God wants to change the world through Covenant! This may seem like an impossible calling, but God can do the impossible through people willing to trust and obey. A disciple of Jesus daily surrenders to God’s love, is transformed by the same love, and overflows that love in abundance to others. We as the church must minister like Jesus did to everyone regardless of who they are and where they might be. The love of Jesus empowers the believer to love the unlovable and compels them to go wherever there are people in need.

“People of refuge see with God’s eyes. Just as God is safe, people of refuge are safe. A church where people of refuge gather needs to be known as a safe place to come where hearts will be seen, stories will be listened to, and outward appearances will be overlooked.”

– Jim Halbert “Refuge: Moving from Pain to Purpose”

God has given Covenant EMC a global vision for ministry. It may seem impossible that a local church in Morgantown could make a difference for Jesus globally, but when you make disciples and think generationally, there is no limit to what God can do when his people walk in obedience to his call.

We utilize faith promise pledges to monthly support over 10 missionary groups a year in consistent monthly support. Our criteria for supporting missionaries begins with call to pray for and bring the Gospel to the people of Uzbekistan. They have been our adopt a people group for over 25 years. We support our EMC missions and churches, those that we have sent locally from our church, and are partnered with One Mission Society (OMS). We also take special offerings when there is a special need in global missions.

We consistently help send people on short term mission trips all over the world. We understand that short term missions changes us as much as it ministers to the people we are sent to. October is our missions month where we have a different missions speaker every year. Other yearly missions events are Prayer for the Persecuted Church, Freedom Sunday to help end Human Trafficking, and 30 days of prayer for the Muslim world during Ramadan.

The third Saturday of every month we give away boxes of food to people in need in our community. We hand out food between 7:30 &10:30, but also serve breakfast to those who come out earlier. Every month we serve between 70 and 130 families.

Twice a year, we send a group of men to prison for a weekend to share the love of Jesus with inmates who are well aware of their need for grace and forgiveness, but have trouble believing that Jesus still loves them. This ministry is directly tied to our men’s ministry. But our whole church gets involved as our team brings in 100 dozen cookies for every volunteer so the inmates can have a gift from a Christian family who is praying for them.

Jesus tells us in Matthew 25 that when we minister to people in prison it is the same as ministering to Jesus himself. We are called to set the captives free from their bondage to sin and guilt no matter who they are or where they might be.

Every Tuesday from 3-5 a group of ladies meets in our school library to quilt. This is a wonderful time of encouragement and fellowship. But this ministry is also an outreach because these ladies give their quilts to people who are facing physical ailments, grieving, or have a deep personal struggle and they need a loving touch from Jesus. Those who participate also find great healing themselves as they love others and join with other women in ministry.

There are several great para-church ministries involved on the WVU campus. Covenant has long partnered with Intervarsity Christian Fellowship because of their emphasis on evangelism, as well as, discipleship. We financially support this ministry as well as offer a free family supper to students one Wednesday every month. Because of the university, the world is present in Morgantown. It is an amazing opportunity to reach the world for Jesus in our own backyard.