Extended History

~~~A HISTORY~~~ 
1973-1998 
J. ROD WEBB, CLERK 
25 Years 
"To God Be The Glory"

~~ ACKNOWLEDGMENT ~~

I would like to dedicate this simple booklet to one of the finest ladies I ever met, Laura Elizabeth Savelle Hayes. Laura loved Covenant Presbyterian Church with all her heart and was a great encouragement, not only to me, but to all who knew her. Although a stroke early in 1994 had paralyzed her right side and had taken away her speech, she always greeted visitors with a welcome smile that made her love for the LORD and for them immediately obvious. 

It was well stated by Rev. Tommy Carr at her funeral; "To know her was to love her." I have heard of no one who would refute that statement. 

Laura Hayes was born May 12, 1913, and lived her early years in Pelham, Georgia. She married James Elmore Hayes on August 23, 1931. They raised three godly children; Carol Sue Hayes Cook, Beverly Anne Hayes Webb, and the Rev. Robert Spence Hayes. Another child, James E. Hayes, Jr. died at birth. On Sunday morning October 8, 1995, at 7:55 a. m., Laura, with all her family, sons-in-law and daughter-in-law included, by her bed, slipped from this life into God's presence her husband gently clutching her hand. Before many seasons, she will take his hand again and every tear will be wiped away. (Note: On December 23, 1998, James Hayes, lovingly known as Big-Daddy, joined his bride of 64 years.) 

She so loved to sing and praise the Lord yet was unable to do that vocally for the last two years of her life. It was only fitting that the Lord should carry her home on the Sabbath morning when we poor mortals were just preparing to worship. O my! Don't we know that was an exciting time for her? 

God used her love for me, her encouragement, and most of all, her prayers to bring me into His Kingdom and service. I still miss her and give thanks for God giving me a Mother-In-Law that we all affectionately knew as "Big Mama". 

~~ PREFACE ~~

You could probably attribute the early beginnings of Covenant to a number of people if you were people oriented, but our early theme song told the whole story; "TO GOD BE THE GLORY, GREAT THINGS HE HAS DONE." God did, however, place some unsung heroes and heroines in strategic places at just the right time. The part that I credit them with may come as a surprise to them and, knowing them as I do, they will most likely grimace as they read their names. 

I credit a young seminary student at Reformed Theological Seminary for making sure we got all the information available. When Bob Hayes got to Jackson, Mississippi, he immediately began thinking how he might activate me. He came up with the idea of "Project Philip," a Bible correspondence course. He rented a post office box in the old St. Andrews post office. My job was to pass out the cards in various locations and when they were returned, I was to send the info to him. He
in turn would get the material to the inquirer. I was glad 300 miles separated us or I would have never gotten any rest as eager as he was! 

I don't know how successful "Project Philip" was, but even if it failed, it succeeded in opening a line of communication for Bob to send all kinds of "church" literature to my address. It made me, a young newly elected elder, feel somewhat important to be able to discuss the issues that had become "thorns in the flesh" in our denomination. 

Further credit goes to Joan Carter who had enough confidence in me to nominate me for the office of ruling elder in the fall of 1970. I feel that if she had really known me, she would have cringed if anyone would even think of nominating me. Joan carried a lot of influence at St. Andrews Church and, therefore, the people figured that if Joan saw anything worthwhile in me, then they would go along. I thank Joan for all the encouragement. She shall forever be one of my "special" friends. Because  of her, I was able to have a voice on the session in the heat of the battle with such allies as Pete Scott and Richard Post. More about Joan later. 

I also want to thank Hubert T. (Nook) Maloy, Jr. for the part he played in the birth of Covenant Church. He was my dearest friend. We studied the issues in the Presbyterian Church in the U. S. together; prayed together, picnicked together with our families, fished together, and labored over the church dilemma together. We exhorted one another unto good works. 

Agnes Godert is the one who sparked the idea of a new church. She had been a missionary to Japan along with the venerable Dr. Will McIlwaine. She returned home in 1970 to take care of her ailing father. The PCUS was beginning to have financial difficulties in keeping the missionary force that had once made them such a proud and noble church. Agnes came home in 1969 at the death of her mother. This time she would return for good. During the next two years, she spoke to the St. Andrews congregation a couple of times. On April 23, 1973, Agnes came once again to St. Andrews Church to speak on the work of a missionary. She was greeted with a covered dish dinner and a seemingly happy congregation. Little did she realize the impact one statement that she made would have. Little did she realize the burden shared by so many there that night. During her presentation, she sang so beautifully, as she always did. I think she sang either "Here Am I, Send Me, Send Me", or "Follow Me." But the statement she made that pierced my soul was this, "When I returned to Panama City, I noticed that a number of new Baptist churches had begun over the previous 25-30 years, but not one new Presbyterian church had been begun." Nook and I, sitting across the table from one another, immediately concluded that may be God's answer. I think maybe Pete Scott and Mark Jones had the same feeling. Thanks Agnes. Surely God works in mysterious ways. 

Another person that I would like to acknowledge is my dear friend and mentor, Richard Post. As charges of division were sometimes made, Richard, in his calm and serene manner was the prayer warrior. O, how we all needed prayer! We all prayed, but sometimes our emotions surfaced. Some of us depended on our tongue being the prime weapon too, too often, but Richard always had his SWORD of the Word handy and kept it sharpened with prayer. I Thank God for Richard Post. ---And I thank you too, Richard! 

And finally, I thank Richard (Dick) Gaunt, when after seeing the notes that I kept from the beginning, encouraged me to write it out so it wouldn't be lost as a new generation of people came into the leadership of the church. Dick has since gone to be with the Lord but I shall always remember his gracious encouragement. 

~~ CHAPTER ONE ~~ 
~~ STORM CLOUDS ON THE HORIZON ~~

St. Andrews Presbyterian Church was probably the friendliest church in town. It was there that I came to a knowledge of what salvation really was; Sola Deo, Sola Fide, Sola Gratia. Having come from an Arminian background, I figured I would have to pick the right time to die and certainly not right after I had committed a sin. I was baptized on April 17, 1960; by sprinkling of all things. In 1968, I was elected to the office of deacon. The Rev. Edsel Huffstetler believed that an officer of the church should have a knowledge of the Westminster standards: WCOF, larger
and shorter catechisms, and the Book of Church Order. I was also introduced to Loraine Boettner's "Reformed Doctrine of Predestination." It was in St. Andrews Presbyterian Church that I finally found assurance of my eternal state. It was there, in November of 1970, that my wife Beverly and I rededicated our lives to the Lord. It was there that I found for the first time a real church family. I shall forever love those dear people that I left behind and cherish fond memories of the church. 

