The Evangelical Covenant Church of Bemidji

SERVE: Giving for Life

There is no joy in life that compares to the joy found in blessing another person...especially one in need! While living in a land of plenty and self-absorption, concern for the well being of those with need or deserving of appreciation is a virtuous habit we desire to build into the lives of our students.

As a church we must reach out to those in need and provide opportunities for people with means to connect with and help those without means. That's why we developed "SL: SERVE." To provide students with the opportunities to make those connections and build the habit of serving others.

Why Should We Serve? Jesus and others in the Bible taught extensively on serving others in need >>

Soup Kitchen

We volunteer regularly with our local Soup Kitchen. The Soup Kitchen serves dinner from 5pm-6pm three times a week at the following locations:

Mondays, Mt. Zion Church (414 Lincoln Avenue SE, Bemidji, MN)

Tuesdays, Mt. Zion Church (414 Lincoln Avenue SE, Bemidji, MN)

Thursdays, United Methodist Church (902 Beltrami Ave NW, Bemidji)

STRIVE

STRIVE is an all day work-a-thon that will benefit both our community and our student ministry through a community & environmental clean-up effort that will also raise money for the ministry of Student Life at the Covenant. Students & Adults will join together in teams and will each volunteer an 8 hour work day (potentially over 400 hours of total volunteer labor) to various non profit and community agencies in town (nursing homes, shelters, parks, etc). Meanwhile students will raise pledges from friends, family members, and community neighbors, then a team of adults and students from the church will gather local business sponsorship. The money raised is tax-deductible and will go to our student ministry of the Covenant Church.

It’s an all-around win-win project! Our community will benefit from potentially 400 hours (or more) of community service in one day and the youth of our church will benefit from the entire experience through growth in service, responsibility, and financial support.

Mobile Servants Team

The Mobile Servants Team is a ministry the Covenant Church provides for those who have important projects or urgent needs at home that are too overwhelming or require the kind of skill that only certain people have. This team of skilled men, women, and students can and do assist with projects like urgent home maintenance or remodeling, plumbing, auto maintenance, etc.

The Mobile Servants Team is a ministry the Covenant Church provides for those who have important projects or urgent needs at home that are too overwhelming or require the kind of skill that only certain people have. This team of skilled men, women, and students can and do assist with projects like urgent home maintenance or remodeling, plumbing, auto maintenance, etc.

To volunteer for the Mobile Servants Team or to request their assistance, please contact:

Pastor Doug Giese.

Volunteers for the Soup Kitchen

Each small group will send 2 to 3 students and an adult (small group leader or a parent) to the Soup Kitchen at Mt Zion Lutheran Church (Nymore) on Tuesdays 4:45pm-6:15pm to help with either children’s activities (coloring books, puzzles, etc. supplies are provided on site), help with serving, or just sitting and eating dinner with the others

Students: If your small group is scheduled to serve at a time when you have practice for a sport, a game, or even work, we request that you either:

1) Switch with another person

2) Ask off practice, game, or work.

If serving the needs of others was solely dependent on the convenience of our own schedule, then the needs of others would seldom be met. Please be sure to communicate with your small group leader about your participation in the Soup Kitchen.