Churches Celebrate Installation of New Pastor

DRESDEN, KS (May 10, 2012) – Herndon Covenant Church cancelled its worship services on Sunday with congregants instead attending the installation of Roy Matthewson at Lund Covenant Church here.

The event was especially celebrative as this is the first time in more than 20 years that the church in far northwestern Kansas has had a full-time pastor.

Chris Nelson, pastor of Oberlin Covenant Church, participated in the installation service during his own congregation’s Sunday school time. He joined Herndon’s pastor, Keith Reuther, and Midwest Conference Associate Superintendent Rick Mylander in laying hands on Matthewson.

Photo Captures Reality of Rural Alaska Travel

MEKORYUK, AK (May 10, 2012) – You might say it’s no small irony that Curtis Ivanoff had to travel this three-mile stretch of road after returning from a class where he taught about the spread of Christianity in Alaska.

Ivanoff, field director for the Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK), was returning to the airport here after leading the class at the inaugural Western Alaska Ministry Training in Bethel.

Ivanoff posted the photo (looking out from the driver’s area) on his Facebook page and noted that there were occasional spots to pull over in case another vehicle was up ahead and traveling in the opposite direction. Although few people use the road, drivers use a VHF radio to let other vehicles know they are coming so that one of the drivers can use one of the “pullouts.”

Ivanoff had to pull to the side once and wait five minutes for another vehicle to pass.

The training classes were the first of a pilot curriculum to train pastors and lay leaders for ministry in Western Alaska. Ivanoff’s section was for pastors. Byron Bruckner, director of Covenant Youth of Alaska, taught a lay course on how to reach and disciple 12 to 25-year-olds in a village setting.

The classes were conducted April 20-23.

Anti-Trafficking Ministry Launches Website

ROCKFORD, IL (May 10, 2012) – The Society for the Abolition of Modern-day Slavery, a ministry of First Covenant Church, has launched its website designed to spread knowledge of human trafficking and encourage others to participate in fighting the world-wide crime.

The task force has sponsored special events that include an anti-trafficking conference. Click here to read a previous Covenant News Service story.

Emanuel Partnership Focuses on Women’s Health

TURLOCK, CA (May 10, 2012) – Emanuel Medical Center announced that it has joined Spirit of Women, an integrated partnership of hospitals and healthcare systems across the country that works to motivate healthy action for women and their families.

“Joining Spirit of Women gives Emanuel access to some outstanding programs and educational resources that can help women take better care of their health and make more informed health care decisions,” said Dr. Kathleen Kearns, a family practitioner and Emanuel’s chief of staff. “Women make up to 85 percent of household health care decisions, so educational programs for women can improve the health of the entire community.”

As a Spirit of Women hospital, Emanuel will host a wide variety of programs that include major women’s health educational presentations with nationally-recognized speakers, community wellness events and other creative women’s health outreach activities. Education and community outreach will address topics such as menopause, cancer, joint pain, diabetes, heart disease, and healthy pregnancy.

The Spirit of Women network involves organizations in more than 100 communities and frequently works in cooperation with U.S. Government health agencies such as the Office on Women’s Health, the Vascular Disease Foundation and the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute.

Emanuel Medical Center is a not-for-profit, community-based Christian hospital. Its 403-bed multi-level medical campus includes a 209-bed acute care hospital, a 145-bed skilled nursing facility and a 49-bed assisted living facility. It provides emergency, critical care, pediatric, cardiovascular services, cancer diagnosis and treatment, women’s health services, surgery, and hospice services.

The center was founded in 1917 and is operated by the Board of Benevolence on behalf of the Evangelical Covenant Church.