Announcements

CKC Water Project – Summer Camp 2013

Post a Comment » Written on April 29th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Camps, Resources
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Summer is time for fun especially fun at the beach, pool and waterparks.  While our student’s enjoy this time of water, water, and more water. It is a great opportunity to turn all the water splashing into a time of awareness and perhaps participation in a water project.

In 2013, Covenant camps will have the opportunity to help provide clean water and access to better sanitation and hygiene in Gemena, located in the Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo).

A recent study of more than 4,000 households in the community found that less than 6 percent had access to clean water and sanitation facilities were almost non-existent. The community themselves, confirmed by this study, has identified that solving the clean water situation has to be the first intervention in this new Area Development Program. To that end, the community is pursuing a multi-tiered approach.

The Ledia Water project is a new initiative to bring clean water to all residents of the Ledia community, where the Covenant Kids Congo program is located. The aim of this project is to save lives and improve health, particularly among children, by reducing the prevalence of waterborne and water related diseases such as cholera and dysentery. This project represents a tangible opportunity to dramatically improve the quality of life for people in the Ledia community.

Will you come alongside our brothers and sisters in the Congo to extend this life-giving help? For less than $20 per person you can help provide clean water access for life.

For more information, please visit the CKC Camp project website.

 

“Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” John 4:13-14



We want to hear from you!

Post a Comment » Written on April 1st, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, CHIC
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We are so excited that the CHIC Council will be meeting in early May for the first time to begin their visioning process for CHIC 2015!

In preparation for their meeting, we’re wondering if you would share your thoughts, hopes, and dreams for CHIC 2015. Maybe even share with us ways that God met you, your students, or those who’ve volunteered in the past at CHIC. Why are you invested in the ministry of CHIC?

Just fill out this simple form.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

The CHIC Office



Feed Your 5000 with Covenant Kids Congo powered by World Vision

Post a Comment » Written on March 26th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Events, Webinar, YM Network
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World Vision’s 30 Hour Famine has become a regular part of youth ministry and church life across the country – and this year is no different! The unique opportunity that Covenant youth have this year is to partner with Covenant Kids Congo powered by World Vision to stand alongside our sisters and brothers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Schedule a 30 Hour Famine event with your church’s youth ministry and stand alongside our Congolese sisters and brothers as they work to end the cycle of extreme poverty in the Equateur province. By partnering with World Vision and Covenant Kids Congo, you’ll not only be able to raise awareness on how the Covenant church in Congo is working towards clean water, to end senseless malaria deaths, as well as beat back hunger, further grow education efforts and bolster the economy through micro-enterprise, you’ll also have the opportunity to designate your funds toward this unprecedented project.

We’ve made great strides in the last 6 months – over 5,000 kids have been sponsored by Covenant churches across the US and Canada. But there remains much to do, in a country where 3 out of 4 of our Congolese friends do not have access to clean water.

In order to learn more about how your church and youth  can be part of this incredible movement, join Aune Carlson and Adam Phillips online for an exclusive WebEx conversation on April 2nd at 2pm Central. We’ll share what other churches are doing, field questions, and help walk-through your very own 30 Hour Famine effort this year with Covenant Kids Congo.

Register Now to join the conversation on April 2nd at 2pm CDT.

 

Become a child sponsor and you’ll provide a child and others in his or her community with access to life-saving basics like:

  • Nutritious Food
  • Clean Water
  • Healthcare
  • Education


Merge Ministries Taiwan – English Summer Program

Post a Comment » Written on March 25th, 2013     
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Announcing the Merge Taiwan (English Summer Program) Mission Trip June 27- July 15, 2013!

Teach conversational English in Taiwan Covenant churches for two weeks and tour Taiwan the last two days. Teams can also build friendships with Chinese students, fellow team members and church workers, experience Chinese culture and hospitality as the local church provides your housing and food, and share your faith in a variety of settings. All you need is a teachable spirit, a servant’s heart and a flexible attitude.

