North Park Theological Seminary professor and Covenant historian Phil Anderson – a “son” of the conference and First Covenant – reflected on the early years of conference work in a message geared toward younger audience members. Bruce Peterson, executive director of Covenant Pines Bible Camp, also shared about the power of camping ministry in the conference.
Efrem Smith, pastor of Sanctuary Covenant Church and the evening’s keynote speaker, recalled experiencing a personal relationship with Christ while a teenager at the camp. He exhorted the gathering to live their calling to share God’s passion.
“We are driven by love, we are driven by mission, and we also must be driven by justice,” Smith said. “We cannot allow the popular winds of evangelicalism to steer us away from our history of justice.”
To access a two-part YouTube video of Smith’s challenge, visit Part One and then Part Two.
Dan Collison, new senior pastor at First Covenant, welcomed attendees with a warm greeting and a reflection on what it means to him to be part of the Evangelical Covenant Church. Steven Larson, senior pastor of Redeemer Covenant Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, offered a prayer for the service. Two guests from La Benedicion – a Hispanic congregation that meets at Redeemer Covenant – read Scripture in English and Spanish.
A children’s choir led by Joel Johnson from Covenant Pines and Rosie Peterson from Minnehaha Academy led the audience in four sing-a-long songs.
