A Church Plant That Began on Someone's Knees
Covenant Presbyterian Church sits just south of Easley at 4500 Highway 86, in the heart of the Wren-Powdersville community about fifteen minutes west of downtown Greenville. The congregation worships at 9:30 AM on Sundays and identifies itself as a member of the Presbyterian Church in America, holding to Reformed convictions centered on the gospel of Christ. Its stated mission is simple and far-reaching: "to take the Good News and love of Christ to our community and the world."
The story begins in 1975 with a godly woman named Effie Merritt, who began praying that God would establish a Bible-believing Presbyterian church in Northern Anderson County. Six years later, in 1981, a small group of believers started meeting for a Bible study and felt the Lord leading them toward organizing as a mission church. On September 20, 1981, sixty-five people gathered for the first worship service, held in rented space at Wren High School. The following spring, on April 4, 1982, Calvary Presbytery of the PCA received the work as a particular church, and the Rev. Steve Bostrom was called as its first pastor. The original facility was dedicated on December 8, 1985.
Growth brought two building projects. A new Educational Building with classrooms and a kitchen was added in 1992 and dedicated debt-free on September 24, 1995. In 2005, the Covenant Family Life Center was built to expand space for outreach and fellowship. Over the years, Covenant has helped plant other churches in South Carolina and in four additional locations around the United States. Today the church points to it all as an answer to one woman's decades-long prayers.
Sunday Mornings at Covenant
Visitors who arrive a few minutes before 9:30 AM will find a relaxed, friendly welcome. The first hour centers on gathered worship with the whole church family together. Because the sanctuary is currently being renovated with a new ceiling, fresh paint, new flooring, lighting, and a sound system, worship is being held in the Life Center Gymnasium. Personal listening devices are available at the sound booth for anyone who needs hearing assistance, and a Mom & Baby area is set aside in the Wee Covenant infant room for nursing mothers who want to care for their child while still hearing the service.
At 10:45 AM the service ends and Refuel Coffee Time begins in the Life Center, with coffee, snacks, and a chance to talk with the people one has just met. The bell rings at 11:00 AM, and children head to their classes on the back Educational Hallway while adults gather for Sunday Studies in the Life Center. Covenant Kids (K4 through fifth grade) and 153 Untorn (middle and high school) meet in the children's wing; adults work through a book of the Bible or a current topic together.
For families with very young children, Wee Covenant Nursery is open from 9:20 AM until 10:50 AM for babies and toddlers ages 0 to 3. Parents are greeted by a friendly volunteer, who gathers basic information and walks them through drop-off. Toys from home are not permitted, and a clear Child Wellness Policy, Health Guidelines, and Child Protection Policy guide every classroom.
Wednesday Nights Around the Table
From September through May, the building fills again on Wednesday evenings. A shared meal runs from 5:30 to 6:15 PM, drawing adults, teens, and children to one table. After supper, Kids Club gathers children from 6:15 to 7:15 PM while adults and teens meet at the same hour for Community in the Gym, a relaxed time of teaching, prayer, and fellowship. Life Studies, the church's adult small-group ministry, also meets Wednesdays from 5:00 to 6:00 PM at various locations.
Home Groups extend the same kind of fellowship into the surrounding area, gathering in members' homes during the week for prayer, Bible study, and shared life. Anyone interested in joining a group can reach the church office at info@mycovenantpc.com to be connected.
Children and Students
Covenant Kids is the children's ministry for K4 through fifth grade. The program rests on three building blocks: carefully reviewed teaching material that promotes the gospel of Christ, a safe and accountable environment with enforced wellness and protection policies, and intergenerational ministry that welcomes children into the full life of the church. Each summer, CatKid's Summer Catechism Class invites children to memorize the Shorter Catechism, working through 150 questions and answers for prizes that mark the journey.
Wee Covenant is the early childhood nursery for children from birth through age 3, directed by Donna Spears, a former public school teacher and longtime homeschool mom. Changing stations are located in every men's and women's restroom and in the Mother's nursing room.
153 Untorn is the youth ministry for sixth through twelfth grade, named from John 21:11 - the 153 fish in the unbroken net. The middle school program encourages students to own the faith that has been handed to them and to discover the gifts the Lord has given them. The high school program pushes toward Christian leadership, offering teaching and evangelism opportunities in the years before college. Youth meet during the 9:30 AM worship service and 11:00 AM Sunday Studies, and gather for 153 Untorn Nights on Sundays from 4:30 to 6:30 PM, August through May. The Student Ministries Coordinator oversees the program.