We had a blend on the session of age and youth, of aggressive ideas and the status quo. We had those who would fight for their ideals and those who would proclaim "Blessed are the peacemakers." We had those who wanted growth and those who were content with a small church. Some of us, Richard, Nook, and I included, began a visitation program. We were trying to get other session members involved but some contended that St. Andrews was in a dead end area. The only "dead ends" I saw were the ones occupying the pews. We did manage some good visits though with some degree of success. A number of families came, I would like to think, because of the visitation program. We would go out on
Sunday afternoons quite often: My mother-in law, Laura Hayes, went with us on occasion (I had the honor of making visits with her). One very nice family came because of our visit. I will always credit that one to Big-Mama. Bob Hayes went with us when he could and a young man from the naval station. We would fill out cards describing our visits. If no one was home, we would leave a tract with the church name on it. One tract was entitled "CHICKEN!" A couple of the ladies, in describing their afternoon of visitation, wrote on their card, "We made several visits, no one was home. We left Chicken Tracts." That's so often how I felt on
some of the visits. When I left, I left chicken tracks behind because I felt so unprepared. But Paul told young Timothy, "We aren't given the spirit of fear, but of love and of power and a sound mind. (2Tim. 2:7). It was fun working in the church, but the storm clouds were gathering. 

When I joined the Presbyterian church, I was asked a number of questions which I had to answer in the affirmative. The fifth question was, "Do you submit yourselves to the government and discipline of the church, and promise to study it's purity and peace?" Officers of the church are supposed to take vows subscribing to the Scriptures of both the Old and New Testament to be the inerrant Word of God, the only rule of faith and practice; To receive and adopt the Westminster Confession of Faith and the Catechisms as containing the system of doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures. You vowed to make it known to the Session if you found yourself out of accord with any of the fundamentals since the assumption of this ordination vow. The more I studied the history of the church, as well as it's peace and purity, the more I realized that many of the Southern Presbyterian officers had either misunderstood the meaning of the vows, or they were not expressing the changes that had taken place in their views. 

William Penn once stated, "Rivers were made by water following the lines of least resistance." Godly men had allowed heresy to infiltrate a magnificent church by failing to resist error. Now it was being cut through with a mighty river of tears. If you have ever read the early history of the PCUS, you would have been proud to be a part of it. If you should ever read the writings of James Henley Thornwell, you will be brought to tears knowing how great it was; a "Shining Star" in God's kingdom, and now has left her First Love. How did this all happen? I shall attempt to give but a few of the many deviations. 

~~ Chapter Two ~~ 
~~ How Did We Get Here? ~~

Things started going bad long before I could even spell Presbyterian. I was raised a combination of pagan and Pentecostal. I spent my childhood years in the First Assembly of God Church in Millville and started going to the St. Andrews Presbyterian Church when I met the girl I married. I didn't know churches had their sneaky snakes until I became an elder in the church. In studying the history of the church, fulfilling my vow to study it's peace and purity, I discovered some things I really didn't want to know. 

You could say the liberal problems began in 1929 when the Rev. Hay Watson Smith distributed pamphlets on evolution. In 1933, a complaint was brought against the synod of Arkansas for not examining him concerning his views. The Assembly refused to allow six presbyteries to bring charges. The door was now cracked open. In 1937, a "Commission on the Minister and His Work" was established which would evolve into a mechanism to control who would be allowed to serve in the denomination. Executive or standing committees were changed to boards. That in itself doesn't seem too bad until you look at the difference. A committee always answers to a higher level and can make no binding decisions. A "board" operates under given guidelines and can, under those guidelines, make decisions. Never mind that the guidelines get stretched. "Commissions" on the other hand are given latitude to make decisions as they deem fitting and to report their actions to the higher body. 

In 1939 they started tampering with the Confession of Faith and in 1942 added two sections; Of The Holy Spirit and Of The Gospel which took away from the sovereignty of God in salvation and placed the emphasis on man having the unaided ability to accept the Gospel. The Church was moving in the direction of universalism. 

In 1941, Ernest Trice Thompson, champion of the liberals, succeeded in changing the spirituality of the Church to one of social issues. Between 1953 and 1956, The Assembly took a softer view of divorce claiming that Matthew 5:32 and 19:9 were a modification of Jesus' intention and should be rejected as a basis for formulating doctrine. In 1963-64, They declared 1 Timothy 2:11-12 really didn't mean the husband of one wife but could also mean the wife of one husband. (And the serpent said to Eve, "Did God really say that...?"). Subtle attacks on God's Word were now becoming commonplace. In 1964, A. M. Hart denied the inerrancy of the Scriptures and the historicity of Adam and Eve. The Assembly refused to censure him. How far had that great Church fallen? How much more could she stand? 

James Henley Thornwell had so wonderfully written in 1861; "The provinces of Church and State are perfectly distinct, and the one has no right to usurp the jurisdiction of the other. The State is a natural institute, founded in the constitution of man as moral and social, and designed to realize the idea of justice. It is the society of rights. The Church is a supernatural institute, founded in the facts of redemption, and is designed to realize the idea of grace. It is the society of the redeemed. The State aims at social order, the Church at spiritual holiness. The State looks to the visible and outward; the Church is concerned for the invisible and inward. The badge of the State's authority is the sword, by which it becomes a terror to evil doers, and a praise to them who do well. The badge of the Church's authority is the keys, by which it opens and shuts the kingdom of Heaven, according as men are believing and impenitent. The power of the Church is exclusively spiritual; that of the State includes the exercise of force...." Well written, yet in 1966, the Assembly went on record as favoring the discontinuance of capital punishment, and in 1968, after the assassination of Senator Robert Kennedy, they adopted a resolution to the government to change the gun laws in America. 
 
In 1969, for the first time in history, the Assembly began conducting business on the Sabbath. That same year, they concluded that evolution did not contradict the Scriptures. The following year, 1970, they adopted two papers on "drinking." They were concerned with the rising rate of alcoholism. The answer was to teach children "responsible" drinking so they may drink socially when they are older without addiction. Likewise, they were concerned with the rising divorce rate so they encouraged the "new morality." A youth publication, Colloquy, actually showed the nude silhouette of a teenage boy and girl on the cover page. All the while the average man and woman in the pew were oblivious to anything that was happening. 

Youth delegates were allowed to attend the 1970 General Assembly and gave them the right to debate and to vote in the Standing Committees. They also gave them the privilege of the floor but without right to vote. That is the year they endorsed abortion for socio-economic reasons. 

In 1972, the Assembly refused to take a stand against pornography and homosexuality in spite of Romans 1:27. They also adopted a paper on the meaning of "Doctrinal Loyalty in The Ordination Vows." The line, "Authority of The Scriptures as The Only Rule of Faith and Life" was not used by the reformers or the Westminster Standards in a strict literal sense, they contended. Further, they placed the "Witness of The Spirit," "the witness of human reason," and "the witness of the Church" as all being equal. This was a blatant and open move to neo-orthodoxy. They ignored 2 Timothy 3:16, "All Scripture is God Breathed," and declared that 2 Peter 1:21 was produced by men borne of the Spirit. They required, at best, a loose subscription to the Westminster Standards, and encouraged the Church to move more to neo- orthodoxy. 

Space would not permit an accounting of all the atrocities of the PCUS presbyteries ordaining men who denied the Virgin Birth of our Lord, men denying the infallibility of the Sacred Scriptures, pastors performing same sex marriages, and of course the attempt of union with COCU, and the distribution of the proposed Book of Confessions which had a confession for just about anything you might believe. There was also the de-facto merging of some of our presbyteries with the UPCUSA, and the realignment of some of the others to make them more vulnerable. 