Requirements:

  • Be high school graduates or older
  • Be native English speakers, preferably with some ESL training (the focus will be English conversation, not grammar)
  • Be willing to learn and serve in another culture
  • Good physical health/ability to handle hot weather
  • Teaching or leadership experience with youth and children helpful
  • Love Jesus

For an application or more information, contact Covenant Merge Ministries at merge@covchurch.org or call Dale at (956) 458-9568

Click here to read a previous Covenant News Service story on: Taiwan Experience Gives New Meaning to ‘Retirement’

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Global Student Leadership DEADLINE

Post a Comment » Written on March 20th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Events
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There is no fooling around on April Fool’s Day! ;)

The DEADLINE for the Global Student Leadership programs in Honduras, June 8-16 and in the Dominican Republic, June 29-July 7 is April 1, 2013. The date is fast approaching, so if you know of any students, ages 15–19, who are serious about developing their leadership skills for youth group, the church, and for the kingdom of God, this trip is for them.

The youth groups in Honduras and the Dominican Republic are both very excited about spending a week with students from the USA and developing their leadership skills at the same time. Students from both countries will live together, learn leadership skills together, and create community ministries for Christ together, which will hope will continue long after the event is done. This could be the beginning of some profound annual events which may make a huge impact on youth ministry in the Covenant denomination!

The Global Student Leadership program provides an opportunity for US/Canadian youth to develop their leadership skills in an international cross-cultural setting. They will work in partnership with international youth who seek to develop their leadership skills. This is not a mission trip; students will live, learn, and serve alongside youth from other nations. Teaching and mentoring will be by both North American and international youth leaders. All learning will be done bilingually, in Spanish and English. North American students will live with their international counterparts, attend creative sessions on leadership together, and work together to encourage and enhance local community ministry in the international setting.

All meals, housing, and interpreters will be provided by Merge Ministries. The cost for each trip covers trip set-up, housing, meals, Merge staff, ground transportation, and tourist events.

Download the application or for more information please email merge@covchurch.org or check out the Merge Ministries website.

 



Specialized Ministry Areas

Post a Comment » Written on February 18th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, CHIC, Resources, Uncategorized, Web Resource
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Read a little more about what’s going on with the other people who will be helping pull together CHIC 2015!

Let’s give them a round of applause!

 

Specialized Ministry Areas: All positions report to the Director of Youth Ministry

Spiritual Services:

The Spiritual Services team is responsible for the Prayer team at CHIC prior to, during and following the event. The team develops an E- newsletter to keep people informed on prayer needs during the ministry. The team communicates with the CHIC council, CHIC office and events office to learn about requests and needs of the team. The desire is to get as many people on site and off site praying for the work of the spirit. The team will communicate with Covenant churches, conference and retirement communities to recruit off site prayers. The team is responsible for prayer experiences on site from prayer room, to Labyrinth, and prayer experiences that help people connect with God, reflection rooms etc.

Early Adult/Staff Coordinator:  Aune Carlson

Early Adult/ Staff Coordinator exist to support the men and women who make CHIC happen through their gift of service during the event. CHIC would not exist if we did not have the hundreds of people who serve to implement CHIC. People serve in all areas of CHIC from set up, welcoming people, helping areas be staffed in Enrichment opportunities, Early Evening Options, Mainstage, security, health services to name just a few. This team gathers daily for check in a daily assignments.The goal is to have the Staff Volunteers and the Early Adults to have a meaningful connection with God and others before, during and following CHIC

Ethnic Engagement Connector: Kevin Farmer

The Ethnic Engagement Connector partners with our ethnic churches. Our goals as a team are be engaged in a continual conversation on how CHIC can better reflect the kingdom and serve our churches. The Ethnic Engagement Connector partners with the Council Council in IDI and debriefing of this inventory. The Ethnic Engagement Connector challenges us to take next steps for growth and development. the Ethnic Engagement Connector will partner with the Ethnic Associations to come to a cohesive plan for scholarships.

CHIC liaison Coordinator: Brian Zahasky

Each conference has a CHIC Liaison to coordinate the travel plans, marketing, and counselor staff approval. The CHIC Liaison Coordinator meets with the CHIC Liaisons to train them on the specifics of CHIC. The CHIC Liaison Coordinator is a resource to the CHIC Liaisons helping answer questions that arise from the Conferences or local churches. The CHIC Liasison Coordinator works closely with the LEADER EXPERIENCE team and COVENANT EVENTS OFFICE .

