![\"Gary\"](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/oq\/6T\/oq6TTOxyOK9iXRg_3YLFnQ\/Gary.jpg\")
Staff members gathered at Immanuel Covenant Church for worship, to review trends affecting shared ministries, and to hear updates on significant challenges and opportunities facing the Covenant.<\/p>\nCHICAGO, IL (September 2, 2008) \u2013 In a message this morning that reflects his passion and vision for the Evangelical Covenant Church, newly elected President Gary Walter encouraged Covenant offices staff and others to continue the Covenant\u2019s historic commitment to three imperatives that inspired the founding of the denomination in 1885.<\/p>\n
Staff members gathered at Immanuel Covenant Church for worship, to review trends affecting shared ministries, and to hear updates on significant challenges and opportunities facing the Covenant.<\/p>\n
Using a passage from James, Walter noted that scripture calls for Christians to be more than hearers of the word \u2013 Christians are to do the work scripture calls all believers to do.<\/p>\n
The first imperative is a commitment to evangelism, Walter observed. God wants lost people found \u2026 that is important to God and therefore must be important to us as well.<\/p>\n
The second imperative is a commitment to compassion and justice. When one is rescuing people from a river, that is compassion, he suggested. What is needed is for someone to go upstream and find out why people are falling into the river \u2013 or are being pushed \u2013 and to stop it. That is justice.<\/p>\n
The third imperative is a commitment to the whole church \u2013 the unity of believers – to tackle the issues that often fragment the church and dilute its effectiveness. Using passages from Colossians and Ephesians, Walter defines those issues as race, class and gender. Scripture declares all are equal in the sight of God \u2013 there is no distinction between Jew and Greek (race), free or slave (class), or male and female (gender), he reminded listeners.<\/p>\n
\u201cThese three themes reflect the character of God,\u201d Walter said. God\u2019s love seeks the lost \u2013 \u201cthat\u2019s evangelism,\u201d Walter noted. God\u2019s love is about healing \u2013 \u201cthat\u2019s compassion and justice.\u201d And God\u2019s love is reconciling \u2013 \u201cthat\u2019s unity.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Covenant has often been defined by the statement \u201cseeking the lost, helping the hurting.\u201d To that Walter has added, \u201chealing the fragmented.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"Gary](\"http:\/\/www.covchurch.org\/uploads\/vf\/HC\/vfHC0L2cbUEyQq6vmwSKFQ\/Gary-Donn.jpg\")
A review of current trends was provided by Donn Engebretson, executive vice president, pictured below talking with Walter just prior to the worship service:
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0There are 788 churches in 41 states and five Canadian provinces
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0The Covenant has enjoyed 16 consecutive years of growth
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Attendance, currently at 169,000 on a given Sunday, increased 50 percent during the last decade, 73 percent during the past 15 years
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0By the year 2020, attendance is projected to reach 250,054 representing 1,005 churches with 36 percent of all congregations ethnic or multicultural
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0There currently are 125 missionaries serving in 33 countries, with 285,262 individuals attending 2,721 churches
\n\u2022\u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0Covenanters have contributed nearly $6 million to support Covenant World Relief responses<\/p>\n
In his closing remarks, Walter shared photographs of his wife, Nancy, and three daughters and shared personal insights into his background and family. He also shared a bit of his wry humor, stating that upon his arrival for his first day in his new office, he searched \u2013 without success \u2013 for a presidential operations manual.<\/p>\n
Noting the obvious \u2013 that there is much to learn when one assumes a new position and responsibilities \u2013 he asked staff members to remember him in their prayers. \u201cI covet your prayers as we move forward together,\u201d he said. \u201cI want to live with God and for God. I\u2019m not more complicated than that.\u201d<\/p>\n