The Church is Planted ~ 1994

In 1994 Monadnock Covenant Church was established with a core group of 20; Dave Ness was called as Church-Planter; that September the first worship service was  held at the Camp Squanto Recreation Hall at Pilgrim Pines Conference Center in Swanzey, NH; in October, with 34 people in attendance, the church began to worship at Symonds School.

 The Church Grows ~ 1994 - 1998

Under the leadership of Dave Ness and with temporary financial support of the East Coast Conference and the Evangelical Covenant Church, MCC flourished, and grew to some 100 people in worship.  They called a part time youth pastor, Jim Condap.    The church continued to meet at Symonds school, and rented office space from the Pinney family in the Pinney Plumbing Building, 217 Old Homestead Highway.

Leadership Transition ~ 1998

In the Spring of 1998, Dave Ness relocated to Grand Rapids, MI to serve First Covenant Church.   Garth McGrath, who was serving on staff at Thornapple Covenant Church (in Grand Rapids) at the time, was called to serve as Senior Pastor of MCC.  He arrived with his family in August.  Soon the church called Jim Condap to serve as a full time youth pastor.  

 The Church Grows Again ~ 1998 - 2007

While worshiping in the gymnasium of Symonds School, MCC was something of a ‘secret’ in Keene.  But the church grew, reaching an average attendance of 130 to 140 people.     The church bought land at the corner of Base Hill Road and Route 9, and waited (sometimes patiently) for that intersection to be reconstructed so that the church would be permitted to ‘build.’  As they waited, their children’s ministry flourished under Linda Williams and Kristin Karlson and their youth ministry thrived - first under Jim Condap, and then under Ryan Ventura.   

Base Hill Road property prior to construction

 Ministry Center Completed, and the Church Expands Dramatically ~ 2007

In January of 2007, the church moved into its newly constructed ministry center.  With increased visibility and a deeper sense of ‘permanence in the community,’ attendance began to increase dramatically.  The church hired Crystal Toegel to serve as Administrative Assistant,  called Ron Ferguson to serve as Associate Pastor,  hired Lorraine DiGeronimo to work with teenagers and hired  Donna Gaughan to lead our Children’s Ministry.  Meanwhile, Garth McGrath continued to serve as Sr. Pastor.  By the end of 2007 some 200 people were worshiping together at MCC on a regular basis.

   

 Monadnock Covenant Church in 2009

Monadnock Covenant Church today is an exciting mix of people from a wide range of spiritual backgrounds who are on a journey toward becoming genuine followers of Jesus Christ. Some have been Christians for as long as they can remember.  Some are just starting out on the journey with no ‘church’ or ‘Christianity’ in their  background.  They are asking questions (without being judged), and they are investigating the claims of Jesus.    Others among us come from ‘nominal’ Christian backgrounds.  They understand some of the basics of the Christian faith, and are moving toward making their faith more personal for themselves.    A number of our attendees come from Roman Catholic backgrounds.  Others come from the full range of Protestant churches.   We are seeking the Lord together, striving for unity and maturity, and are serving others (inside and outside of our church) in Jesus’ name.   We are eagerly anticipating what He will do among us and through us in the months and years ahead.