CHIC Bookstore:  TBD

The CHIC Bookstore team contract with CHIC to provide memory items for students and leaders to purchase. (logo apparel, etc) The team will set up and run the CHIC main store and 2-3 satellite sites. CHIC staff will be supplied to the team to help sell and possible set up for the store. The team will work with CHIC designer to create logo materials, order all materials, set up, sell and clean up the store. The goal of the store is to raise funds for the CHIC budget.

CHIC Excursions: Mary Kate Fretheim, Josh Danielson

The CHIC Excursion team plans the pre-chic adventures and excursions options with the goal of allowing youth workers to have a common fun and challenging experience for their students. The excursions happen daily following Base Camp time until dinner. The Excursions run Sunday – Thursday with the possibility of a debrief trip planned for Friday. The team works with companies to raising money for the CHIC budget. The team works with the events office to work on contracts and permission slips for each excursion with the goal of rolling all of the language into the registration material.

Human Resources: Bruce Baehr

The Human Resource team provides, counseling services, security and health services for CHIC students and staff. The team works to supplement the services offered by UT. The team works with the CHIC Council Executive team to determine next steps for students in disciplinary situations.



YSPALOOZA

Post a Comment » Written on February 11th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Center for Youth Ministry Studies, Events, Resources, Speaker Team, Uncategorized, Web Resource, YM Network

This two day Youth Ministry Training is created for your entire team. Expect a great time because you’ll laugh, have fun, and get trained by the best of the best. Two inspiring Super Sessions, four Learning Labs, and tons of practical ideas you can use immediately. Gather your team and join YS Style for 2 days of training and inspiration.

Click on your city for more information

Here’s the line up:

Speakers

  • Mark Matlock
  • Doug Fields
  • Kara Powell
  • Megan Hutchinson
  • Duffy Robbins
  • Jonathan McKee

Artists

  • Brandon Grissom
  • Andy Needham Band

If you are attending this event, please share your experiences with us!



CKC Children’s Video

Post a Comment » Written on February 6th, 2013     
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A new video from Covenant Kids Congo is now available for children. The video details how community development works through Covenant Kids Congo powered by World Vision. Demonstrating how God works through us to build a community as local leaders come together. Check out the video and give them your feedback. Feel free to use this in your church along with the CKC children’s curriculum.

Click here to learn more about Covenant Kids Congo!



Why women value Triennial

Post a Comment » Written on February 6th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Center for Youth Ministry Studies, Events, Speaker Team, Uncategorized, Web Resource, YM Network
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Watch this video to learn why women value Triennial!

Special appearances by our very own Marti Burger and Aune Carlson!

August 15-18, 2013

San Diego, California

 When women gather, incredible things happen— especially when the gathering involves the diverse and dynamic women of the Covenant! Triennial is a four day conference that offers fellowship, worship, active learning, and fun for all women (ages 18+). Get ready to be equipped, motivated, and encouraged!

For more information on Triennial, check out CovChurch.org/triennial.



CHIC Council Area Descriptions

Post a Comment » Written on February 4th, 2013     
Filed under: Announcements, Center for Youth Ministry Studies, CHIC, Resources, Uncategorized, Web Resource, YM Network
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So, now that we have announced the amazing folks on the CHIC 2015 council. Lets learn a bit more about their roles:

CHIC Chair – Ben Pease

The CHIC Chair partners with the Director of Youth Ministry to partner with YW to dream, vision, create and implement CHIC. The CHIC chair connects with the Council between the Council Meetings for encouragement and as a resource. The CHIC Chair runs the 4 meetings for the Council. They partner with the Director to create an agenda for the meetings. On site the Chair runs council meetings, cares for 1/3 of the team- checking in daily to add support and encouragement and run defense for issues that arise. The Chair partners with Human Resources and Director to determine if students need to be sent home. On site the chairs gifts are used (MC, listening and walking people through issues, etc as needs arise.) The CHIC Chair is a partner in ministry with the ChF team, Events office and the CHIC Council.

