Church Address
Covenant Community Church
5104 E. Stevenson Ave.
Chillicothe, IL 61523
Weekly Services
9:00am Sunday School
10:30am Worship Service
12:30pm Fellowship Meal
June 2, 2025
Weâre excited to share that, Lord willing, on Sunday, July 6, 2025, Covenant Community Church will be officially commissioned by Bethany Community Church and fully established as an autonomous church!
Weâre excited to share that, Lord willing, on Sunday, July 6, 2025, Covenant Community Church will be officially commissioned by Bethany Community Church and fully established as an autonomous church!
As this significant day approaches, the leadership of Covenant Community Church is inviting our whole Bethany Community Church family to join them in a day of fasting and prayer as we prepare our hearts and seek the Lord together. See below for details on how you can take part to celebrate what God is doing and cover this special day in prayer!
An Invitation from the Elders to Join in a Corporate Day of Fasting & Prayer
Prelude: In the early church we see examples of the saints committing themselves to the spiritual discipline of fasting, especially as they are active in the process of planting new churches (see Acts 14:23). We also hear instruction from Jesus, for instance in Matthew 6 âwhen you fastâŚâ where He is speaking in such a way that expects believers to be engaged in this spiritual discipline.
Invitation: Following the model we see in Scripture, the elders, together with the leadership team at Covenant Community Church, would like to invite you to join us for a corporate day of fasting and prayer as the day draws near for CCC to be officially commissioned by Bethany and fully constituted as an autonomous church. For the sake of clarity/unity here are some answers to questions you might have. Feel free to reach out if you have additional questions.
What do you mean by fasting exactly?
There are many definitions and nuances to what we may know as âfasting,â but here is the definition we will operate under for the sake of clarity/unity: Fasting means to abstain from eating as an act of personal and corporate piety for the purpose of focusing our minds toward intentional prayer.
There are many definitions and nuances to what we may know as âfasting,â but here is the definition we will operate under for the sake of clarity/unity: Fasting means to abstain from eating as an act of personal and corporate piety for the purpose of focusing our minds toward intentional prayer.
When will this corporate fast take place?
CCC has proposed a date to become autonomous of July 6th and so as that day approaches, we are inviting you to join us on Thursday, June 26th for a corporate fast. We invite you to spend the entire 24-hour day (from 12am-12am) abstaining from food with us, but if you would prefer to allot only a certain portion of that time, we would encourage that as well.
CCC has proposed a date to become autonomous of July 6th and so as that day approaches, we are inviting you to join us on Thursday, June 26th for a corporate fast. We invite you to spend the entire 24-hour day (from 12am-12am) abstaining from food with us, but if you would prefer to allot only a certain portion of that time, we would encourage that as well.
Should I participate?
Please understand that this is an invitation to join us and should largely be left to your conscience whether you would like to join the body on 6/26/25. There may be legitimate reasons for you to refrain from participating with us, especially for medical reasons, so please donât feel obligated or pressured.
Please understand that this is an invitation to join us and should largely be left to your conscience whether you would like to join the body on 6/26/25. There may be legitimate reasons for you to refrain from participating with us, especially for medical reasons, so please donât feel obligated or pressured.
What would you encourage me to pray for as the hunger pangs come?
Pray as you feel led. Below is a guide that may help.
Pray as you feel led. Below is a guide that may help.
Adoration:
Praise God for who He is (Psalm 34, 95, 100, 150)
Praise God for what He has done (Psalm 46, 66, 71, 107)
Praise God for giving us Christ (Isaiah 9, Hebrews 12, Colossians 1, John 14)
Praise God for what He has done (Psalm 46, 66, 71, 107)
Praise God for giving us Christ (Isaiah 9, Hebrews 12, Colossians 1, John 14)
Confession:
Confess your sins as it relates to personal holiness (Psalm 51)
Confess your sins as it relates to the local church (Romans 12)
Confess your sins as it relates to missions/evangelism/church planting (Romans 10)
Confess your sins as it relates to the local church (Romans 12)
Confess your sins as it relates to missions/evangelism/church planting (Romans 10)
Thanksgiving:
Thank God for His kindness to Bethany Community Church (Ephesians 2)
Thank God for His provision of Covenant Community Church so far (Philippians 4)
Thank God for the spiritual growth of Covenant Community Church over the past 2 years (John 17)
Thank God for His provision of Covenant Community Church so far (Philippians 4)
Thank God for the spiritual growth of Covenant Community Church over the past 2 years (John 17)
Supplication:
Ask God to raise up elders and deacons to serve the flock at CCC
Ask God to bless CCCâs outreach to the community and the world (Mark 16:15)
Ask God to grant CCC unity in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4)
Ask God to bless CCCâs outreach to the community and the world (Mark 16:15)
Ask God to grant CCC unity in the bond of peace (Ephesians 4)
What other Scriptures would you encourage me to be reading/meditating on as I participate?
