First Evangelical Covenant Church

First Evangelical Covenant Church celebrates with member Allan Barsema, whose ground-breaking non-profit work as the founder of The Carpenter's Place and Community Collaboration, Inc., has been nationally recognized with two recent awards: The Encore Careers 2010 Purpose Prize (presented by Civic Ventures), and the Harvard Bright Ideas Innovations Award. These ministries, marked by the highly creative and effective methods employed by Barsema, his wife Cathy, and the staff of the organizations, have not only had a profound impact on Rockford, but have served as models for outreach organizations far beyond our local community. First Evangelical Covenant Church continues to partner with Barsema, and many volunteers are able to see first-hand such excellent ministry in motion.

Read more about the awards:

NIU Today: Civic Ventures names NIU’s Allan Barsema among 10 winners of its National Purpose Prize

Encore Careers: Purpose Prize Winner Allan Barsema

Evangelical Covenant Church: Covenanter Honored With Innovative Ministry Award

Harvard Kennedy School: Bright Ideas

Thirteen First Covenant students (entering grades 6-9) plus five high school “Jr Leaders” took a two day “trip” experiencing and serving at various Ministry sites in the Rockford area July 19-20. Day One began early with the students making and serving a pancake breakfast to 50 guests at Carpenters Place, helping to organize a storage area and receiving a very informative tour of CP. After lunch at Restoration Café, Chaplin Sowell from the Rockford Jail Ministry shared about the Bible Study Ministry for prisoners and the group was given an extensive tour of the Jail.

Located across West State Street is the Rockford Rescue Mission where students again had the opportunity to learn more about homelessness in our city. After dinner there was a Guided Prayer Tour to various sites and the Team prayed for those that work, volunteer, or are served at these places: Viet Now, NIWC (Abortion clinic), businesses located on Broadway, Crusader Clinic, RRM Resale Store, Patriots Gateway, Zion Lutheran Development Inc, Rock House Kids Church, Carpenters Place, Rockford Area Pregnancy Center, Rockford Jail Ministry and the Rockford Rescue Mission.

First Covenant recently bought a seven passenger van for our Sister Church in Kalinovka, Ukraine. The following is a letter from Pastor Igor:

Dear Church of the Lord Jesus Christ in Rockford!

Following Matthew 25:40, "... whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me," seventeen junior high students lived out a three-day serving experience at River Bluff Nursing Home, Kids Around the World (Feed My Starving Children), The Carpenter's Place and our own PARK ministry. The experience was modeled after the high school missions trip last summer in Chicago through CSM (Center for Student Missions), a nationwide ministry with sites in major cities.

Over 5,000 teenagers from across the country gathered at the University of Tennessee campus in Knoxville July 12-17 to celebrate the Covenant's triennial Youth Conference, CHIC. Our church was well represented by 17 students and 4 adults. The week was an inspiring time of daytime sessions focusing on a variety of topics. Evening worship shared passionate praise music and challenging speakers.