You must give them credit for one thing, though. They had zeal to pursue their cause. They also retained their composure. They got influential men in key positions and they were extremely subtle. I remember one man in particular. He had a good personality, visited people, carried food to the needy; his family was well mannered. Naturally, we look at the human qualities. This man was elected to the session of his church. In his very first year on the session, he was appointed to the commission on the minister and his work. It soon became impossible for a graduate from Reformed Theological Seminary to be admitted to the presbytery. 

It reminds me of the story of a man on a mountain top in a blizzard. He started down the mountain to seek the safety of a warm shelter when he spotted a snake about to freeze. "Help me," said the snake, "Put me in your pocket and warm me." "No," said the man, "You'll bite me." "No, I promise I won't if you'll only help me." So with that promise, the man took the snake into his pocket and carried him down the mountain. When they got to the safety of a warmer environment, the snake asked to be released. When the man reached in his pocket to lift the snake, there was 
an excruciating pain as the snake latched on his hand and released all his poisonous venom. "But you promised you wouldn't bite," the man replied as the strength drained from his body. "Ah," the snake replied, "You knew from the start what I was." Now as the life ebbed from the church, we could look back and see cunning men who had gotten in positions of authority through their charisma or lofty positions in life. But hadn't they promised to support the church in it's worship and to study it's peace and purity? Ah yes, but we knew all along what they were. 

Now the question loomed, "What shall we do?" To sit back and watch it deteriorate further would be wrong. We were chosen to lead; to take a stand. First, we must pray! 

Godly men all over the south had united under one cause. There was no lack of informative literature. Groups like the Presbyterian Churchmen  United, whose executive secretary was Paul Settle who played such a mammoth role in the formation of the new denomination, published a newsletter entitled CONTACT. Another was The Concerned Presbyterian which teamed up men like Ken Keyes of Miami, Florida and W. Jack Williamson, an attorney, and Col. Roy LeCraw. The Presbyterian Journal of which Dr. L. Nelson Bell was the editor kept us informed of the atrocities committed in both the Northern UPCUSA and the Southern PCUS. In the year 1970, Kenneth Keyes went on circuit, as did others, to alert the Southern Churches as to what was taking place. He lectured on "Eight Reasons Why Our Presbyteries Should Not Form Union Presbyteries with UPCUSA Presbyteries." I have a copy in my possession but the examples it extracts from the records are too heinous to print in this manuscript. Other publications included The Southern Presbyterian which was published in Centreville, Alabama, and The Presbyterian Guardian from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

Brochures were beginning to hit the scene. One was Where Do We Go From Here? By W. Jack Williamson, stated "The First step toward solving a problem is understanding what the problem is...." Amazingly, many still didn't know what the problem was, or even if there was a problem. If there was, they didn't want to know about it. The Steering committee for a Continuing Presbyterian Church printed an article which was placed in brochure form entitled Presbyterians: Which Way? Historic Presbyterianism or Radical Liberalism! It compared the views of the traditional Presbyterian church with the liberal views that had infected it.   On May 18, 1973 a convocation of Sessions was held in Atlanta, Georgia. There were representatives from 280 churches across 14 states present. They presented the Reaffirmations of 1973 which gave bold comparisons for the church and the church reborn. They voted 349-16 in favor of forming a new church structure in 1973. A committee of forty; twenty ruling elders and 20 teaching elders, were elected to guide the body in the move. At the time 40 churches had separated and formed four presbyteries. Prayer had been an integral part of the movement. Many people had done a lot of talking. Now they were called to take to take a stand. They did! They signed a declaration of intent. The lot was cast-- the disposing now was in God's hand. There was no turning back.

Chapter Three 
~~ Decision Time ~~

We had heard a sermon one morning as on any other Sunday morning but the weight of the General Assembly activities as reported through the Presbyterian Journal and from piles of information sent from Reformed Theological Seminary by Bob Hayes was beginning to get somewhat heavy. After church, Nook Maloy and I were outside discussing some of the issues when up walked Pete Scott. As he joined in the conversation, he stated, "Boys, something's gotta be done about this situation." We, at a previous session meeting had discussed this matter with the other elders and had made a motion to allow the congregation to vote on whether or not to join the growing numbers of churches withdrawing from the PCUS. The motion was defeated 6-3. We agreed to meet at Nook's house that week and establish a game plan about what we could possibly do. 

On June 7, 1973 at 7:00 p. m., we met at the home of Nook (Hubert T. Maloy, Jr.). Attending were Pete (Leon C. Scott), Mark Jones, and James R. (Rod) Webb. We discussed the issues and the condition of the local St. Andrews Presbyterian Church. We concluded that we needed to get more men involved. A week later, June 14, we met in the home of Rod Webb. We had picked up one more man, but he proved to be a real good addition, he loved to pray! That man was Richard Post. Naturally, we began that meeting with a season of prayer. We discussed the sessions 6-3 vote prohibiting us from bringing the matter before the congregation. So, it was agreed that a new church that would be true to scripture and to the Reformed Faith was needed. We agreed to meet in one week at the home of Mark Jones, inviting more men and also any from Wallace Memorial Presbyterian Church who might be interested. 

The third meeting was at the home of Mark Jones. It was June 21, 1973, 7:00 p. m. Mark's wife, Shirley had graciously prepared for the meeting by baking a cake and serving coffee and Coke. I suggested that we make that our permanent meeting place. We had two more attending from St. Andrews, H. B. Hayes and George Cook. We also had Lee Mattern and Charlie Abbott from Wallace Memorial attending. Lee and Charlie had the opportunity to attend the Convocation of Sessions in Atlanta and they reported on that. Plans to begin meeting as a new church was made with the first meeting scheduled for the first Sabbath day in July. The auditorium of Northside Elementary School was mentioned as a possible site. The meeting was appropriately adjourned with a season of prayer. 

The new church was put on hold when the remaining session members heard of our plans. Having a rotation system for officers, Nook, Pete, and Mark had rotated off. I had one more year of my term left. The allies were Richard, George Cook, and me. The previous vote to bring it to the congregation for vote was naturally 6-3. Now the new work was put on hold because the remaining elders conceded to allow it to be brought to the congregation for vote----but, certain stipulations were to be followed. We were not to be allowed to distribute any divisive literature, and a committee was formed to seek out speakers to present the opposing views. In the meantime, the session agreed to hold in abeyance monies designated in the budget for the presbytery, synod, or general assembly. This money would be set aside in a special fund and when the matter was settled, the money would then be sent if the church didn't withdraw. 

In God's providence, Donald C. Graham was on the beach at the Gulftreat campgrounds. He was invited to preach in the pastor's absence but was instructed to refrain from any hint of the impending division in the denomination. He preached a sermon on the "Ten Commandments" that morning addressing it mainly to the youth. It was a powerful, stirring sermon. It was then that we got familiar with Mr. Graham and he renewed his acquaintances with a number in the congregation whom he had already met.  

