Evangelical Covenant Church, Thief River Falls

We have been a part of the Thief River Falls community for over a hundred years. We are passionate about knowing, loving, and following Jesus Christ. We value multi-generational worship and service, and are strongly committed to missions and youth and childrens ministry.

Our beliefs are summed up in what we call Covenant Affirmations:

We affirm the centrality of the word of God.
The teachings of the Bible are central to who we are and what we do. God’s Word strongly shapes how we think, plan, speak, and act.

We affirm the necessity of the new birth.
Every person needs to be right with God and to live rightly before Him. A person receives from God forgiveness and eternal life by turning away from sin and by turning to Jesus Christ in faith.

We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the Church.
God has given His church a mission: To help others know, love, and follow Jesus Christ, the Savior. We carry out God’s mission through acts of love, and through words proclaiming hope in Christ.

We affirm the Church as a fellowship of believers.
We welcome into membership all who profess personal faith in Jesus Christ, and only those who profess personal faith in Him. All believers in Jesus are welcome into membership, regardless of religious background.

We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit.
We depend upon the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit. We expect God’s Spirit to teach, correct, encourage and direct us, and we follow His leading.

We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ.
The center of our shared life is faith in Christ. Our central affirmations form the boundaries of our faith. Within these boundaries we grant one another freedom to express our faith and to interpret the Bible according to conscience, as the Spirit leads.

All that we do as a church is based on 10 Core Values.

1. Worship. The primary reason God’s church exists is to glorify God in everything we do.
2. Love. The greatest purpose of God’s church is to love God and to love others in His name.
3. Truth. Everything God’s church believes, plans, and does should be based upon God’s Word.
4. Grace. Jesus teaches his followers to treat people with mercy, patience, and forgiveness.
5. Holiness. God commands his church to be set apart for Him and to live a life devoted to Him.
6. Service. Every follower of Christ is gifted by God for service and expected by God to serve.
7. Mission. Christ sends his church to tell the good news of God’s salvation to a world desperate for hope.
8. Growth. A lifetime of personal and spiritual growth is an essential part of following Christ.
9. Community. God’s church should be characterized by committed, caring relationships.
10. Justice. God commands His church to lift up the poor, the oppressed and the overlooked.