By Stan Friedman

MT. PROSPECT, IL (April 30, 2014) — Covenant Children’s Ministry (formerly Covenant Children’s Home) presented Covenant Kids Congo Powered by World Vision with a $25,000 check at the Central Conference Annual Meeting on Saturday.

“This matches exactly the mission of Covenant Children’s Ministry, and we are glad to support this wonderful work,” said Chris Pickett, chairman of CCM’s board of directors.

Pickett explained that the CCM Program Development Committee grants $250,000 annually to Covenant ministries that impact “at risk” children in the Central Conference. This year it recommended to the board that the nonprofit give an additional gift for ministries internationally.

The board enthusiastically agreed to present an additional 10 percent grant to international ministries and chose Covenant Kids Congo as the first recipient, said Pickett. “Their ministry of eliminating poverty and working to build a better future for children matches exactly the mission of Covenant Children’s Ministries, and we are glad to support this wonderful work,” Pickett said.

Grants are funded in part by endowments and current donors.

Covenant Children’s Ministry was founded in 1921 as Covenant Children’s Home by the Central Conference to provide a home for children who had lost a parent or whose parents were unable to care for them. Due to declining funding from the state, the home ended its residential program in 2000.

Today, the Princeton campus is used by groups such as Easter Seals, Special Olympics, and Young Life among others. It also partners with other ministries such as the Bureau County Health and Wellness Clinic, and Freedom House, which shelters and provides to other services to victims of domestic and sexual abuse. C. John Weborg, professor emeritus of theology at North Park Theological Seminary, serves as chaplain and meets with residents and staff at Freedom House and the Bureau County Health and Wellness Clinic.