ESL (English as a Second Language)
The English as a Second Language (ESL) Ministry is designed to help internationals learn the English language and American culture, to provide exposure to the American Christian community, and to facilitate the development of relationships with Americans as well as other internationals.
English classes are taught in a relaxed, informal group setting. Classes meet at Covenant Life Church and include time for group discussion relevant to the students’ needs and interests. Each class has a teacher and an English-speaking assistant. Class sizes are typically around 10 students, all from various nations and language backgrounds, thereby requiring the students to speak in English. Dinner and child care are provided free of charge.
Registration and testing for the Spring 2010 semester will be held on March 31, at 7 p.m. (There is no pre-registration for the course.) Classes meet weekly on Wednesday nights at 7 p.m. from April 7 to June 16. The cost for the course is $60, plus $20 if a book is required.
Call or e-mail Kari Faherty at the church office with any questions. There are many opportunities to serve in this ministry. To express your interest, visit the LINK table in the church lobby on Sunday.
Classes are offered at the following levels:
Beginner:
Beginner classes are for students with little to no English background or instruction. Classes are designed to teach students the basics of English language conversation.
Intermediate I and II:
Intermediate classes are for students with some English background or instruction. Classes are designed to teach students how to become comfortable using English at their jobs, in social settings and in various daily activities (shopping, eating, traveling).
Advanced I and II:
Advanced classes are for students who are accomplished in conversational English but who wish to further develop their writing skills, enunciation, and vocabulary. Time is given to learning idioms, writing, speaking in front of the class, and discussing culture.
The Au Pair Place
The Au Pair Place creates an environment for au pairs* to develop friendships with members of Covenant Life Church who are enthusiastic about helping them transition into American culture and the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. We offer a number of social events where au pairs can meet Americans and other au pairs and increase their knowledge of American culture.
What Does the Au Pair Place Do?
Friendship Partners
The Au Pair Place seeks to make au pairs feel welcome by connecting them with an American of similar age during their time here in the United States. This friendship partner is available to help the au pair adjust to a new culture and get acquainted with the area.Monthly Au Pair Coffeehouses
These coffeehouses take place on the first Friday of each month from 7:30 to 10 p.m. at Covenant Life Church. The gathering provides a context for au pairs to meet new people while enjoying coffee and refreshments. All au pairs are welcome.Other Events:
About once a month the Au Pair Place organizes various events to provide additional opportunities to get to know each other and have fun. In the past, such events included dinners, excursions to downtown DC, movie nights, and day trips to the beach.
To learn more about any of our events and programs, please visit our blog or e-mail Besilica Reaves.
*An au pair is a young international who comes to another country to live with a host family and provides them with child care for a summer, a year, or up to two years. In return the au pair receives a small salary and the opportunity to experience the American culture and take a few educational classes.
OneU
OneU is the campus outreach ministry of Covenant Life Church that aims above all else to spread the fame of Jesus Christ so that students treasure Him and embrace His church. We’re a community of students, theologians, nerds, missionaries, athletes, artists, and engineers who have been radically changed by Jesus Christ and now desire to saturate the college campus with the gospel of Jesus Christ and to raise up disciples who will spread His fame to the ends of the earth. For more information e-mail Christy Sullivan, or call the church office.
Christian Legal Aid
Christian Legal Aid of Covenant Life Church (“CLA”) provides free legal counsel on most legal issues to those who could not otherwise afford it. During a one hour meeting with a CLA attorney and other CLA team members, the client’s legal issues will be clarified, key background information and documents identified, immediate assistance provided as appropriate, and immediate issues resolved where possible. Where matters cannot be resolved in the initial meeting, the CLA attorney may provide referrals to other CLA referral attorneys or to full-time legal aid services in the area, or appropriate social service agencies, and occasionally may take on the matter personally for further pro bono assistance.
A clinic is held on the second Saturday of every month at Covenant Life Church. CLA is not set up to handle walk in cases, but rather requires an intake form, which includes financial qualification screening, to be completed and submitted at least one week prior to the clinic. For more information or to receive an intake form, please e-mail Christy Sullivan, or call the church office.
Prison Ministry
There are thousands of men in our community that society would largely like to forget—those in our local prisons. Covenant Life’s Prison Ministry exists to proclaim and model the gospel for those very men. Every Wednesday evening, a highly dedicated team extends friendship, care and compassion to inmates in the Montgomery County Correctional Facility in Clarksburg. There is a time of worship, teaching and small group discussion to help the men understand and apply God’s Word in their present situation. The team often develops long-term relationships and helps inmates get acclimated to society and a local church upon release.
Foster Care
Every December since 2006, Covenant Life families have given Christmas gifts to hundreds of children in the Montgomery County foster care system. Giving Christmas gifts has been the first of what we hope will be many opportunities to minister to local foster children and their families in the future. We hope to serve in a variety of capacities, from meeting one-time needs of foster kids and parents, to short-term and long-term foster parenting. This may include opportunities such as personal mentoring, providing foster parents with much needed rest and serving as emergency caregivers for children who have just been separated from there parents and are awaiting a foster home. If you are interested in this expanding area of ministry, please e-mail Carolyn McCulley.
Soup Kitchen
Numerous men, women and children living in our community are homeless and without a steady source of food. The Lord’s Table, sponsored by St. Martin’s Church, feeds many of our areas needy with hot meals and warm fellowship each week. Covenant Life’s Soup Kitchen Ministry serves the first Wednesday and fourth Friday of each month, preparing and serving food to the needy at The Lord’s Table soup kitchen.