Romans 10; Titus 1; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Thessalonians 2; Matthew 28; Matthew 9; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthains 3; Luke 14; Philippians 1; Galatians 6
Romans 10; Titus 1; 1 Timothy 3; 1 Thessalonians 2; Matthew 28; Matthew 9; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthains 3; Luke 14; Philippians 1; Galatians 6
PREVIOUS UPDATES
November 2023
Covenant Community Church had their first re-launch worship service on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
October 2023
There will be a commissioning service during BCC's worship service on Sunday, October 29, 2023 for those planning to worship and serve at Covenant Community Church.
September 2023
Covenant Community Church Re-Launch Service: Covenant Community Church is excited to announce that their first re-launch service will be Sunday, November 12 at 10:30am. Sunday school for all ages at 9am, worship service at 10:30am, and fellowship meal at 12:30pm.
August 9, 2023
Covenant Community Church (Sunday School Class) - The core team has been gathering as a Sunday school class for the past five weeks and it has been a great opportunity for the group to get to know one another better and become a more cohesive unit. Recently, two new families have joined the class so please pray for them as they discern whether God might be calling them to join the team. A date for the relaunch is still undecided due to a few remaining renovations that need to be completed. Lord willing, a date will be set soon and then communicated to the BCC family. As for renovations, skilled volunteers are needed to complete some of the projects. If you are available/interested in helping with the remaining projects, please reach out to Keith Martin at info@bethanycommunitychurch.org
July 9, 2023
The core team kicked off their Sunday School class and it was an encouraging time together. The goal of the class over the next few months is to take the two existing groups (RBC/BCC) and unite as one cohesive unit. An exciting first step in making this cohesiveness happen has been working on an official name change for the replant. The leadership team has approved changing the name to Covenant Community Church and this extension of the body of BCC will now embrace this new name and, Lord willing, will officially adopt it once the church is constituted and is fully autonomous over the next couple of years.
June 10, 2023
An event was held onsite at Rome Baptist Church for BCC folks (72 adults and children) to hear more about the replant. Those in attendance had expressed interest to Jordan and other elders about joining the core team and they were challenged to consider committing to the core team by July 1. Currently there are nine BCC families/individuals who have joined the core team. Please pray for wisdom and clarity for the families that are still considering.
May 15, 2023
As Pastor Daniel mentioned Sunday (5/14), next steps are being taken to replant a church in the Rome/Chillicothe community. At the end of April, BCC approved the budget that will allow for this replant and last Sunday, May 7 Jordan Embree was installed as a pastor/elder and he will be the Church Plant Pastor. In addition to Jordan, a subset of elders, Ben Davidson, Wayne Leman, and Neil Gerber will be working together to assemble a core team and a leadership team that will assist in this new work. As Jordan and others work towards this next phase, they are thinking through various events and meetings for a potential team. If you are interested in possibly joining the core team for this new work, please reach out to Jordan before June 1. You can contact him by email or feel free to talk to him, Ben, Wayne, or Neil on Sunday after the service and let them know that you may be interested. Reaching out to them does not commit you to anything, but it will help them gauge interest and know how to plan and move forward. For our entire church family, please be praying that God would raise up people to be sent over to the Rome/Chillicothe area to serve in this way. What an incredible opportunity the Lord has provided for us as we look to see the gospel go forth in Central Illinois.
May 2023
BCC elders identified a subset of their elder team to work with the church plant pastor (Jordan) to assist in the oversight and shepherding of the new work until a plurality of their own elders is established. This team includes Ben Davidson, Wayne Leman, Neil Gerber. This subset team is amid recruiting a core team of BCC families/individuals to go across the river and infuse themselves into the life of this new work. Once this core team is identified (hopefully by the end of June), the subset team will work to create a leadership team from within the core team that can help Jordan with the leadership of the different ministries of the church. This leadership team will consist of men, who the subset team have identified as those who could potentially serve as elders or deacons down the road. By serving on this leadership team, they will be agreeing to go through an extensive process of discerning the call, examining their qualifications, and being equipped for the ministry before actual installation. Once the church is established and has their own elders and deacons installed and serving in that capacity the subset team from BCC will be relieved of their roles and responsibilities.
April 2023
At the family meeting on April 23, Jordan Embree was overwhelmingly affirmed by the congregation as the church plant pastor. Jordan will be brought on staff at BCC as a pastor/elder and will serve there as he works towards replating the church in Chillicothe, his first objective being developing a core team and leadership team for the new work.
