Our Hearts, Our Mission, Our Treasure

In our church brochure that is available to folks on Sunday mornings, we highlight the Great Commission: “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” That’s what our job is in our community, and we know that there are countless opportunities to do that as a church. Related to that is the Great Commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”

When our Church Council had our pastoral onboarding, I got to hear how our church is doing those things in so many ways for our city. If our church ceased to exist, there would be a huge void left behind. Making disciples and loving our neighbors as ourselves shows in huge ways:

• Methodist Preparatory School. We provide a nurturing Christian environment to help educate young children, along with an after-school program for children K-5th grade. In the most formative years of a child’s life, we may be the first opportunity for a child to learn about the love and claim of God upon their life. What a witness, and what a mission!

• Bread of Life Food Pantry. For fifteen years we have helped people who are challenged by food insecurity – a problem which is becoming more challenging each day. This is not social work – it is Kingdom work and an extension of the Great Commandment and Commission. Jesus was clear to those of us who are blessed: when people are hungry you give them something to eat, when they are thirsty you give me something to drink, when they are strangers you invite them in. Again, what a witness, and what a mission!

• Operation Round Up/Samaritan Office. Most every day we work with residents who struggle to make ends meet and can’t pay their utility bills. Truth be told, all of us would be one-two paychecks from being in that situation. By the grace and generosity of others we help people – and help them from a church building - making no apology for doing it in Christ’s name.

We named it in our onboarding process: these things make up the DNA of Covington First UMC! We are always reaching out into our community and are a traditional yet flexible congregation. We are a generational and legacy church made up of long-term members and families yet welcoming and always making room for new folks too!

As the last few years have proven, we are a resilient but proven church – willing to be in the storm yet able to provide shelter for those who are hurting and meeting people where they are on their journey with God and life. I am happy to serve such a church. I hope you are happy to be members of it!

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