In the late 1800’s, Sweden was undergoing challenging agricultural and economic times. In addition, there was a spiritual stirring. Revival had come to pockets of the land, along with a movement called Pietism. And there was some dissatisfaction with the state Lutheran church, in that the world of the church was not connecting with the realities of everyday life. A movement formed, and people began to meet in their homes to study the Bible, and work to live out the realities of God’s Word. As conditions dictated immigrating to the New World, some of the same disconnect to real life was discovered in the Lutheran church here, which most had intended to join. Again, groups began to meet in homes and study God’s Word, making those real-life connections.
They met together to raise money to send missionaries. They were called Mission Friends. And, not originally intending to become a denomination, in 1885 the Covenant Church was founded. They decided not to split hairs over doctrine, and leave their creed stand as the Bible, allowing room for all who honored God’s word. A key verse in their early day was Psalm 119:63, “I am a companion of all who fear thee.” There was room for all.
Distinctives emerged. The Bible as authority. The necessity of the new birth. Freedom in Christ. Conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit. Over the years, the Covenant has grown now to some 850 churches, reaching into urban, suburban, and town & country areas. The hard work of allowing all who fear Christ and read the Bible to interpret their own conclusions (freedom in Christ) continues. The leadership of the denomination remains committed to hold forth that we are at our best when we do mission, and Covenant people today remain the modern-day Mission Friends, reaching out in the name of Christ. To read in more detail: https://covchurch.org/resource/evangelical-covenant-church-history/
May we continue to be known at Covenant Church of Schaumburg as Mission Friends, leaning on God’s Word, and remaining a “companion of all who fear thee.”