February 2023
BCC elders began determining a leadership team for this endeavor that would begin further fleshing out a lot of what will follow with regard to the vision for the work. This started with identifying a church plant pastor candidate (Jordan Embree) to be brought before and examined by a review committee made up of lay members of BCC. The candidate was unanimously approved on March 28 and fully supported by both the elders and the review committee to be presented to the congregation for affirmation (along with the budget for the re-plant) at the BCC family meeting on April 23.
January 2023
It became clear that both congregations were open to the potential of a long-term partnership together. Although many unknowns remained, it was evident that God wasnât closing the door on this relationship but in fact seemed to be blessing the efforts. At this point, BCC requested a large step of faith from RBC. For the purpose of seeking unity, further membership interaction, and logistical simplicity, BCC asked RBC to temporarily pause their ministry efforts in Chillicothe and infuse themselves into the life and ministry over in Washington. RBC members made this commitment and were encouraged to plug in as much as they were able so the two bodies could strengthen their relationships and further seek the Lordâs leading together. Although the timeline was not as clear with this step, it was understood that the RBC folks would submit themselves to the BCC elders in this process and a formal proposal would be made by BCC and presented to RBC sometime in April to vote on (which in part is what this document seeks to provide).
August 2022
It was agreed upon by the leadership of RBC and the elders of BCC, with the support of leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention, to continue to get to know one another for an allotted time period (August-December) with the goal of continuing to discern if God was providing a way to collaborate in ministry more long term. This included, but was not limited to, a commitment by BCC to cover the preaching/teaching ministry of RBC. BCC provided pulpit supply and mid-week teaching each Sunday and Wednesday. It was understood that at the end of the calendar year the two bodies would reconvene to assess how God was leading, but if at any point RBC decided to go another direction or hire a pastor or things of that nature, that it would be celebrated by BCC, and they re-emphasized that their chief goal was to see RBC thriving and healthy.
July 2022
The two congregations learned of one anotherâs current ministry situations and a seed was planted as questions began to be asked such as: âMight God be calling the two congregations to some sort of partnership together for the sake of gospel ministry?â During this time, it was identified that RBC was in a difficult season of ministry which was emphasized by their lack of pastoral leadership and could potentially benefit from another church such as BCC coming alongside them to aid in their efforts to seek to make disciples.
MISSION OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Bethany Community Church (BCC) together with Rome Baptist Church (RBC) seek to formally partner with one another for the purpose of re-planting a healthy, bible believing, gospel preaching church in the community of Chillicothe, IL.
For those with CCC questions, please contact Jordan using the below information.
CONTACT
Jordan Embree, Covenant Community Church Plant Pastor
Phone: (309) 274-3884
Email: office@covenantcommunity.org
Website: www.covenantcommunity.org
Covenant Community Church had their first re-launch worship service on Sunday, November 12, 2023.
October 2023
There will be a commissioning service during BCC's worship service on Sunday, October 29, 2023 for those planning to worship and serve at Covenant Community Church.
September 2023
Covenant Community Church Re-Launch Service: Covenant Community Church is excited to announce that their first re-launch service will be Sunday, November 12 at 10:30am. Sunday school for all ages at 9am, worship service at 10:30am, and fellowship meal at 12:30pm.
August 9, 2023
Covenant Community Church (Sunday School Class) - The core team has been gathering as a Sunday school class for the past five weeks and it has been a great opportunity for the group to get to know one another better and become a more cohesive unit. Recently, two new families have joined the class so please pray for them as they discern whether God might be calling them to join the team. A date for the relaunch is still undecided due to a few remaining renovations that need to be completed. Lord willing, a date will be set soon and then communicated to the BCC family. As for renovations, skilled volunteers are needed to complete some of the projects. If you are available/interested in helping with the remaining projects, please reach out to Keith Martin at info@bethanycommunitychurch.org
July 9, 2023
The core team kicked off their Sunday School class and it was an encouraging time together. The goal of the class over the next few months is to take the two existing groups (RBC/BCC) and unite as one cohesive unit. An exciting first step in making this cohesiveness happen has been working on an official name change for the replant. The leadership team has approved changing the name to Covenant Community Church and this extension of the body of BCC will now embrace this new name and, Lord willing, will officially adopt it once the church is constituted and is fully autonomous over the next couple of years.
June 10, 2023
An event was held onsite at Rome Baptist Church for BCC folks (72 adults and children) to hear more about the replant. Those in attendance had expressed interest to Jordan and other elders about joining the core team and they were challenged to consider committing to the core team by July 1. Currently there are nine BCC families/individuals who have joined the core team. Please pray for wisdom and clarity for the families that are still considering.
