A Church on Wall Street
In the small Miami County village of Covington, Ohio, the Covington Church of the Brethren has gathered generations of families who trace their faith to the historic peace churches. The congregation meets at 101 North Wall Street, where handicap parking and an elevator at the Wall Street entrance make the building accessible to all who come through its doors. Pastor Michael Yingst leads the church, supported by a congregation that values simple, peaceful, and shared worship. The church's stated mission is to know, serve, and glorify God peacefully, simply, and together through upreach and outreach.
Sunday Morning Rhythm
Sunday at Covington Church of the Brethren follows a familiar pattern that begins with connection. Fellowship Time opens the day at 8:30 a.m. in the Hospitality Room, giving early arrivals a chance to greet one another before the service. The Sunday morning worship service begins at 9:30 a.m., followed by Sunday School for all ages at 10:30 a.m. The music and preaching are drawn from the Christian year, and members come in everything from casual clothes to Sunday best.
During the warmer months, the congregation occasionally moves outdoors for a joint service with Covington Christian Church at Schoolhouse Park, sharing a potluck meal afterward. When Pastor Mike takes a vacation, guest preachers such as Pastor Pam Hitchcock fill the pulpit. Each week, recordings of the worship service are shared through the church's online video channel, and a "Checking-In" video with Pastor Mike is also released, so members who are traveling or homebound can follow along with the same scripture and message.
A Brethren Congregation
The Church of the Brethren grew out of the Anabaptist and Pietist movements, beginning in 1708 when Alexander Mack and seven others were baptized in Schwarzenau, Germany. Today the denomination counts itself among the Historic Peace Churches, alongside the Mennonites and Quakers. Covington's congregation carries on that tradition by looking to the New Testament as the rule for faith and practice, following Jesus Christ as the model for daily living, and seeking to discern Christ's mind on matters of peace, service, and social justice.
The church practices believer's baptism by trine immersion, offers anointing for healing and wholeness, and gathers for the Love Feast and Eucharist Communion. The Brethren cross, circle, and wave logo at the heart of the congregation's identity marks its unity in Christ, its compassion for the world, its call to serve, its responsibility to teach and baptize, and its hope of reward for faithfulness. Prayer holds a central place in the life of the church, both in private devotion and through the Prayer Chain, which sends email and OneCall messages when members of the congregation or community ask for prayer.
The congregation's own vision statement describes itself as a family of believers, united in Jesus Christ, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and guided by the truth revealed in the Holy Scriptures. Members work to respect the dignity and worth of every human being as created in God's image and forgiven in Christ, to extend God's love to the congregation, the community, and the world, and to share Christ's promise of peace through worship, study, fellowship, and service.
Faith Lived Out
For the members of Covington Church of the Brethren, faith is not only something practiced inside the sanctuary. The Deacon's Ministry walks alongside members through the major moments of life, including illness, loss, celebrations, and transitions, visiting the homebound, organizing meal trains, and helping the pastor care for the spiritual and practical needs of the congregation. A Men's Bible Study meets during the colder months, and a Sunday School class gathers every week for study and conversation across the generations. The church joins other Covington congregations through the Covington Ministerial Association, sharing ministry with neighbors across town.
Each summer the church takes part in Community Vacation Bible School, and at Easter the community gathers for a sunrise service that brings several local congregations together. The church also supports Miami County Habitat for Humanity and stays connected to the wider Church of the Brethren through the Southern Ohio District and the denomination's national ministries, including On Earth Peace and the Brethren Retirement Community in nearby Greenville. The church supports ministries of mission and outreach both locally and abroad, and works for unity through the National Council of Churches and the World Council of Churches.
Seniors Alive!
One of the most distinctive ministries of the church is Seniors Alive!, a monthly gathering for older adults in Covington and the surrounding area. Now in its fourth year, the program draws around seventy-eight people to each event for an afternoon of food, fellowship, and entertainment. Recent programs have included a local trivia night emceed by Jim and Linda Daniel, with Pastor Mike Yingst serving as timekeeper. The gathering is supported by the Roy J. Weikert Trust Fund and made possible by a long list of volunteers. Local speakers such as Police Chief Dave Friend have addressed topics of interest to older adults, including scams to watch for during the holiday season.
Newsline and District Connections
Each month the church releases a Newsline that lists prayer requests, upcoming events, and announcements from the congregation. Members and friends can also follow along with denominational news from the Southern Ohio and Kentucky District and the broader Church of the Brethren through links shared on the church's online news page. For visitors who want to stay connected, the church's Facebook page shares updates between newsletters, and the pastor's weekly "Checking-In" videos add a personal touch on the upcoming sermon and church news.
Visiting Covington Church of the Brethren
First-time visitors will find a friendly, intergenerational congregation. Dress is comfortable; some members come in casual clothes while others wear their Sunday best. Children are welcome in worship and join the larger group for Sunday School afterward. The Wall Street entrance has a handicap-accessible elevator, and handicap parking is available close to the door. Recordings of recent services and "Checking-In" videos with Pastor Mike are available online for those who want to follow along from home.
The church office can be reached by phone at (937) 473-2415 or by email at covingtoncob@gmail.com. The mailing address is PO Box 206, Covington, OH 45318. Those who want to keep up with announcements, prayer requests, and upcoming events can subscribe to the church's monthly Newsline or follow updates on its Facebook page.