Dr. W. A. McIlwaine was chosen to present the conservative point of view while Dr. Frank Elvery, executive secretary of Florida Presbytery, was chosen to represent the PCUS interests. Dr. McIlwaine, a small, frail man in his eighties was a retired missionary to Japan. If I had ever met a walking saint, this was certainly he. He wasn't a powerful speaker but a man of supreme wisdom. Dr. Elvery, on the other hand, was a tall man who spoke rather forcefully. For people who listen for context over rhetoric, Dr. McIlwaine was by far the winner. People came to me after the two of them spoke on successive Sundays and wanted to know why we have to worry about what's happening in the denomination. "We have a good church here and we don't need to worry about the others." The congregational meeting was set for November 11, 1973 during the evening service. Florida Presbytery had formed a commission to send over the week before to try to give us reasons why we shouldn't leave. It was a question and answer time. We had many questions on issues ranging from the PCUS endorsement of abortion for socio-economic reasons (Hundreds of Thousands of dollars had been channeled through the PCUS for abortions for socio-economic reasons) to homosexual marriages inside the denomination, to women officers to neo-orthodoxy. They provided no satisfactory answers. They only offered, "We have a beautiful campground at Dogwood Acres. You have access to it anytime." 

The vote was taken. We won 55-52. Did I say we won? Property was being awarded to the smaller dissenting groups all over the south. How could this be a victory. Immediately after the vote was announced, Nook Maloy stood up and made the motion that action be tabled indefinitely.  That was interpreted as a conciliatory move. "Now," they said, "We can get back to normal." But normal had changed for them forever. 

The next night, Monday, November 12, 1973, we began to resume the meetings from five months earlier. The meeting was held in the home of Mr. and Mrs. Lee Mattern. Along with their presence were Mr. and Mrs. Pete Scott, Nook Maloy, Sid Jenkins, Mr. and Mrs. Terry (Mary Jane Post) Miller, Richard Post, Mark Jones, and Rod Webb. 

The group discussed the activities of the earlier summer meetings. Rod Webb had attended the meeting of the new Gulf Coast Presbytery which was held at McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church in Pensacola. He reported on the meeting and the plans being made with the Continuing Church group on the national level, a group of people, like ourselves, who felt the PCUS was apostate and felt a separation from them was necessary. Some of those attending the meeting at the Mattern home felt commitments to their various churches that they needed to work out before casting their lot with a new group. A discussion was held to decide whether to withdraw to a state of independency so we could decide later with whom to identify or to join the new group immediately even though they weren't officially a denomination yet. We named ourselves the Independent Presbyterian Fellowship yet we knew Presbyterians, being connectional, can't be independent. We also knew that we would be a part of the new denomination. 
 
On the following Thursday, November 15, we met again in the home of H. B. Hayes. Along with Mr. and Mrs. Hayes, attendants were Pete and Alice Scott, Terry and Mary Jane Miller, Joan Carter, H. T. Maloy, Sr., H. T. Maloy, Jr., Richard Post, James E. Hayes, Mark Jones, and Rod Webb. God's favor was fervently sought in a season of prayer. It was announced that arrangements were made with the city to allow us to meet in the Westside Men's Club on November 18, 1973 at 11:00 a. m. The following committees were established: 

Finance Committee: Hubert Maloy, Sr. and Mark Jones 
Educational Committee: Joan Carter and Rod Webb 
Missions Committee: Richard Post and Alice Scott 
Worship Committee: H. B. And Kate Hayes 
Organizational Committee: Hubert Maloy, Jr. and Lee Mattern 

Mr. Mark Jones led us before the Throne of Grace as we dismissed. 

We attended Sunday School at the "old" church since some of us still taught, and then went to the Westside Men's clubhouse for our first church service. Thirty two people were in attendance that first Sunday including children. A Baptist minister serving with some campus outreach organization was the first to stand behind the podium which Wilson Funeral Home loaned us for our meetings. He was the Rev. Tommy Welch. He preached for us on the 18th and again on December 9.  November 25, and December 2, brought laymen to the pulpit. They were Mr. Charlie Abbott and Mr. Dennis Pledger respectively. Mr. Pledger went on to become a Baptist minister. On the 16th of December, the beloved Dr. W. A. McIlwaine was our supply. During the course of the sermon, he recited a poem entitled, "General William Booth Enters Heaven." The description was so vivid and moving. You could almost envision the entry into Heaven as Dr. McIlwaines entry. The following Sunday brought a seminary student, Bob Hayes, to our pulpit. The 
following Sunday was again Dr. McIlwaine and then beginning on the 6th of January, we had what would be our first pastor, the Reverend Donald Carson Graham. 

As you may recall, Mr. Graham had preached for us at St. Andrews for a Sunday earlier in the summer. When the first General Assembly for the new denomination was held on December 4-7, Mr. Graham was approached about the possibility of moving to Panama City to help us get started. Since his wife was originally from here and still had a brother living here, he expressed a willingness to come for a Sunday or two, but being retired from the pastorate and holding down the position of executive secretary of the NPRF (National Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship) he really wasn't interested. "If they will invite me by letter, I will come as a guest speaker," he replied. He served Covenant for three and a half years, but that's getting a little ahead of the story. Let's drop back a few weeks and catch up. 

The day after the vote, we got busy and looked for a place to meet. We certainly wanted something on the west side of town since that's where the majority of the dissenters lived. After a few phone calls, we settled on just that, the Westside Men's Clubhouse. The Sunday School superintendent of St. Andrews asked us to continue teaching our Sunday School classes through the rest of the quarter. We knew, and I think they knew too, that wouldn't work. A phone call later in the week from one of them proved we were right. We were relieved of our responsibilities and immediately set our own program in motion. The second Sunday saw Janice Maloy teaching the Primaries; Beverly Webb, Juniors; Lee and Donna Mattern, Junior Highs; Nook Maloy, Senior Highs, and Rod Webb, the adult class. We came away without so much as a songbook. Another church loaned us some of their older songbooks. We bought the material for the Sunday School classes from the Gospel Book and Gift Shop. The Adult class studied Holiness by J. C. Ryle. It was said of that book that if every Christian was locked in a room with that book until he
had a conversing knowledge of it, the whole world would be changed. 

After the morning worship service of December 2, a meeting of the congregation was held for the purpose of constituting itself as a church. A motion was made by H. B. Hayes and seconded by Ruby White to officially constitute itself as The Independent Presbyterian Fellowship. A statement of intention was signed by most of the people in attendance. H. T. Maloy, Jr., Lee Mattern, and Rod Webb, all Ruling Elders in good standing, were elected by acclamation and were vested with the authority of trustees of the new body. Those signing the statement were as follows: J. Richard Post, Sr., H. T. Maloy, Sr., Lee N. Mattern, Shirley Y. Jones, Phyllis Jones, J. Rod Webb, Cathy Webb, H. T. Maloy, Jr., Janice Maloy, Joan A. Carter, Cornelia Carter, Henry B. Hayes, Mark E. Jones, Rochelle Hayes, Mary Vickie Mattern, Donna V. Mattern, Beverly H. Webb, Laura Hayes, Alice Scott, Renee Scott, Daniel Post, Malcolm Post, Leon C. Scott, Sonya Scott, Ruby White, Monica Mattern, Laura Webb, Cynthia Fowler, Audry Fowler, Dorothy Carter, Carol A. Fowler, Mary Maloy. The charter membership roll was kept open for another six weeks. Those uniting during that period also signed the statement were as follows: Neill Kennedy McKinnon, James Hayes, Mrs. Donald C. Graham, George C.(Bubba) Cook, Jr., Terry W. Miller, Mary Jane Miller, Gussie Groom, Jesse L. Bealor, Jr., Cordelia Bealor, Ruth Bealor, Mrs. James W. Marshall, Joseph W. Bailey, Christian L. McKinnon, Angela Baggett, Thomas Ray Carr, Alison Elaine Cook, Kathryn Hayes. There were several children who were non-communing members also present such as Norman Mattern and Jennifer Webb who was the youngest at 5 ½. 

