The volleyball team is doing well, the young team getting lots of valuable experience. The inaugural season of the varsity soccer team is going well, finishing the regular season as the top team in the eastern region of the Panhandle Christian Conference. Basketball season is approaching rapidly. I encourage you to come out and support Covenant's teams.

The school laments the Robinson's move to Mississippi but we are confident that the Lord is providing who we need for the school.

We are in the midst of two of the most important fund-raisers for the school: The Golf Tournament and magazine sales. The Golf Tournament is Friday, October 5th at the Hombre.  If you are interested in supporting the school through either endeavor please contact the school office.

Thank you for your prayers for this important ministry of Covenant Presbyterian Church.
 

The Session and Diaconate met from 7am - 11am on Saturday, September 22^nd for a time of prayer, discussion and review of our church as well as idea and task setting exercises.  It was a great meeting with lots of positive comments and ideas and frank discussions promoting greater communication and transparency among the officers in order to strengthen and make more effective the leadership of Covenant.  We discussed things we believed we should start doing, things we should stop doing and things we should continue doing and then focused in on prioritizing opportunities and practical application and execution of our ideas and practices.  We will meet again from 6:30 am - 10 am on Saturday, October 27^th to continue the discussions and to work towards more fervently expanding the kingdom of Christ, ministering to the needs of Covenant and glorifying God in all we think, do and say.  Please continue to pray without ceasing for the officers of Covenant as we continue to focus on making Covenant a more healthy church.

Beginning this month we will be adding a new section to the Courier.  Each month we will focus on two of our Covenant families so that we all will learn more about the family and grow closer as a body of believers.  We will begin with our elders and deacons and their families and then move into the congregation.  Thanks to Glenn Hayes for this wonderful idea!  If you have any suggestions, ideas or would like to help in the future - please contact Jonathan Hayes at hayesjh@gmail.com.  Our first two families are Russell & Nancy Jinks and John & Katie Schneider.

Russell Jinks is our elder of the month.  He and his wife Nancy have been married for 12 years.  Russell is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) and has his own firm, Jinks and Moody, P.A..  Most folks might not know that his partner is Steve Spurrier's son-in-law.  On a side note:  It is has been noted that the Gator presence at Covenant has been growing.  Anyway - between the two of them Russell & Nancy have 4 sons: Paul who is 37, David who is 30, Tommy (& wife Claudia) both 25 and Matt who is 21.  Also another daughter-in-law Maria with grandchildren Ashley, Adam & Angelina.  Two of their grandchildren are featured in the picture with them where someone celebrated a big birthday (hint - not Russell).  Russell & Nancy are involved in the Usher/Greeter ministry at Covenant and Russell also provides assistance to Pastor Hayes with the African Christian Training Institute with financial assistance and counsel.  Russell & Nancy's hobbies include hunting, fishing and RV'ing in their very own motor-home.  Nancy also spends time blogging and reading and they both enjoy staying active with walking and bike riding.  The pride of their family are their two poodles whom they love to pamper.

Our deacon of the month is John Schneider.  John was born in Anderson, South Carolina and he and his wife Katie have been married for 14 years.  John is in the Air Force where he has served his country for 19 years.  John & Katie have 3 kids: Jerica who is 13, Gavin who is 9 and Bennett who is 3.  Katie serves as the Nursery Director of Covenant Church and also works with her mom and sister on the ballet program at Covenant.  Katie was the first infant baptized at Covenant after its formation back in the mid 1970's.  In the Air Force John is the superintendent for a support division in the 601^st Air Operations Squadron.  Their job is to ensure all of the support equipment such as phones, computers and radios continue to run.  The 601^st is a division of NORAD responsible for air defense of the continental 48 states.  John's hobbies are traveling, softball and spending time with his family.  John was recently promoted to the rank of SMSgt (E-8) back in March 2007.  This picture is from the ceremony.  A surprising fact about John - - he can juggle - - we will have to ask him to prove this in the near future!