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10BODYOFCHRISTNEWSSEPTEMBER2013NewCovenantChristianReturnstoDenverinMergerwithAlphaOmegaMinistriesOnAugust182013NewCovenantChristianChurchunderthelead-ershipofPastorReginaldC.HolmesmergedwithAlphaOmegaMinistriesundertheleadershipofPastorTerrenceHughestoformaministryofhopehealingandhealth.Themin-istrywillseektoaddressesthespiri-tualneedssocialillsandthesocialinjusticesthatplaquesomanyintheDenverinner-city.NewCovenanthasbeenintheAuroraGreenwoodVillageareaforthelast3yearsbutwasalwayslookingfortheopportunitytomovebackintothecity.ThechurchwasfoundedandresidedintheDenvercommunityforover60years.Theopportunitytomovebackintothecitycameafterlongandfruitfulconversationsbetweenthesetwopas-torsandtheCleoParkerRobinsonDanceEnsemble.ThestaffatCleosplayedanimportantandintegralroleinmakingthismergerpossible.Withouttheirdesiretomakethishap-penandtheirwillingnesstobeapartoftheministrythatwillgoforththecollaborationwouldnothavebeenachievedsaidPastorHolmes.ThechurchandministrywillbehousedattheCleoParkerRobinsonbuildingat119ParkAvenue.Whatwewanttodoistobethechurch.Somuchoftheprevailingatti-tudeandgoalofthebodyofChrististojusthavechurch.OuraimistobethechurchsaidPastorHolmes.HewentontosayAlphaOmegaMinistriesunderthedirectionofPastorHugheshasbeendoingthekindofministrythatmostofushaveonlypreachedabout.Ihavebeensoimpressedwithhisministrysworkandthedifferencehehasmadeinthelivesoftheleastthelastthelostandtheleftout.Hehasbattledsomanyobstaclestohisministryincludingtherecentdeci-sionbythecitytoclosetheTriangleAreadowntownanareathatisthelasthavenforhelpandhealingforthethousandsofhomelessfolkinDenver.PastorHugheshasremainedsteadfastandfocusedonthissegmentofthepopulationapopulationthatfewinourcommunityarefocusedonreach-ing.ThecongregationofNewCovenantembracedunanimouslytheopportu-nitytoteamupwithAlphaOmegaandCleosinthismerger.PastorHughesisexcitedabouttheopportunityandthehumanresourc-esthatNewCovenantbringstothisunion.WhatalotofpeoplemaynotrealizeisthatCleoshasbeendoingministryandservingpeopleinthecommunityinaverydirectandmeaningfulwayforquitesometime.Theydomorethanjustdanceandputonshows.Thecommunitywouldbesurprisediftheyknewjusthowmuchtheydoforneedyfolk.AlphaOmegaministrieshaveenjoyedalongandfruitfulpartnershipwiththeCleoParkerRobinsonEnsembleandwearepleasedtohavetheNewCovenantcongregationjoinusinhelpingtomeetthoseneeds.PastorHugheswentontosayPastorHolmesandIhavehadextensivecon-versationsaroundourworkandtherehasbeenamergerofourspiritslongbeforewedecidedtomergeourminis-ContinuedonPage17