The following week, December 5, 1973, about 400 delegates from 250 congregations, met in Birmingham's Briarwood Church. The new denomination was officially born. It was named The National Presbyterian Church. We thought how nifty it would be to be called "First" church. Then we would sound rich like "First National Bank"!! The National Presbyterian name only lasted for a year. At the second assembly, the name was changed to Presbyterian Church In America because of a small church Washington, D. C. laid claim to the National name. It certainly looked like this break-away group meant business.

Chapter Four 

Everyone had their assignments and was willing to do so much more. Since I was the only one who had a note pad and pen at the first meeting in June when we only had four of us there, I was asked to keep notes which I did through the whole process. Because of that I was elected clerk. I didn't even own a typewriter. Of course, if I did I wouldn't have known what to do with it. One of the high school girls agreed to do the typing for me. I took notes, composed letters, etc., and it was her job to decipher them and come up with something sensible. Cynthia Fowler was really a bigger help than I ever properly thanked her for. Thanks, Cindy, for your help in those early years, and for your faithfulness over the life of Covenant. 

It was a busy time of the year, between Thanksgiving and Christmas. It was a time when church members normally have cantatas, fellowship, special services and the like. With borrowed songbooks and guest speakers, it really wasn't seeming like Christmas. We were even having to haul a borrowed piano to the clubhouse each Saturday night and haul it home after the worship service on Sunday night. And don't forget, the podium was brought each week from Wilson Funeral home by Bubba Cook, a mortician apprentice. A couple of weeks before Christmas, our
Junior/Senior high girls sang a beautiful rendition of "Angels We Have Heard On High," and then the week before Christmas, Joan Carter sang "O Holy Night." As I listened, I fought back tears. I thought of all the friends left behind and what a beautiful voice they had lost when they lost Joan. I wondered what they were doing that morning. I guess I was like Lot's wife---looking back! After the service, I went up to Joan to compliment her. In the conversation, I asked her, "Joan, do you ever regret making the move"? She immediately, in her own inimitable way, turned her head rather sharply to me and said, "Never!" Oh, that was like a breath of fresh air to me.  

I remember the story I read of Hernando Cortes as he landed on the shore of Mexico in Veracruz in 1519. It was said he ordered all the ships burned but one which would return to the King to inform him of his plight. Then he turned to his men and said, "We either conquer or we perish. There's no turning back." It was that way with us. There was no turning back. 

I wrote a letter of invitation to The Rev. Donald Graham as he suggested, for him to speak on January 13 and 20. Those were the dates he suggested. When I got his reply, he said that he could possibly come on the sixth as well if we were interested! Don's in-laws had the first power company in the country, had owned the first pasteurization plant in Panama City years previously and had been in the automobile business as well. Peggie's brother at the time ran the Stadium Motel on highway 231 where Home Accents now sits. Don had attended Bob Jones College out near College Point. In fact, he and Peggy met there. So Don had roots in the area. I had never seen anyone get so many words on one sheet of paper. He could even turn the paper sidewise and type in the margins. But to us, that showed his interest in the work 

The session met December 27, in the home of H. T. Maloy, Jr. The first communion service was set for the second Sunday in January. The session also set a benevolent goal which was to be 10% increase per year of the tithes and offerings to eventually reach 50%. Shirley Jones, Audrey Fowler, and Ruby White were named as the social committee to handle all the activities anticipated in just a short time. A congregational meeting was called for January 6, 1974 for the purpose of voting whether or not to join the new National Presbyterian Church. Joan Carter and Janice Maloy were authorized to establish a youth choir. 

At the congregational meeting Elder Lee Mattern made a motion as follows: The membership of the Independent Presbyterian Fellowship of Panama City, Florida, requests the Gulf Coast Presbytery of the National Presbyterian Church to receive and organize it as a particular church of that presbytery and denomination and to take whatever steps are necessary and agreed upon by the presbytery and the elders of this newly organized church or congregation, to establish it as a fully functioning Presbyterian Church. The motion was seconded by H. T. Maloy, Jr. H. T. Maloy, Sr. spoke in favor of the motion. The vote was 31-0 in favor of the motion. One person was absent but had expressed his desire to support the motion. 

After the congregational meeting, the session met for the purpose of calling another congregational meeting on January 20, 1974, for the purpose of selecting a name for the church and to make any preparation prior to entering the National Presbyterian Church. An officer nominating committee was also named by the session for the purpose of securing names for the election of five elders and four deacons. These names would be voted on at the congregational meeting. The committee consisted of the current session along with Mrs. Ruby White and Joan
Carter. A building fund was also established for the purpose of finding land and building. A land and building committee was named as follows: H. T. Maloy, Sr., Mark E Jones (who also served as our first treasurer), H. B. Hayes, Lee Mattern, Richard Post, L. C. Scott, H. T. Maloy, Jr., and Rod Webb. Gulf Coast Presbytery was asked to appoint a commission to install us as a particular church and install the officers on the January 27, 1994.  

The congregational meeting was held on January 20, 1974. Nine names were submitted and voted on. A motion was made that the three names receiving the fewest votes be dropped in a process of elimination until three were left. The name COVENANT emerged as the winner. That name was submitted by Mrs. Ruby White. A motion was made to adopt Covenant Presbyterian Church as the official name. The officer nominating committee recommended to the congregation the following names: Deacons- James E. Hayes, H. T. Maloy, Jr., H. B. Hayes, and
Mark E. Jones. For elders: Lee N. Mattern, Richard Post, Leon C. Scott, H. T. Maloy, Sr., and Rod Webb. The congregation also voted unanimously to extend a call to the Reverend Donald Carson Graham. After Mr. Graham had led the group in worship for three weeks and had close contact with the members, he felt the conviction that the Lord had led him to be the organizing pastor. A call had been composed which would require Covenant to pay $425. for January with the Mission to the  US paying $308. For February and March, Covenant would pay $525. and MUS would pay $308. Covenant paid half his moving expenses or $275. In April we would assume $500. per month with the MUS picking up the balance of $208. That amounted to a whopping $8,500. per year!  

Now having all the necessary elements to present to Presbytery, the process would move swiftly. A motion was made to adjourn. Murdock Campbell, a ruling elder from McIlwain Memorial Presbyterian Church of Pensacola, was asked to adjourn the meeting with prayer.  

The congregation met again on January 27, with the commission from Gulf Coast Presbytery. The Presbytery commissioners were as follows:  Dr. W. A. McIlwaine who moderated the meeting, The Rev. Timothy Elder who delivered the message, Ruling Elder J. D. Gillman who charged the officers, and Ruling Elder Jim Thrasher who charged the congregation. Now it was official, Covenant Presbyterian Church, though still meeting in a clubhouse, was a particular congregation of the newly organized National Presbyterian Church. 