May 15, 2023
As Pastor Daniel mentioned Sunday (5/14), next steps are being taken to replant a church in the Rome/Chillicothe community. At the end of April, BCC approved the budget that will allow for this replant and last Sunday, May 7 Jordan Embree was installed as a pastor/elder and he will be the Church Plant Pastor. In addition to Jordan, a subset of elders, Ben Davidson, Wayne Leman, and Neil Gerber will be working together to assemble a core team and a leadership team that will assist in this new work. As Jordan and others work towards this next phase, they are thinking through various events and meetings for a potential team. If you are interested in possibly joining the core team for this new work, please reach out to Jordan before June 1. You can contact him by email or feel free to talk to him, Ben, Wayne, or Neil on Sunday after the service and let them know that you may be interested. Reaching out to them does not commit you to anything, but it will help them gauge interest and know how to plan and move forward. For our entire church family, please be praying that God would raise up people to be sent over to the Rome/Chillicothe area to serve in this way. What an incredible opportunity the Lord has provided for us as we look to see the gospel go forth in Central Illinois.
May 2023
BCC elders identified a subset of their elder team to work with the church plant pastor (Jordan) to assist in the oversight and shepherding of the new work until a plurality of their own elders is established. This team includes Ben Davidson, Wayne Leman, Neil Gerber. This subset team is amid recruiting a core team of BCC families/individuals to go across the river and infuse themselves into the life of this new work. Once this core team is identified (hopefully by the end of June), the subset team will work to create a leadership team from within the core team that can help Jordan with the leadership of the different ministries of the church. This leadership team will consist of men, who the subset team have identified as those who could potentially serve as elders or deacons down the road. By serving on this leadership team, they will be agreeing to go through an extensive process of discerning the call, examining their qualifications, and being equipped for the ministry before actual installation. Once the church is established and has their own elders and deacons installed and serving in that capacity the subset team from BCC will be relieved of their roles and responsibilities.
April 2023
At the family meeting on April 23, Jordan Embree was overwhelmingly affirmed by the congregation as the church plant pastor. Jordan will be brought on staff at BCC as a pastor/elder and will serve there as he works towards replating the church in Chillicothe, his first objective being developing a core team and leadership team for the new work.
February 2023
BCC elders began determining a leadership team for this endeavor that would begin further fleshing out a lot of what will follow with regard to the vision for the work. This started with identifying a church plant pastor candidate (Jordan Embree) to be brought before and examined by a review committee made up of lay members of BCC. The candidate was unanimously approved on March 28 and fully supported by both the elders and the review committee to be presented to the congregation for affirmation (along with the budget for the re-plant) at the BCC family meeting on April 23.
January 2023
It became clear that both congregations were open to the potential of a long-term partnership together. Although many unknowns remained, it was evident that God wasnât closing the door on this relationship but in fact seemed to be blessing the efforts. At this point, BCC requested a large step of faith from RBC. For the purpose of seeking unity, further membership interaction, and logistical simplicity, BCC asked RBC to temporarily pause their ministry efforts in Chillicothe and infuse themselves into the life and ministry over in Washington. RBC members made this commitment and were encouraged to plug in as much as they were able so the two bodies could strengthen their relationships and further seek the Lordâs leading together. Although the timeline was not as clear with this step, it was understood that the RBC folks would submit themselves to the BCC elders in this process and a formal proposal would be made by BCC and presented to RBC sometime in April to vote on (which in part is what this document seeks to provide).
August 2022
It was agreed upon by the leadership of RBC and the elders of BCC, with the support of leaders within the Southern Baptist Convention, to continue to get to know one another for an allotted time period (August-December) with the goal of continuing to discern if God was providing a way to collaborate in ministry more long term. This included, but was not limited to, a commitment by BCC to cover the preaching/teaching ministry of RBC. BCC provided pulpit supply and mid-week teaching each Sunday and Wednesday. It was understood that at the end of the calendar year the two bodies would reconvene to assess how God was leading, but if at any point RBC decided to go another direction or hire a pastor or things of that nature, that it would be celebrated by BCC, and they re-emphasized that their chief goal was to see RBC thriving and healthy.
July 2022
The two congregations learned of one anotherâs current ministry situations and a seed was planted as questions began to be asked such as: âMight God be calling the two congregations to some sort of partnership together for the sake of gospel ministry?â During this time, it was identified that RBC was in a difficult season of ministry which was emphasized by their lack of pastoral leadership and could potentially benefit from another church such as BCC coming alongside them to aid in their efforts to seek to make disciples.
MISSION OF THE PARTNERSHIP
Bethany Community Church (BCC) together with Rome Baptist Church (RBC) seek to formally partner with one another for the purpose of re-planting a healthy, bible believing, gospel preaching church in the community of Chillicothe, IL.
For those with CCC questions, please contact Jordan using the below information.
CONTACT
Jordan Embree, Covenant Community Church Plant Pastor
Phone: (309) 274-3884
Email: office@covenantcommunity.org
Website: www.covenantcommunity.org