After three years as a houseparent at a group home for girls, Alex Macias was unprepared for the transformation in her own life. I drove to work with the windows down listening to some old Radiohead song. It was my […]
Guest Author
Encouraging Presence
Often relegated to a minor role, Barnabas is arguably one of the most important figures in the early church. How many people could be effective, influential, and successful if only someone would give them encouragement, make space for them, and […]
Facing Challenges with an Open Door
Dan Collison is pastor of First Covenant Church in Minneapolis and author of Church in Translation (Abingdon Press, 2010). How a church rediscovered its mission by joining a city’s movement to end homelessness. First Covenant, Minneapolis, used to be a […]
Waking Up to the Resurrection
Renee Franzen is associate pastor of formation and discipleship at Brookdale Covenant Church in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. She is also a spiritual director and psychotherapist. Our journey through Lent to Easter calls for more than imaginative role-playing. I am getting […]
Scars of Hospitality
Beyond a friendly greeting and an open door, Christ’s call to welcome others often involves a painful cost. In the summer of 2010 I quit my job. It was a good job with a fancy title and good benefits, but […]
Letting Scripture Guide: Some Thoughts on Immigration
C. John Weborg is professor emeritus of theology at North Park Theological Seminary. Oscar Handlin set out to write a history of immigration to the United States. His research forced him to rephrase his plan, and he argued that the […]
The Camping and Missions Partnership
Karen Yeversky is a member of Zion Covenant Church in Jamestown, New York, and former director of Mission Meadows Bible Camp in Dewittville, New York. Covenant camping has partnered with Covenant World Mission since the very beginning of its history. […]
The Challenges Camps Face Today
Gregg Hunter is president and CEO of the Christian Camp and Conference Association. The average teenager sends and receives 3,417 text messages a month, according to a Nielson report published in December. Children up to the age of eight spend […]
Gone Camping
Scott Noble is a freelance writer from St. Paul, Minnesota. For a listing of Covenant camp and retreat centers by regional conference, click here. The big impact of time away As a high-school student, Irene first attended camp through a […]
Choosing Weakness
In our culture we aspire to strength and independence, but how do we match that to the teachings of Jesus? It’s nice to be back at school. Before I begin my remarks, however, I’d like to beg your indulgence. I’ve […]
CHIC – A Formational Event
Aune M. Carlson is youth and early adult ministry coordinator for the Department of Christian Formation. The countdown has begun as thousands of Covenant youth plan to gather together this July. If you haven’t already participated in spaghetti feeds, pancake […]
A Time to Ponder Our False Selves
Lent’s invitation to take an honest look at who we are Advent the Apostle Peter asked a question that has been following me ever since. It wasn’t really a formal question with an official punctuation mark. It was a phrase […]