After the meeting, the Women In The Church, under the presidency of Alice Scott, treated the congregation and commissioners to a covered dish dinner. I think we were accused by the other churches of recruiting the women who were the best cooks. No doubt, the proof was on the table that day. After the dinner, the session met again and no time was wasted getting involved with presbytery. Rod Webb was elected to represent Covenant on February 2. The installation of Donald Graham was set for March 5, a Tuesday night, at the Northside Baptist Church. 

We had quickly outgrown the Westside Men's Club facilities. We sought another place to meet in the general area. We obtained permission to meet in the Northside Elementary School Auditorium. We began there on February 10, 1974 and met there for two years and two months. It was there that we witnessed our first profession of faith, Thomas Ray Carr. He was baptized on March 3, 1974. He now serves as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Demopolis, Alabama.

March 5, 1974, The Reverend Graham was installed as pastor at a service held at another rented facility, Northside Baptist Church. The Rev. Bruce Wideman preached the sermon, the Rev. Donald Dunkerly served as moderator, Ruling Elder Hugh Cottle from Montgomery, read the Scriptures, Ruling Elder Murdock Campbell gave the charge to the minister, the Rev. E. Lee Trinkle gave the charge to the congregation, and Ruling Elder Rod Webb prayed for the pastor and the congregation. 

Everything was on go now. All we needed was room to grow. But don't forget, Covenant was a praying church. With God, all things are possible!

Chapter Five 
A Lesson In Prayer

We had officers. We had a bank account. We had a pastor. We had a tax exempt number. We had a place to meet— at least on Sunday. What more could we ask? A bunch! We wanted a place that we could use any time. In other words, we needed a place of our own. We wanted growth. We wanted a good missions program. We wanted a choir. Where was the suggestion box? It was located at a little white house in the 1300 block of Bayview Avenue. That was the home of Pete and Alice Scott and their two adorable daughters, Renee and Sonya. It was there that we gathered every Tuesday evening for over two years for Bible study and prayer. That was as close to the Church of the Pentecost in Acts as I've ever experienced. There we learned the meaning of bearing one another's burdens. There we learned the meaning of "Little children, love one another." There, more than ever before, we learned that God hears us when we fervently pray. It was there that we learned how beautiful and unselfish Pete and Alice really were. 

How many times before had we been to Bible studies and prayer meetings and left at best with a warm, feeling, only to be forgotten the next day? How many times since? I believe that we were experiencing an unprecedented out pouring of the Holy Spirit. We prayed for a place to build a church. On February 22, we were able to establish a building fund by transferring $900. from the general fund. God opened the door for the property on Frankford avenue. Dr. Gerald Butts had the entire 5 acres for sale but he agreed to sell us the frontage which was 300' along
Frankford X 180' deep along 24th street. We approved the borrowing of up to $15,000 for it's purchase, and prayed for it to be debt free by the end of 1974! We were even bold enough to ask the Lord to prevent Dr. Butts from selling the remainder of the land until we were finished with the building and were able to purchase it. We prayed for song books. We were able to purchase 100 copies of Great Hymns of Faith at $3.50 per copy. Little did we know, soon there would be more important things to pray for. 

On the morning of May 5, prior to the morning worship service, the session held a called meeting for the purpose of calling a congregational meeting to approve buying the first parcel of land from Dr. Butts. At the close of the meeting, Elder Lee Mattern prayed for the proceedings. None suspected that day that he would not be meeting with the session for a while. Even as he prayed for the church, he was having problems of his own. Within two weeks, he was admitted to Bay Memorial Hospital with a tumor of his pituitary gland. The church went to her knees in prayer. Bob Hayes was a member of Covenant Church attending seminary at Reformed Theological Seminary. He too was called to pray. He shared the situation with the entire seminary and they prayed as well. During Sunday School Assembly, Mr. Graham shared with the congregation how God was working in Lee's life. His eyes began to fill with tears. He choked up, turned his back to the people and you could see his body convulsing with sobs. There was not a dry eye in the house. Even meeting in the schoolhouse, this was the church in one of it's finest hours. 

It wasn't long before the scenario was presented all over again as one of our beloved deacons, Mark Jones, was diagnosed with the same problem, a tumor of the pituitary gland. Again the Church carried it in unison to the Throne Of Grace. As the pastor informed the congregation of the situation from Oschner's Clinic, he stated, "In all the years of my ministry, I have never had one single person with such a condition. Now within the first year of Covenant, we've seen two. Indeed this church must be destined for greatness." On July 21, of that year, Lee resumed his duties as a ruling elder. By the end of summer, Mark had resumed his duties as deacon. Through the Lord's mercies, we are not consumed because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: Great is Your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22,23) 

Oh yes, we had prayed to have enough money for the lot to be paid for by the end of the year. There again we experienced God's faithfulness. On May 11, 1974, the Grahams, living in the old Sapp home across from the courthouse, invited the congregation over for a building fund promotion dinner. The featured speaker was The Reverend Richard G. Watson of Seminole Presbyterian Church of Tampa, Florida. (In 1990, we were blessed to have Mr. Watson's daughter unite with Covenant, and more recently, we have likewise blessed to have his wife worship
with us and serve as the librarian in the school). Mr. Watson had written a book of his life experiences, God Made Me Laugh." He blended humor with the serious business of being about our Father's business. A building fund was shifted into high gear that night. 

Mr. Graham built a fine new home on Robinson Bayou Circle that year. We met there for it's formal dedication on Sunday, December 15, 1974, following the evening worship service. We met there again on December 24, for a Christmas candlelight service, and again on December 31, for a watch night service. As we left our home on 21st Court, I, for some reason detoured down into St. Andrews. It was only a couple of miles out of the way. I checked the post office mailbox before I went to the Graham home and stuffed the mail, unopened, into my jacket pocket. At
the Graham's, I joined in a ping-pong challenge, ate my fill of delicious goodies, and had a great time socializing. Just prior to the singing and praying, I thought of the mail. I retrieved it from my jacket and began to open it. One check, another check, another one!! I went to the treasurer and called to Don Graham to join us. We counted up; there in the eleventh hour of the last day, we had enough money to pay off the property. Indeed, God was faithful to His people. You should have been there to hear us sing the doxology! 

Having doubled our membership, we closed the first year, 1974, with 63 communing members. The officers issued the following statement: Reflecting on the life of Covenant Church during the past year, the combined Session and Diaconate unanimously express their thanksgiving and praise to the Lord Jesus Christ for the teaching, ministry, guidance, and fellowship provided this congregation through our pastor, the Rev. Donald C. Graham. Looking to continued growth in grace under Mr. Graham's ministry, we rededicate our lives to the worship and work of our Lord. Recognizing that the Lord has made twain one flesh, we also wish to express our thankfulness for the significant contributions Mrs. Graham has made to the life of Covenant church. The officers feel they are not alone but express the feeling of the entire congregation in this statement of thanks and commitment. 

