Beginnings

New Covenant began as two Covenant Life Groups meeting in the homes of Pastors Jackie & Cheryl Johns and Steve & Rosemary Lester during the last week of January 1989. Pastor Jackie led both groups. Members of the groups were primarily believers who had moved to Cleveland and failed to find a church home here. Those meeting at the Lester's were aquaintances of theirs. Thoses meeting at the Johns' were mostly neighbors Pastor Cheryl had invited going door to door.

Very soon the two groups wanted to start a church so they met together to discuss it. Dr. Cecil B Knight offered the Church of God School of Theology (now Church of God Theological Seminary) as a meeting place for the group. The first worship service was Palm Sunday 1989. The church was officially organized in June of that year with Reverend Harvey Turner, the State Evangelism Director, officiating. The church continued to worship at the Seminary until September of 1990.
Charter members and friends on the day New Covenant was organized as a congregation of the Church of God in June 1989.
An early children's sermon. Do you recognize any of the children?
Earl Branam was ordained as Deacon Emeritus in recognition of his servant example.