Our desire at Christ Covenant is that every member would be connected and cared for by an elder. We are committed to making and shaping disciples, and we believe that God has ordained elders to play a vital role in this process.
When you join Christ Covenant Church as a member, an elder will be assigned to you and to your family for the purpose of encouraging and equipping you to grow in your love for God and for one another. Your elder will assist the church in shepherding you and the pastoral community that he serves.
Expectations of Your Elder
The kind of help you can expect from your elder depends to a large extent on you and your family. Following are some specific ways in which your elder would like to serve:
Staying in Touch
Your elder will initiate the first contact with you to get acquainted and introduce himself. He will also connect with you periodically by phone, email, text or at church just to stay in touch. Other visits might include hospital visits or in cases of sorrow, sickness or suffering.
Encouraging You Toward Spiritual Maturity
Spiritual growth should be the goal of every believer, and your elder will encourage you to participate in Sunday school, worship, small groups, and other growth opportunities. Your elder can act as a resource for many different areas of Christian discipleship. Elders are selected because of their spiritual maturity, and your elder can answer—or help you find the answer to—any questions you may have about your faith, Christ Covenant, or our denomination.
Your elder will also look for opportunities for you to use the special talents, skills, and abilities God has given you. And one of your elder’s chief concerns is that every member of your family knows Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. He wants to be a resource for you in making available ministries of the church that would help in presenting the gospel to those you love.
Supporting You In Times of Trial
Assistance might include praying for you, helping you with your physical needs, enlisting the help of others who may be specifically trained in your area of need, or just being there for you during crisis.
Strengthening Friendships Between Believers
Your Elder Shepherding Group may get together periodically to get to know each other and enjoy Christian fellowship.
Developing Disciples for God’s Glory
Christ Covenant is committed to providing an environment of love and acceptance in which you can be free to grow in your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. We hope this is your desire also, and your elder stands ready to help you make that desire a reality.