Mr. Graham was truly one of a kind. The Lord couldn't have sent us anyone who could have done a better job of leading that new congregation. He had this unusual ability to look out over the congregation and take a mental roll call. If you were not there on any given Sunday, you could expect a visit, however brief it may be, to let you know you were missed. He was truly a shepherd who guarded his flock closely. I shall forever remember those days with great love for and gratitude to both him and Peggie. 

The income for the first year was a whopping $39,756.54. That was quite a start! 

Chapter Six  

The winter of 1974 brought our first snowbirds. Casey and Alice Hoekzema were the first to visit Covenant. It wasn't long before we had as many of our Northern friends as we had members. The relationship has always been very good. The Hoekzemas' along with Clarence and Rika Borst, Claude and Ann Norden, and Margaret and Bob Cunning, became such a part of the Covenant family, that when we went to General Assembly in Grand Rapids in 1978, they made us feel like we were right at home. I wish I could tell of the friendships I have made with so many of them right up to the present day but time and space will not permit such an endeavor. 

1975 saw the all church activity continued, neighborhood canvassing, visitation, and receiving new members. During the year, Covenant added six members by profession of their faith, six by reaffirmation of their faith, and nine by transfer of their letter. We lost one by his being ordained to the ministry; Bob Hayes, and one by his transferring back to the church that he had withdrawn from. He was one of our ruling elders. On February 24th, the letter of Mr. H. T. Maloy, Sr. was sent for. He had moved back to rejoin his wife who had not joined the new movement. Of the 21 members gained that year, three are still with us today. They are Kelley Hayes Jackson, Ron Napier, and Karen Napier. The Napiers brought with them the first baby for our nursery (which was set up in the hallway behind the worship area). The baby, Katie, was twelve months old and became our first infant baptism that same day, December 14, 1975. Katie, now Mrs. John Schneider, continues to worship in Covenant with her husband and children, Jerica and James Gavin Schneider. Our first newborn didn't come until July 13, 1978. 

Donald E. Fouraker, Jr. was born to Mr. and Mrs. Donald E. Fouraker, Sr. He was followed closely by Brian Andraus Delmar who was born to Neil and Glenda Delmar on September 7, 1978. We had waited almost five years for the babies to start coming. The Lord has been mos tgenerous ever since. 

We heard such notable speakers as Dr. Robert Strong, Reverend Robert Reed, and the Mission to the US (now known as the Mission to North America) coordinator, Reverend Larry Mills, supply the pulpit when Mr. Graham would go on assignment for the National Presbyterian and Reformed Fellowship which he served as executive secretary. We also sent six of our youth to church camps for the first time. We broke ground for a new sanctuary on July 20, 1975 

Our total expenses for 1975 amounted to $48, 438., amazing! We closed the year as usual, with a watch night service at the Graham Home. We had worshiped there just a week before with a candle light service. 

1976 was the year we began to grow up! It would be different now. No more meeting in peoples homes. No more moving chairs and tables around to convert from Sunday School to church services. No more inviting people to visit "our church" in a schoolhouse. On April 11, 1976, we held services in our own building. It was fantastic! The Rev. Graham preached a message "A Satisfied Christ." We also celebrated the sacrament of The Lord's Supper. That same day, we had our first baptisms in the new building. Alicia Diane Mayes and Tanya Renee Mayes, daughters of Jerry and Linda Mayes were added as covenant children, along with Jessica Helena Jackson, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carroll Jackson. 

Four days later, the first wedding was performed. Mr. Samuel Hayes and Miss Brenda Wiggins were united on April 15. 

On April 25, Covenant Church was dedicated. The Rev. Robert S. Hayes delivered the message "A Covenant Keeping God." The service was held at 3:00 in the afternoon. A sandwich supper followed and then the evening worship service. After beginning the day with Sunday School and then the 11:00 a. m. service, it made quite a full day. This was indeed "The day the Lord had made." We rejoiced and were glad in it.  

That summer, a seminary student was called to be a summer assistant. Ray Burton Lanning, from Westminster Seminary, worked with the youth that summer, as well as assuming some preaching responsibilities. 

As Covenant had always been a praying church and seeing God working so marvelously, we presented another need before Him. We needed an organ for the new sanctuary. Tadlock Piano had loaned us a piano for the opening services of the sanctuary. We bought the piano. Now we needed to start an organ fund. Mr. Graham contacted an acquaintance of his of the Winn-Dixie food store chain and told him of our need. Mr. Tine Davis agreed to supply half the price of an organ if the congregation could come up with the other half in 90 days. Now six thousand dollars was a lot to ask of a small group that had pumped money into a building fund and a missions program. So, what do we do? That's right! We pray. 89 ½ days later, we still lacked $2400. Mr. Graham beseeched the Lord's guidance. Are we going to have to return Mr. Davis' money? After the evening service, the designated money was counted. Not only did we have enough money to buy the organ, we also had $2300 extra. Now we could build the sound chamber!! The organ was delivered in April 1977. Miss Sandi Ray was the first organist. Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!!!! 

That Christmas, we had a candle light service and the New Years watch night service in the Covenant facilities. 

1977 began with an invitation to Dr. Stanford Reid, one of the world's leading church historians, to give a series at Covenant entitled, "Cherishing our Heritage." He came to Covenant on January 19-21 and then preached on the 23rd. His lectures were on Martin Luther, John Calvin, and John Knox. The attendance was a little disappointing. The temperatures dipped that week to the low teens. Many of our "regulars" were busy patching frozen water lines. 

On February 7, Mr. Graham lectured on what he saw following the dropping of the first atomic bomb in Hiroshima , Japan. Frank Barker of Briarwood Presbyterian Church, Birmingham, Alabama came to Covenant for four days; March 13-16. 

It was in March of 1977 that the men of the church began a project that was sorely needed. They started work on an addition to the north wing of the church. It would be a new social hall. It would take fifteen months to build but well worth the wait and labor. 

In addition to the above, we had a lot of other activities that year, The Methodist College Choir in concert, an organ recital by Mrs. Bettie Ray, services by Uncle Hank Schum, A mini-missions conference with Lee Trinkle, a 4th of July picnic, Labor Day picnic and talent show, and the purchase of the lot on the corner of Frankford and 23rd Court. Sadly there were also storms to test the young, vibrant church. "He will not allow us to be tempted above that which we are able to endure." 

Chapter Seven

Things seemed to be going smoothly at Covenant now with a new building, a missions program, good growth, and sound preaching. We had seen affliction, and had seen how God answered our prayers. We had seen our first profession of faith, our first baptism, our first births, our first marriage ceremony, our first snowbirds. Please, Oh GOD, don't let us become cold and indifferent, insensitive to the needs of others! We were beginning to attract college students from Campus Crusade International. That was certainly a boost and an encouragement for our own young people. We were beginning to fly high now with activity. Sadly we were about to experience another first. 

One of our youth, a fine looking, athletic lad, whom everyone loved, was competing at a track meet at Jinks Junior High school. During competition in the broad jump, he felt a pain in his back. After a couple of days it hadn't improved. They took him to the doctor to discover cancer in his spine. The months of treatments and pain would prove to be the trial of life for the youngster. Perry Gregory Hilewitz was just fourteen years old. His father Perry, mother Joanne, and sister Terri, though devastated, were always faithful. Through the summer, Greg spent a lot of time in West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Florida. His battle ended on August 9, 1977. A summer student from Auburn university , Clint L. Hall, Jr. whom we came to know as "Beau", had come to Covenant for the summer. He, Laura Webb (Knetzer), Cathy Webb (Lee), and a friend of theirs from the high school concert choir, Anna Arnold, sang an Andre Crouch song, Thank You Lord, at church one day when Greg was able to attend. It had an impact on the whole family. It became their request that those teenagers sing that song at Greg's funeral. It was a request that they weren't sure they could grant. It was from the heart and couldn't have been done more superbly. They couldn't sing the song again for years. Now Covenant Presbyterian Church had experienced it's first death. Our teenagers had seen it up close, first hand, with one of the finest! Following is the pastors reflections of Perry Gregory Hilewitz: (Donald Graham) Greg was one boy in a million, He stood out from the crowd because of his ability in scholastics and in sports but also because he was an extraordinarily sweet and kindly boy who loved people, loved life, and
loved to understand what life was all about. He had a penetrating and inquiring mind that explored everything that came to hand. It was inevitable that he would ask, and doctors would tell him, the things that concerned his health. Nothing happened at his bedside that he did not know and understand all about it. And the doctors and nurses of West Florida Hospital, where he made such frequent visits and remained for weeks on end, counted him their favorite patient. Well they might; he was the kind of fellow one had to like and appreciate.  

He was voted the athlete having made the most progress because it was natural for Greg to make progress in whatever he did. So he gained the respect of his fellows and of teachers and coaches. He gave his best, and it was about the best anyone could give. 

Greg was blessed with a wonderful family, parents and sister who cared and knew how to show their love and appreciation. They were a close knit foursome, sharing life's enterprises and joys. And when a loving and all-wise God allowed them burdens in this long illness, but also soaring hopes properly based on the doctor's encouraging words, yet again terrible disappointments, too often watching this dear one hurt beyond apparent human endurance; through it all, this mother and dad, and sister stood as towering walls of strength to him, completely supportive in his every need. How beautiful it was! Theirs were only happy words and smiles– something funny or a joke–while at the bedside as determinedly they saved their tears for just beyond the door. Theirs was the love that "Never Fails," that "Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, –endures all things," even life's hardest tests, a love that gave and gave and kept on giving. They would deny it for they felt only weakness but the answer must have been that "God's strength is made perfect in weakness," That when we are weak, we can be strong in Him. (II
Corinthians 12:9,10) Then, too, they would say that Greg always gave the most—and he did. 

Then came grandparents to give the strength of their years of walking with the Lord in mighty faith. They fashioned this family long ago to what they are. This grandfather was a nurse to do whatever needed to be done, just as the rest of the family. The aunts, too, came with undergirding, wise and tender help, just as it was needed. Unknown to them, the grace of God prepared these hearts long ago for these difficult months; it was inevitable they help. And Greg was happiest when he had as many of his loved-ones with him as could be there. They mattered to him so much.  

After Greg left us, the church young people voluntarily wanted to have a prayer meeting for the family, and to thank God for Greg. So they made it a point to spend time by his casket the last night for such a prayer time. Only Heaven will evidence how deeply Greg's witness left a mark for good upon these young lives who knew him, loved and respected him, hurt so deeply at his suffering, and sorrowed in his leaving them. 

A get-well card- a month ago- now lay on his bed table. It was only one of a number of similar expression, this from one of our fine Christian girls, a couple of years his senior: "Dear Greg, You are such a fine Christian witness. Every time I think of all the pain you go through, I feel ashamed. You are constantly looking to the Lord and, by doing so, He shines forth from you. I pray that I will have strength to face my trials
and tribulations and sorrows the way you do. If there were only more Christians like you, we would truly be blessed. 

A funeral would never be called a pretty sight, but there was something very beautiful and awesome to this pastor as he led the casket from the church doors to the waiting hearse. The body was borne by older cousins and fellows who for friendship's sake counted this a sacred honor. We walked past the honorary pallbearers in a well ordered row, boys Greg's own age standing there, strong in health – and sorrow. 

And as the family in a quartet of cars drove out the drive and past the front of the church - this wonderfully comforted family one to the other, with so many from considerable distance must have sensed what I have not seen the like of often, if ever. Before the crowd, now out of the church and banked against it's doors and walls, in solemn silence and, surely, reaching out their hearts in love and tender sympathy that needed no words. It was a special farewell to Greg: We love you! And no less so to the family: We love you! 

May I bear a personal testimony? After forty and more years of pastoral ministry, and having dealt with thousands of people - each of whom might properly count his own sorrows the greatest and his departed loved - ones the dearest - nonetheless, I have never known such co-mingling of sadness, buoyant hopes, fears, suffering, braveness, the life of faith defying stormy blasts, sweetness and love, loyalty and sacrifice as described dear Greg and all who carried him in their arms and hearts through, finally crushingly disappointing days. Yet, his Mother could say as doctors announced Finis to their skills and I suggested what a trial of faith was upon her: "But I have never doubted God!" 

So, too, his Dad , immediately after watching Greg slip from this life into the waiting arms of the Savior, but also his sister as the memorial service was done, both separately testified to what matters the most: "I know that he is no longer in that body but he is in Heaven." This is "To be with Christ which is far better." When at such a time it cannot seem better for those left behind in their grief, that holy confidence is given the children of God by the gracious Holy Spirit. There is living grace and there is dying grace. There is also sorrowing grace - from God.  "We sorrow not, even as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him..... For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and the trump of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first; Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore, comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13-18 

O yes, there is also some unfinished business. I played Greg only one game of chess, lasting quite a while as chess games will. He won it - fair and square! I really don't know whether the angels and the apostles play  chess in Heaven. I would like to think they do. But I am fairly confident that Greg and I will have several games, and I promise that he's in for a tough time of it. I'm determined to see to it! My problem is, however, that I suspect that he is equally determined, and getting ready for me. And, of course, it will still be "fair and square." I do recall that it was fun even losing since it was to dear Greg. What a boy God gave me for a friend - my lamb of the flock! 

The Lord, the Shepherd!
Greg shall never want in the heavenly House of the Lord - forever!
The valley of the shadow is past for him; 
And his dear ones here will not want either
That's just the kind of God He is!

Greg's funeral was held on August 11, 1977. Mr. Graham resigned on September 24 to begin a fund-raising campaign for the Mission to the US. The program would be called "Five-in-Five," and was designed to raise five million dollars in five years to help build new churches. His last day as pastor was October 16. Now our first pastor was gone, and what a void he left to fill. 

Even through the tears, God continued to bless the church. Twenty six members were added to the roll for a net gain of twenty one. We closed the year with 136. 

Chapter Eight 

Covenant was now a viable church. We had shown that we were fallible human beings serving a most holy God. We wanted the church to thrive and be a good witness in the community and send out laborers around the world. God has blessed us beyond our greatest imaginations, unworthy as we are. After those "exciting" first years, things continued to progress in an somewhat orderly manner. Following is an outline of events that were notable in the life of Covenant from that point to the present:

The Record Continues