A mosaic of churches working interdependently together to transform lives and communities
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Evelyn Madrid Fierro of Iglesia Esperanza Viva shares her experience being in leadership with the Emerge (young adult) retreat earlier this month. Evelyn’s passion for worship, leadership, young adults and fun is infectious and inspiring. Start making plans now for your young adults to attend next year’s Emerge retreat.
For questions about the Emerge Retreat feel free to contact Evelyn!
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Pastor Brad Bergfalk from Bethany Covenant Church in Mount Vernon, Washington, shares his ministry journey. Brad has lived all over the country serving churches and, most recently, serving as long term interim pastors for churches in transition. Brad and Erik talk evangelism, love the the pacific northwest and of finishing well.
Send Brad a note to welcome him back to the PacNWC!
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Chris Jones of Arlington United shares his love of amateur radio/HAM radio operation and its usefulness to the church. Fishnet was born out of a desire to allow churches to play a crucial role in disaster preparedness. Listen as he and Jill Riley talk about how radios and their operators can be used as vital ministry tools.
To find out more about Fishnet contact Chris
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Superintendent Greg Yee and Pastor Tim Anderson highlight the importance of youth ministry. Greg emphasizes the conference’s ongoing support to this vibrant and vital area of ministry.
Contact TIm Anderson with questions about youth ministries and Unite
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Thank you Pastors, leadership and delegates who were able to attend the annual meeting in Portland this month. For those who weren’t able to attend, here are some highlights, reports and videos of this celebration. Many blessings to each of you.
To be a mosaic of churches working interdependently together to transform lives and communities.
1) Start New Churches
2) Strengthen Churches
3) Support Pastors
Our Ministerial Association met at First Covenant, Portland, on April 18th for continuing education and on April 19th to cover business in supporting our pastors, staff and their families. A greater emphasis on interacting, praying and celebrating with each other marked the time. Rev. Corey Johnsrud (Kent Cov) was elected to be the new president of the conference ministerium. 43 licenses and 7 temporary licenses were approved for recommendation at the ECC Annual Meeting in June. 3 candidates for ordination:
Kyle Harmon – Pine Lake Covenant
Rebecca Worl – Pine Lake Covenant
Lynette Sanchez – Countryside Community
The 134th Annual Meeting was attended by 92 delegates from 42 churches along with others totaling 145 delegates and conferees. Milwaukie Covenant showed incredible hospitality to those in person. Online delegates participated through Zoom.
Superintendent Greg Yee reflected on a challenging and fruitful year of ministry. He reviewed highlights from our three mission priorities. Please see his slides and accompanying links to access video highlights and access resources. pacnwc.org/annualcelebration
Grace Covenant, Bremerton, WA, and Hope Covenant, Tacoma, WA were recommended for removal from the ECC roster of member churches due to conclusion of ministry. St. Thomas Covenant, Salem, OR, was recommended for removal from the ECC roster of churches due to voluntary removal. Quest, Seattle, WA was reported as having been removed from ECC rosters at the 2023 ECC Annual Meeting.
Garden City Covenant, Puyallup, WA was recommended for membership in the ECC roster of churches.
Tim Davis, PacNWC Executive Board Secretary, proposed a revised $1,068,511 budget for 2024 and the proposed budget of $925,084 for 2025 be adopted. Both unanimously approved. A challenge was made to move closer to our shared mission tithe commitments of 6 1/2 % to the ECC and 3 ½% to the conference. If you are giving a fixed amount, please consider moving to percentage giving and begin moving closer to a tithe by starting with a ½% increase this year. We are deeply grateful for your faithful financial support to our shared mission!
Elections for new and continuing board and commission members were all passed with unanimous approval. Diane Leavitt of Pine Lake Covenant, Mark Lindberg of Highland Covenant, Michael Thomas of Radiant Covenant, Asher Ernst of City Covenant, David Greenidge of Tigard Covenant, and Cindy Reed of Highland Covenant were elected to the Executive Board. Thomas Sudbury of Yakima Covenant was elected to the Youth Commission. Anna Carlson of Grace Community Covenant, Nancy de Jong of Pine Lake Covenant, Angela McCann of Cascade Covenant, Amber Lauber of McMinnville Covenant, and Torina Salcedo of Kent Covenant were elected to the Children and Family Commission. Jelani Greenidge of Access Covenant and Kenneth Morse of McMinnville Covenant were elected to the Nominating Commission. Rebecca Worl of Pine Lake was elected the moderator of the 135th Pacific Northwest Annual Meeting. Rebecca Worl of Pine Lake Covenant and Gustavo Sandrigo of Iglesia Latino Americana were elected as delegates to the ECC Annual Meeting with Laurie Roberts of First Covenant as an alternate.
Rob Mohrweis shared a report from Cascades Camp & Conference Center expressing their gratitude for the support the camp has received from PacNWC congregations. He shared a survey that showed campers felt like they belonged and learned more about God. New projects include Sunrise Ranch, supporting conference events, developing their master plan, and continuing to steward the camp for the future.
Greetings and updates were brought by Tammy Swanson-Draheim, President, Evangelical Covenant Church, Rick Mylander, ECC Board of Nominations, Tim Hedberg, Financial Services Representative, Covenant Trust Company, Rollie Persson, Vice President, Real Estate Services, National Covenant Properties.
Pastor Phil Rushton extended an invitation to the 135th Annual Meeting May 1-3, 2025 at Bellingham Covenant Church, WA.
We ended our 134th Annual Celebration praying together and confessing our belief that nothing is possible without prayer and seeking the Lord together.
Please help connect people in your church to the Pacific Northwest Conference website, our monthly e-newsletter called The Catch, and our social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and Twitter. The full Annual Report, Ministry Fair link and all media links (including Greg Yee’s report slides and all ECC promotional videos) are available at pacnwc.org/annualcelebration.
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Pastor Becca Worl of Pine Lake Covenant Church has a great conversation with Jill Riley about her passion for preaching, teaching and raising up the next generation. Becca is the children’s and youth pastor for the church and passionately loves her work, including smelly junior high students! Soon to be ordained, Becca shares her call to ministry.
Greet Becca and congratulate her on her upcoming ordination!
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
The Pacific Northwest Conference welcomes Rosemary Haskins, Children’s Ministry Director, at Bethany Covenant Church. She shares her passion for children’s ministry, love of nature, God and family with us. Remember to pray for Rosemary and a blessing for her as she serves God within the church.
Greet Rosemary and welcome her to the conference!
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
We hope you all had a blessed celebration over Holy Week and Easter! This month Superintendent Greg Yee and Jill Riley talk about an article in the Seattle TImes that discussed the number of people involved in churches on any given Sunday in the Seattle metro area. It is informative, inspiring and challenging to consider how we use this information.
To read the article referred to in this conversation click here
Information for Annual Meeting
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Pastor Michael Thomas recaps the Second Annual Faith and Race Conference hosted by Radiant Church this past February. Michael shares how Radiant addresses matters of Faith and Race in their culture and context.
For questions about the Faith and Race conference contact Michael and welcome him to the conference.
By Jill Riley, Assistant Communication Director of the PacNWC
Andrew Kruse, from Praise Covenant in Tacoma, Washington shares with us his desire to help youth in the area to thrive in all areas of their life. He is excited to be leading a retreat on youth mental health coming soon. We welcome him back to the PacNWC and pray God’s very best for him.
Greet Andrew and welcome him to the conference.
Information on the Youth Mental Health Seminar mentioned by Andrew:
