Woman and Her Extraordinary God
Walking with God as a Single Woman
Date: Saturday, October 23
Time: 9 a.m. to noon
Location: Events Center

You may think that being single means being alone, but nothing could be further from the truth for the Christian. Our amazing, loving God is always near and always much more involved than we can imagine.

Is it possible to find faith, hope, and joy no matter what? Who is this God who loved us so much that He gave his only Son to save us? What does he say about himself and us? How can we not only be encouraged but excited about the future? Join us as Charlotte Ennis shares a look back on her 20-year walk as a Christian single woman, from the amazing moments to the ordinary days.

This seminar is geared toward single women eighteen and over; however, all women 12 and up are welcome and will come away blessed and inspired by Charlotte’s teaching and example. Please join us for a time of teaching and Q&A. No registration required.

Bio
Charlotte Ennis became a Christian at the age of 21. She spent more than 20 years as a working single before she married Pat Ennis (now Executive Director of Sovereign Grace Ministries) in 1995. Charlotte, a UCLA graduate, was the Research and Administrative Services Manager at a large Washington, D.C., publishing company and a member of the board of directors of a subsidiary company.

Today, Charlotte and Pat have three children and reside in Gaithersburg. They are long-time members of Covenant Life Church.




September 1 2010 at 5:51 pm

A Story of Living Hope: Matt Lowe

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The Lowe Family


Matt Lowe shared with the church family this past Sunday about his struggle with a recurrent brain tumor that has required multiple surgeries and presented serious challenges for his family. Although this trial is ongoing, the Lowes continue to be an example of faith and joy in suffering.

Matt’s wife Helen accompanied him on stage, and after his testimony, Joshua and others from the pastoral team prayed for the family. Matt and Helen have six children, ranging in age from 1 to 13.




September 1 2010 at 1:45 pm

‘A Front Row Seat’ at Introducing God

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Small group discussion at Introducing God

In the fall of 2009, I found myself fresh out of college with loads of unscheduled time. God had been working in my heart in the area of evangelism, largely due to the influence of Jon Smith, who is now leading the OneU campus ministry at University of Maryland, College Park. I’d really been struck by Jesus’ commission in Matthew 28 to “make disciples of all nations.” As I prayed about ways to evangelize, I recalled the amazing opportunity we have at Covenant Life Church through the Introducing God course.

There were many things that struck me as I led a discussion group. I was reminded that our guests are not projects that we target with the gospel, but real people I could begin loving, listening to, and sharing the love of Christ with. And yes, they do need the saving message of the gospel, since those who haven’t trusted in Christ for salvation are under God’s wrath. I was amazed as I watched God work in hearts, and humbled as I saw that it often had to do with God’s timing and not my “eloquent speech.” This drove me to pray more often and with more fervency. It’s funny how much more real and “alive” prayers can become when you’re thrown into a situation that you can’t control. God is the one who saves, and the only one who can change hearts. This truth resulted in much joy and confidence as I lead the group. I found myself praying even during the group times.

Not only was I humbled, but I learned how to listen better, love better, and pray more. And as I saw God work in the group, my faith grew. One girl in my group got saved in the first couple of weeks. He gave her a hunger for his Word, and she came to the point where she believed. Another guy in the group was quieter, but at the overnight (a weekend mini-retreat that’s part of Introducing God), he professed faith in Christ as well. Another is now a friend, is seeking to understand the gospel, and has come to Covenant Life many times since. I’m praying God will open his eyes. I’ve also heard countless testimonies from those whom God saved at the overnight; it was a sweet time of seeing the Spirit at work.

Finally, I was amazed at how God worked in me. I don’t normally expect to be the beneficiary when I go somewhere to “serve,” but I learned so much from the guests, from the teachings by Mark and Robin, and from working with my group.

If you have a hunger for evangelism and are trying to find a way to get a kick-start, try serving in IG. If you don’t have a desire to evangelize, come serve in IG and watch God grow you in this area. If you don’t have the time to commit to serving in IG, please pray for our volunteers and guests.

In John 3 God tells Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the kingdom of God. Only God can bring the new birth, so let’s pray that he will do this in the lives of many who enter the doors of Covenant Life Church! God calls us all to evangelism, and IG is one way you can evangelize alongside other Christians, learn from them, and get a front row seat to how God is using this church to powerfully spread his gospel!

