OUR PASTOR
Rev. Dr. Larry E. Covington
Rev. Dr. Larry E. Covington, Lead Pastor/Teacher. Since 1995, Pastor Covington has given visionary leadership to the Ebenezer Church. For over 35 years he has been spreading God’s word both nationally and internationally in the power of the Holy Spirit. He is known as a revivalist and lecturer, preaching and conducting leadership conferences all over the country.
Pastor Covington is licensed and ordained both by the Baptist and the United Church of Christ denominations and has pastored previously in Tennessee, Texas, and Hamilton, Bermuda. He has served as a Missions Consultant with Foreign Missions Board (SBC), a Director of Ministries, Executive Pastor, and a Church Consultant. He is the founder and President of InStep Ministries; and the author of the book: “The Power of Perverted Potential-Lessons from the Life and Lips of Samson.”
He is an advocate for education, social justice, and civic engagement. He has served on numerous boards and commissions. He presently serves on the BB&T Bank Advisory Board, Impact Alamance Advisory Board, the Board of Trustees for Hosanna Bible College, the Executive Board of Kingdom Living Now and the Multi-cultural Advisory Board at Liberty University. Pastor Covington is the current President of the Interdenominational Ministerial Alliance of Alamance County.
Since being at Ebenezer, the Lord has blessed his ministry to produce a number of fruitful visionary projects:
-The building of the ECCO (Ebenezer Center for Christian Opportunities) in 2002
-The founding of Excel Christian Academy and Afterschool Program
-Manasseh & Ephraim Residential Recovery & Transition Ministry for Men
-The WELL Residential Recovery Ministry for Women
-The Inez Guye Ministry for victims of Domestic Abuse
-The HOPE House – a family transition ministry for displaced persons
-The EBEY Center – houses the Ebenezer Business Coalition and the iLife Youth Ministry
-Champions Academy, an afterschool program that educates, empowers and engages students living in low-income areas and attending underperforming schools
Pastor Covington is known most of all for his devotion to his wife Mrs. Caroline O’Neal Covington, his children Joshua and Jodi, and grandchildren Amenia and Amilya Lewis. Besides his love for his family, he is widely known for his love for the body of Christ and the expositional proclamation of God’s word.
Learn More About Our Pastor...
OUR STAFF
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Rev. Markez Mills
Executive Pastor/ Dir. of Ministries
mmills@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526| Ext. 7017
Anthony McDonald
Minister of Music/ Dir. of Worship & Arts
musicministry@ebenezerucc.com
Youth & Family Life Pastor
jjones@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526 | Ext 7019
Min. Shawana Emehel
Children's Ministry
christianeducation@ebenezerucc.com
Reisha Drumgold
Administrative Assistant to Senior Pastor
rdrumgold@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526| Ext. 7014
Clement Emehel
Business Manager/Operations
cemehel@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526| Ext. 7012
Jean Oliphant
Full Charge Bookkeeper
bookkeeper@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526| Ext. 7020
Janis R. Holness
Administrative Assistant/Welcome Center Receptionist
jholness@ebenezerucc.com
336.226.8526 | Ext. 7021
OUR HISTORY
Ebenezer United Church of Christ had its humble beginning near the present site in May 1882. The need for a church in our community was felt by a group of interested men and women who had to walk from their homes to the Arches Grove Christian Church for worship services. Their dream became a reality when a decision was made to hold Sunday school and prayer meetings weekly in an old frame building, formerly used as a cotton gin owned by J. Kirk located in the Richmond Hill Community, Company Shops which was later named Burlington, North Carolina. The first church was organized in this building with approximately thirty members. Among these pioneers with a vision were: Mr. M.A. Albright, Mr. Brown Cooper, Mr. James Hazel, Mr. Wiley Headen, Mr. Lucien Sellars and Mr. Henry Turner. Mr. Wiley Headen served as leader until a pastor was chosen. Over the years, pastors that have served and led this church include:
• Rev. Brutus Young (1882)
• Rev. Dunn (1882-1889)
• Rev. J.D. Mabrey (1889-1898)
• Rev. L.A. Ruffin and Rev. C.W. Ray (1898-1903)
• Rev. J.H. McBroom (1908-1916)
• Rev. C.A. Harris (1921-1930)
• Rev. I.D.C Goodson (1930-1933)
• Rev. W.M. Lake (1933-1969)
• Rev. F.A. Hargett (1969-1970)
• Dr. Marvin L. Morgan (1970-1977)
• Rev. C.L. Thompson (1977-1995)
• Rev. Dr. Larry E. Covington (1995-present)
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Our present pastor , Rev. Dr. Larry E. Covington assumed pastorate in November 1995 and was installed in January 1996. The church has several functioning ministries and as an incorporated entity is the umbrella for several self-sustaining programs:
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1. Excel Christian Academy (ECA) (and age 3 through grade 5 school)
2. The Excel Afterschool Enrichment Program
3. The Ebenezer Center for Christian Opportunities (a community recreation center)
4. Community Outreach Homes
• The Manasseh & Ephraim Transition and Recovery
• The WELL Transition
• The Inez Guy Dream Center
• The Hope House
5. Champion's Academy (part of Excel Community Association of Alamance)
Our church family includes around 1,500 people, with about 500 active and/ or regular attendees between two Sunday morning worship services. We also have a consistent online viewership of over 400 viewers per service. The church is managed by a combination of Full and Part Time Staff, a Board of Directors and volunteers that are a vital part of our ministries.
Over the years, Ebenezer and its members have become known in the community as "The Fellowship of Excitement" and a place to "DISCOVER the JOY" of knowing Christ.
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Church Theme
We Are A Great Church Because We Serve...we look forward to serving you.
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OUR VISION
Through Faith, Prayer and Mission we can summarize the identity and ministry of our church. Working to find the center of our life together. He has taught us to love and be loved by others. Through prayer we grow and share our love; we then are compelled to be on mission for us to share that love. It is through these things we become what we are meant to and have been taught.