Covenant Ladies and Covenant Men
Covenant Ladies gathers wives, moms, grandmothers, and daughters for fellowship and study. Three regular meetings fill the week: a Tuesday morning Night Study at the church at 9:30 AM, a Tuesday evening Bible Study at 7:00 PM at the home of Gwyn Oates, and a Creative Group on the second and fourth Wednesday mornings of the month at 9:30 AM at the church. Monthly Ladies Night Out events, retreats, and special gatherings round out the calendar. Amelia Trant chairs the Women's Ministry Team.
Covenant Men centers on iron-sharpening-iron fellowship. The men meet Monday nights at 7:30 PM at the church for Bible study and prayer, with additional meals and events through the year. Members are encouraged to put their gifts to work in ministry at Covenant and in the wider community. Elder Keith Denton chairs the ministry.
Music and Worship
Music Director Molly Preston shapes the church's worship life. She studied elementary education and music in college and brings people together around music at Covenant, working alongside Senior Pastor Dave Preston. Worship services are centered on Scripture from beginning to end, drawing on the rich hymn and song tradition of the Reformed tradition. A growing audio archive of sermons is available online for anyone who wants to listen along or catch up.
What Covenant Believes and Values
Covenant describes itself as "a fellowship that the Father has called, and united by His Spirit, to know and worship Him through the Lord Jesus Christ." Six values shape the congregation's life together - vital, truth-filled, Christ-centered weekly worship; lifelong growth in enjoying the effects of the gospel of Christ; relationships and mutual service across a range of ages; an open door and open arms to neighbors and community; a vision for the work of God's church throughout the world; and membership in the Presbyterian Church in America.
The teaching staff highlights five anchoring truths. The Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - is at the center of worship. The covenant God makes with His people is renewed each week through word and sacrament, calling the church to repentance and faith. The gospel is the power of God for salvation; Jesus saves, and the entire service is shaped around that reality. Fellowship is essential because Christians are made to live in relationship, and welcome is extended outward because the church exists for the world.
Shepherd Ministry and Pastoral Care
Each Covenant member family is paired with a designated Shepherd, one of the elders of the church. The Shepherd keeps in touch with the head of household, stays apprised of spiritual and practical needs, and serves as a personal contact for prayer requests and pastoral concerns. This simple structure allows families to reach an elder directly and gives the session of elders a clear sense of how to care for the whole congregation.
Missions and Outreach
Covenant's missions focus is called iCamel, a nod to James the brother of Jesus, nicknamed "Old Camel Knees" for the calluses his prayer life wore into him. The church is committed to 365 days of prayer for its missionaries and currently supports twenty-one mission organizations and missionaries.
Partners include local and regional ministries such as Calvary Home for Children, Piedmont Women's Center, and United Christian Ministries; educational ministries such as Covenant College, Covenant Theological Seminary, and Reformed University Ministries; and a wide circle of campus ministers with Reformed University Fellowship at Clemson, Anderson University, and Furman. Covenant also supports missionaries serving through Serge and Mission to the World. Alex Houston leads the missions effort.
Hoops for Christ is the church's community sports ministry. The program fields basketball and volleyball teams in the Christ 4 Hoops church league and aims to develop skills, teamwork, and Christlike character on the court. Coaches, players, and parents represent Covenant in the wider league, lifting up the love of Jesus Christ to teammates and opponents alike.
Leadership and Staff
Dave Preston serves as Senior Pastor. He grew up in a military family, married Molly in 2006, and together they have four children. He joined the Covenant staff in 2012 as Director of Student Ministries before becoming Senior Pastor. Molly leads music, Donna Spears directs the Wee Covenant nursery, Iris Donnan directs Covenant Kid's Club, and Elizabeth Hardy coordinates student ministries. Five elders - Keith Denton, Mark Eisengrein, David Havird, Bill Kreh, and Matt Mantooth - share in the shepherding work alongside eight deacons.
Finding Covenant
From I-85, take Exit 35 for Highway 86 and head north for 4.4 miles; Covenant Presbyterian Church is on the right. From Easley, travel south on Highway 8 to the three-way stop, continue straight onto Highway 86, and the church is on the left about a mile past the four-way stop. The back Life Center parking lot is reserved for members and guests with mobility concerns. Giving is available online through the church's secure portal.