—Andrew “Ace” Leyva

 




August 24 2010 at 3:23 pm

Mexico Mission Trips in October

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Team from the Trip in March, 2010

UPDATED INFORMATION (posted August 24):

Week #1 of the Missions Trip to Guadalupe, Mexico, is confirmed. A team will definitely be going the week of October 16-23 to continue work on the Rancho 3M baby home. The trip for the second week, October 23-30, is tentative at this time; whether it goes forward depends upon the number of people who respond and other factors. Covenant Life members who have skills in the drywall, insulation or plumbing trades are encouraged to express their desire to participate by e-mailing Kjersten Blair or calling her at the church office.

Servants from Covenant Life have been working on construction of a baby home at the Rancho 3M Orphanage in Guadalupe since the summer of 2009. The last trip involving construction was in June of this year.




August 18 2010 at 11:55 am

Serving Our Neighbors Across the Road

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In a continuing effort to bring a gospel witness to the community immediately surrounding Covenant Life Church, a number of church members have begun a weekly ministry to the Laytonia community. Laytonia is the small, largely self-contained community right across Muncaster Mill Road from the church building.

According to one resident, a Laytonia homeowner for over 40 years, the community used to be an upscale neighborhood of single-family homes. However, through the years, with the progression of extensive development throughout the Gaithersburg area, Laytonia slowly declined to become a socially and economically distressed neighborhood.

But there is reason for optimism. A homeowners association is in place and is increasingly active to take measures to improve the neighborhood. In God’s providence Covenant Life member and staffer Joe Moorman was recently appointed as the president of the HOA.

Covenant Life has sought to be a good neighbor to Laytonia in recent years through service projects such as trash pickup days and the renovation of the Laytonia Community Center. In addition, members Peter and Shirley Giglio have been actively serving the children and families of the community through a weekly boys and girls club.

This summer, Todd Keeler and his family organized a local mission week for the 10:31 Youth Ministry, which included the Laytonia neighborhood. Youth from Covenant Life spent time interacting with children in a Vacation Bible School-type setting, bonds were formed, and God was clearly at work in numerous ways.

On the final day of the outreach, about 15 children from Laytonia crossed Muncaster Mill Road and entered Covenant Life’s facility for the first time in their lives. They enjoyed a building tour, played some games, and heard a brief gospel message. At the conclusion we asked, “How many of you would like to learn more about the Savior, Jesus Christ?”  To our delight, every one raised their hands!

Since that week, Covenant Life members have continued to pray for and plan ways to serve the Laytonia community. Since mid-July a number of members, young and old(er), have been reaching out on Tuesday afternoons. A typical gathering includes playing games like football, soccer and four square. One Tuesday a water balloon toss turned into a water balloon fight!  Youth including Jenna Fourney and Katie and Alexis Ambrose have been organizing crafts, and the kids have come to the community center for Bible teaching more than once. It has been wonderful to see the how attentive they are.

Last week, we played an intense game of kick-ball—Covenant Life vs. Laytonia—and unfortunately, we got trounced 12 - 4! They had some big kickers and swift feet on their team. A rematch is in store for this week.

It has been a delight to connect with this community and to be able to bring the love and light of God’s Word with us. We see God at work through us in this ministry and in us as well.

Looking forward, the plan is to have an ongoing presence in the Laytonia community and to seek to be faithful to the Great Commission in our own back yard. Greg Somerville has already begun a Good News Club in the local elementary school. And plans are being made to offer a reading, writing and math enrichment program for the younger children, a homework club, a mentoring ministry, and to serve the youth in a setting similar to Introducing God.

To find learn more about this ministry or to participate, please contact Drew Garfield or me. We would love to have you join in this venture. For sure, we would appreciate the prayers of God’s people as we look to the Lord to lead and bless this ministry.

Ben Wikner




August 11 2010 at 1:45 pm

Greeting Team: All Hands On Deck for Week #1

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Greeting and expressing the Savior’s love to our guests is a gospel priority and a wonderful part of our church life. Isn’t it a pleasure to see our guests properly welcomed and cared for each Sunday?

Right now, the Greeting Team is short-handed for the second service in general, particularly for week #1. Church members, please take a moment to prayerfully consider when you can serve, and contact LINK today. Thank you!

 

 

 




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