Crossview Covenant’s Hope Sunday display.
Editorial note: Today we’re excited to share Crossview Covenant’s story of their Hope Season kickoff. Crossview hosted a Hope Sunday two weeks ago to kick off their Hope Season (culminating in December). What’s exciting is that Crossview utilized their now-annual “Heart of Compassion Sunday,” focusing on global needs, as kickoff to their partnership with Covenant Kids Congo powered by World Vision. Chris Pappenfus, pastor of student ministries, shares their story. We’ll be checking in on them next month with a follow-up.
Heart of Compassion Sunday has become a significant Sunday for us here at Crossview Covenant in North Mankato, MN. While we pray that having a heart of compassion is a hallmark of who we are as a people, every fall we enthusiastically turn our attention to a specific need in another country. This year, we focused our attention and our offering on the impoverished Equateur Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo. The Evangelical Covenant Church of North America is joining with the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) and World Vision in an unprecedented three way partnership. Covenant Kids Congo is the mechanism through which incredible resource, change, and hope are being delivered to the Congo. We at Crossview are thrilled to partner with Covenant Kids Congo as the recipient of this year’s Heart of Compassion offering.
Rev. Curt Peterson, executive director of Covenant World Mission, spoke to our congregation Sunday, October 28, and shared with us the incredible potential for holistic transformation available through Covenant Kids Congo. The church lobby was transformed with a thatched roof snack area, a school bench and blackboard, a hand water pump and many photos of Congolese displayed throughout the area. An interactive table of Women Ministry bandage rollers demonstrated a practical way to help the Congo medical facilities.
Members of Crossview serve traditional Congolese food.
A “Taste of Congo” was served, including Nuamba Nausu (Congolese chicken soup over rice), Saka Saka (boiled greens, eggplant, onions and green pepper), fruit (bananas, pineapple, oranges), and peanuts.
So far, Crossview has raised just over $19,000 for Covenant Kids Congo. In addition, members and friends of Crossview have committed to the monthly sponsorship of over 45 children. And we’re not done. On Thursday, December 6th, Crossview is thrilled to be hosting recording artist Jason Gray as he launches his new Christmas album. All proceeds from this concert will be going to Covenant Kids Congo.
Covenant Kids Congo is committed to caring for the poor in the name of Jesus, the one who brings shalom. We, along with so many other faithful Covenanters, await the testimony of God’s redemptive work as it unfolds in this impoverished part of the world. We pray that God will do incredibly more than we ever could ask or imagine in bringing His shalom.