Enrichment Services – Sally Carlson

Enrichment Services has the wonderful opportunity to provide CHIC 2012, youth and youth workers, with the space to connect relationally.  We do this by providing opportunity in adventure, fun, challenge, and space to simply just be together.  Our goal is simple: No matter your cultural background, talent, gifting, creative passion, or social network, that each youth and youth worker have not only a rewarding time at CHIC 2012, but moments that will be significant and memorable in the context of the story of God in their lives.  Glimpses of this at CHIC 2012 include: off-site excursions, on-site recreation, creative opportunities, competitive fun, story and talent sharing, and the simple fun of a party! This team plans the Welcome party- partnering with NPU, plans afternoon options on campus for those who are sports minded and those who possess a gift for the arts. The Enrichment team also plans evening options for students prior to the worship time.

Leader Experiences – Ben Kerns

Leader Experiences exists to support the men and women who make CHIC happen through their service as counselors, pastors, and volunteer youth leaders, and to partner with parents and churches in the entire CHIC experience.  Our focus is as follows: unifying leaders through their CHIC experiences and drawing them into their larger story as part of God’s family, honoring leaders from registration through debrief by communicating with them as partners, investing in their whole person, and providing opportunities for them to connect with one another and celebrate the movement of God, equipping leaders, in their specified capacities, to bring about the realization of the CHIC vision and values, joining with parents in the life-transforming experience of CHIC, and working with churches to see an integration of the momentum and significance of CHIC into their body-life experience. Leader’s experiences provide a system for care for students and leaders by utilizing the Youth Ministry Network Facilitators and the Youth Ministry Network Leaders. Each Conference will be housed in a dorm. The team will be responsible for morning counselor meetings, closing down dorms each night and time of encouragement for their conference.  This team works with YMNF to train and work with RS at CHIC, provide adult training materials for counselors and staff.  This team is responsible for communicating to all staff at CHIC before, during and after. The team developed an app for this purpose in 2012.

Small groups and take home resources:

A critical part of CHIC is the processing time that is built into the CHIC schedule as well as the resources we equip students with as they leave CHIC. Individuals interested in serving in this area will brainstorm the most effective way to structure small group time as well as working with UT to determine locations/restrictions.  They will also participate in brainstorming and executing all the student follow up materials for the individual students.  This team is responsible for the Morning sessions, Base Camps and Focus groups, small groups, pre CHIC Devotionals and post CHIC devotions.

Student Experiences - Dominique Gillard

Every day at CHIC students go through a 3 hour gathering that includes a learning experience and a seminar. Every day centers on a specific theme that will be developed by this         I-team. Each member of this team will participate in creating the daily themes, brainstorming learning experiences and related seminar topics. In the final year before CHIC each member will champion a specific theme, coordinating and orchestrating either a learning experience or the seminars.

Member of this I-team should possess the following characteristics:

  • Enjoying brainstorming and creative thinking to develop themes and learning experiences.
  • Be able to translate dreams into tasks that can be managed by other team members
  • Problem solving
  • Implement the plans for the morning experiences

The Long Road to Justice - Vicki Tsui

The Long Road to Justice is a team committed to infusing and undergirding every aspect of CHIC with biblical principles that bring about God’s justice here on earth. Our I-Team will illustrate the inherent connection between living justly and evangelizing the Good News of the Gospel. Through intense scriptural exploration we will illustrate how the Word clearly exemplifies that it is impossible to separate works of righteousness from our faith. Our team is responsible for illustrating how scripture calls us to live in a manner that embodies God’s love, care, and concern for every element of creation both domestically and internationally. We hope to open the eyes of youth attending CHIC to the need for justice and to catalyze them into becoming actively involved in issues pertaining to compassion, mercy, and justice. This team planned a Base Camp experience, afternoon options, afternoon service opportunities (2012 with KARM and Beardsley Farm)

Mainstage - Angie Wysocki

This team works with UT to set up the staging, lights and sound equipment for Mainstage worship. This team recruits and contracts with speakers and bands for evening worship. They partner with other teams that need talent like Enrichment team- welcome party and block party- early evening options. The Mainstage team story boards each worship set, designs the set, contract for lights and sound, set design. The team is responsible for Production, Music Worship, speakers, side stage, video, web design, publicity video and CHIC store. This team includes original material, CHIC songs, Videos produced for Mainstage, on site videos for the screens. The team also recommends the THEME for CHIC or partners with the CHIC Council to create a seamless theme and focus.

 



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