Prairie Hills Covenant Church

For roughly two centuries American churches and denominations were prolific in starting schools and churches. This explosion of growth was a function of the westward expansion of the United States across the North American continent, resulting in the conversion of the American wilderness to agricultural,and industrial use, as well as metropolitan areas. The Evangelical Covenant Church is no exception. A relatively small band of Swedish immigrants began a hospital and school on the far northern outskirts of Chicago. Today Swedish Covenant Hospital and North Park University exist because those immigrants believed their faith in Jesus had real consequence for the world around them. In this week’s scripture reading a desperate woman seeks out Jesus. Jesus responds to her in three ways: he affirmed her faith, he freed her from her suffering, and he sent her into the world with peace. Those churches and denominations that started hospitals and schools did so as an extension and expression of their faith in Jesus