The Evangelical Covenant church was born in the Swedish/German/North European community of Donaldson-Grovertown. Some of our forebears were Swedish immigrants who settled on farms in the area. Having experienced new life in Christ through the work of the Holy Spirit in the Pietist renewal in Sweden, they sought fellowship with kindred spirits in this Swedish Community. Their search was encouraged by C.A. Bjork, president of the newly-formed Swedish Mission Covenant, who some had known in Sweden. By the late 1890’s, this group of believers had formed a congregation, meeting in homes for worship. On November 9, 1897, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church of Donaldson and Grovertown was officially chartered.
For the first 50 years, the congregation was served by student pastors from North Park Seminary in Chicago and by visiting ministers. Recognizing the need for a more permanent ministry, the congregation built a parsonage in 1946. This led to growth in the church and a ministry into the community.
The changeover from Swedish to English in the church took place in the early 1930’s. In 1938 the name was changed to the Evangelical Mission Covenant Church.
A sister congregation, the Evangelical United Brethren, had been founded in Donaldson in 1872. In 1902 a new house or worship was constructed, built by the members from bricks shipped in by boxcars to Donaldson.
The two congregations worshipped and worked together on many occasions. Talks of uniting the two led to the merger in 1968 under the present name. This united family of believers has strengthened the witness and service of the church in the community.
A new church home was built on the corner of Union Road and U.S. 30. Worship services were first held there in July 1975 and the building was dedicated on September 7, 1975.
It is with much gratitude to God that we remember these events in the life of our church. May the vision for worship and service that God gave our church continue to burn brightly in our hearts and lead us in faithful obedience to our Lord Jesus.
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