Christ Covenant RPC

Location: Lawrence, Kan.

Presbytery: Midwest

Membership: 55 communicant; 17 baptized

Organized: 1970

Pastor: John McFarland (installed 2003)

Originally known as the Lawrence Reformed Presbyterian Fellowship, Christ Covenant Church in Lawrence, Kan., was officially organized on July 1, 1970. This year is therefore their 40th anniversary! The Lord has blessed the church in many ways over these years, and they eagerly anticipate His direction for the next 40 years and beyond.

Of course, the church didn’t spring up fully grown in 1970. The congregation has its origins in a Bible study begun in the mid-1960s in the home of Dr. Bill and Margaret McElroy from the Topeka RP Church. A number of area RPC pastors shared in leading these studies, including Harold (“Mac”) and Martha McKinney, who are still members of the congregation. (In the photo here, Mac is holding one of our youngest members, Katie Sue Stegall, daughter of Micah and Christie Stegall.)

In 1967 those involved in the Lawrence work decided to call Rev. Marion McFarland to be stated supply. Marion soon arrived with his wife, Shirley, and became the congregation’s first pastor (1970-1975). During these years there was an emphasis on outreach to students at the University of Kansas. One of the specific ministries was the Red House, where several young women lived and met weekly for Bible studies. Among them was Louise Falk, now Moore, who serves as a deacon in the congregation today.

Since 1975 Ron Stegall, Robert Tweed, Mark England, and John McFarland have served as pastors. “Pastor John” is in his seventh year pastoring here, after more than seven years church planting in Southern California. John is a part-time Bible teacher at Veritas Christian School and serves on boards of a local pregnancy care center and evangelical ministers association, plus the boards of Reformation Translation Fellowship and RP Global Missions. He is also delighted to participate in conversation partnerships with Asian doctoral students at the University of Kansas (KU).

Pastor John has brought great energy and leadership to the work. Through his preaching and personal contacts, the church has recently welcomed several new families into the fellowship. This new growth has prompted them to consider how to expand the facilities. (In the other photo is new member Kelley Denham teaching a children’s Sabbath school class.)

Other recent highlights in the church’s life include the election of former pastor Ron Stegall as a ruling elder, a one-day summer vacation Bible school program (which they hope to expand into a full week this year), outreach to international students at KU, two showings of The Truth Project and a community seminar on C. S. Lewis. (The congregation has a long history of sponsoring such meetings on timely topics.) Several members are involved as teachers and parents in Veritas Christian School, founded by the congregation in 1978. They also participate in local ministries such as the Pregnancy Care Center and the Leo Center, a Christian organization that includes a medical clinic, a food pantry, and counseling services.

Prayer Requests

• As we begin our 41st year, we earnestly covet your prayers as we renew our efforts to reach the community for Jesus Christ.

• Please pray for Christ Covenant Church to see future leaders being raised up for church offices and committee activities, plus more intentional outreach to the lost all around us. 

• Ministering in a liberal university town has its challenges, but we have many opportunities to let our lights shine through bold stands, steady love, and united testimony with many in Lawrence who “have not bowed the knee to Baal.”

• We are overjoyed to have over 10 little children in our fellowship today and are asking God to help us raise them up in the Lord.

  —Phil Beard; photos by Nikki Dekat