BOARDMAN — First Covenant Church, 5210 Glenwood Ave., is marking 135 years in the Boardman community this year not only with a new minister to be installed this month, but also with new members who came from Faith Community Covenant Church, which closed last year.

The church will celebrate its 135th year on June 27. Leaders said the two churches chose a new beginning together rather than both face closing.

Mike Burkett of Boardman, vice chairman of the First Covenant congregation, said he was formerly a member of Faith Community Covenant, which was on Midlothian Boulevard.

“Most of the members of Faith Community Covenant Church joined this church as a group and became one new church with a new beginning,” he said.

First Covenant Church added more than 60 members in January,

Burkett said they closed the former church and sold it to Habitat for Humanity in late 2020.

Greg Anstrom of Boardman, chairman of the First Covenant congregation, said it is joyous for both congregations to come together as one.

“We were so happy to welcome them and they were as joyous to welcome us. We combined all of our resources and merged both of the church councils and the church offices. Many of the Faith Community members have taken leadership roles here as heads of commissions.” Anstrom said.

Burkett said “it was an answer to a prayer” to join another church.

Pastor Kendall Churchill was selected from 14 applicants for the pastor position to fill a retirement opening.

“We included two of the members of the other church on the pastor search committee so they could be part of the selection and involved in the final say,” Anstrom said.

Churchill and his wife Tracy accepted the invitation.

“It is an exciting time. The church has so much potential. Both congregations were coming from some notable transitions,” Churchill said.

The First Covenant church had Pastor George Lee serve for 15 months as interim pastor. He was a retired Methodist minister from churches in Canfield and Austintown.

“He helped us keep the church together and welcomed the new members before Pastor Kendall got here,” Anstrom said.

Churchill’s first Sunday was Jan. 31 this year, but the installation was postponed to 10:30 a.m. May 23 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Great Lake Conference Superintendent Garth McGrath will do the installation.

“I love the building, especially the sanctuary. The beautiful chapel, the stained glass and the huge ceilings. Everyone has been very welcoming,” Churchill said.

This is the first time in Ohio for Churchill coming from Minnesota, Chicago and Washington state.

“It is all new territory, but it has been good so far,” he said.

Amstrom said many families have raised their children at the First Covenant Church, which a year ago was told it was going to close — just as Faith Community Covenant Church 3.8 miles away was told its closing was inevitable.

“Several months ago, these two churches began talking about ways to join the two congregations together into one viable, healthy church,” he said.

NEW FAMILY

Last September, the Faith Community members were welcomed at First Covenant.

Anstrom, who grew up in the church, said the church is very family-oriented with many generations of families who have attended over the years.

“We have a good foundation and good roots to stay together,” he said.

The current church at Glenwood Avenue was constructed in 1952 and is the church’s fourth building.

“It is very exciting to be here during a time of transition. The pandemic has given the churches an opportunity work together with new ways of doing things,” Churchill said.

Gail Demetruk of Boardman, church office manager, said her great-grandfather came from Sweden and was one of the original church founders.

“The church is like another family to me. The family has grown with all the new members from Faith Community church,” she said.

Anstrom said the church gets a lot of requests for weddings from not only members but from other denominations.

“People like the large sanctuary with the stained glass windows. That is why we get so many requests for weddings,” he said.

The church is also known for the St. Lucia Festival, which had been held for 40 consecutive years and celebrated Swedish traditions.

Demetruk said the festival was held at Christmas and included meals, craft events and Swedish baked goods.

“In one day we had over 1,000 people go through the church for the festival. We had five different seatings for meals,” Anstrom said.

Burkett said there is a photo in the lobby when the members of Faith Community joined.

The two churches have combined items into one large archive room on the top floor of the church.

Items from both churches’ pasts are being stored there.

“What is nice is our items from our church are also stored here.” Burkett said.

Anstrom said the First Covenant church made sure that the Faith Covenant church did not lose its identity when it came to the new church.

Items in the archives room include documents, photos, furniture, crosses and books.

bcoupland@tribtoday.com