who we are

 

Our beginning

On Sunday, November 27, 1955, a small group of people met at Grange Hall (near the Acme parking lot) in Haddonfield to hold the first worship service of what was then Covenant Bible Presbyterian Church. This little group soon called Dr. J. Oliver Buswell, Jr. as their interim pastor, who served until Rev. Jay Adam’s became our first pastor in 1956. That same year, the name of the church was changed to Covenant Presbyterian Church and became affiliated with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church (Later to be called the Reformed Presbyterian Church, Evangelical Synod).

Land was purchased just outside Haddonfield in Cherry Hill, and on October 5, 1958, the first worship service was held in the new building (which is now the gym). Over the years there have been several expansions that represent our present facility. In 1982 we were received into the Presbyterian Church in America.

Mission and values

our mission is to transform people and places through the power of the gospel

We value...

the gospel

Because God’s word is His powerful, authoritative, and gracious presence in our midst.

  • We will preach and teach all of Scripture as the Gospel.
  • We will preach and teach the Gospel to believers and non-believers.
  • We will preach and teach toward heart transformation
  • We will preach and teach toward the relevancy of Scripture to all of life.
  • We will ppursue corporate study of Scripture.

people

Because God’s people are called to live in community.

  • We will be hospitable and attentive to all our guests.
  • We will be compassionate and enter into the suffering of others.
  • We will be committed to sacrifice, honesty and forgiveness.
  • We will motivate each other with grace, not guilt or shame.
  • We will be committed to generosity.
  • We will be committed to strong marriages and families.
  • We will put people before programs.
  • We will be a people of prayer.

places

Because God has called us to live out the Gospel in the places we live, work and play.

  • We will treat non-believers with love, dignity and respect.
  • We will be active in and committed to our places of influence.
  • We will endeavor to build deep relationships in our places.
  • We will practice hospitality in our places.
  • We will boldly share the gospel of Christ in our places.
  • We will give special care to the weak and the poor.

affiliations

Covenant Presbyterian Church is a member congregation of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). The PCA has a strong commitment to evangelism, outreach at home and abroad, and Christian education. From its inception in the early 1970’s, the PCA’s purpose has been, “faithful to the Scriptures, true to the Reformed faith, and obedient to the Great Commission.”

The PCA was formed in response to the need for a strongly scriptural, evangelical, and Reformed witness to Christ in the United States. The PCA strongly affirms the unique, infallible, and inerrant authority of the Bible and the distinctive doctrines of the Westminster Standards and Reformed tradition—among them the 5 “Solas” of the Reformation and the doctrines of grace—while adhering to Presbyterian polity (government). The PCA is a distinctive Presbyterian denomination because its vision stresses reformation and revival both within the Church and throughout the world.

LEADERSHIP AND STAFF

Raised in East Africa Bob’s life was marked by adventure and diversity.  As the child of career missionaries he developed relationships with people of African, Arabic, Asian, Australian, and European decent.  This experience built in him a love and an appreciation for cultural, ethnic and socioeconomic diversity.  God used this story to build in Bob a passion to equip the church for the global community who are Biblically and theologically grounded, Gospel motivated, and culturally intelligent.

Bob is an ordained minister in the Presbyterian Church in America and has served churches in North America for over 30 years.  In fact, though he has planted a church, served as Senior Pastor, and taught at a seminary, he still relishes the ten years he and his wife spent in youth ministry.

Alongside his church and seminary ministry, he also served as the Director of Training for Global Church Advancement (GCA) where he oversaw training, and the development of new church planting networks. He a founding member of the North Georgia New Church Network, and continues to serve as a church planting coach and consultant.

Bob earned a Doctor of Ministry from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, Florida in 2005.

In 2014 Bob left his position as the Guest Lecturer in Practical Theology and Dean of Students at Reformed Theological Seminary Orlando to come and serve as the Lead Pastor.

Bob and his wife, Chris, were married in 1986 and have one adult son, Taylor who is married to Nicole.

Publications: 

BOOK

Why Baptizing Your Child Matters: Understanding the Benefits of Covenant Baptism.

DOCTORAL THESIS

A Strategy to Enhance the Gospel Ministry of the PCA outside the Non-Hispanic White Majority

SELECT ARTICLES

Can the Church Adapt to Demographic Realities

The Blessing of Covenant Baptism

Sacrificial Living

Pray Up A Child

Dan has studied music for a quarter century and has served as a church musician for more than a decade. He has led music at Trinity Presbyterian in Charlottesville, Virginia, at Grace Presbyterian in Lexington, Virginia, and at Crossroads Presbyterian in Dumfries, Virginia. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Music Performance from Washington & Lee University, where he studied piano and voice and toured with the University Chamber Singers on three continents.

When he’s not making music, Dan has a full-time law practice at Jackson Lewis P.C. in Philadelphia, where he defends employers and executives in high-stakes litigation.

Drew joined our team in 2015. He was born and raised in Richmond, VA and was very involved in sports and at his church. His family and youth ministry had a major impact on his life and faith. Because of this, he had a strong desire to further develop his faith and seek a calling into ministry. Drew attended James Madison University in Harrisonburg, VA and in 2008 received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Communication. After college, Drew worked as an administrator at an after-school program and in various youth ministry positions. It was during this time that he met his wife, Meghan, who was serving as a Young Life leader and working as a nurse after graduating from Liberty University. They were married in 2012 and moved to St. Louis, MO so that Drew could attend Covenant Theological Seminary where he received his Master of Divinity. After graduating and accepting the calling to join our staff, Drew and Meghan moved to Cherry Hill, NJ and spend their time outside of church exploring South Jersey and enjoying time outside with their three children: Clayton, Owen, and Lillian.

Dori grew up at Covenant, where the ministries of the church such as Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and Youth Group had a powerful impact on her faith.  She joined the Covenant staff as Children’s Ministry Director in 2021. Dori always had a love for working with children, and attended Philadelphia Biblical University (now Cairn Univ.) where she received a bachelors degree in Elementary Education and in Biblical Studies in 2011. Through college she was involved in teaching Sunday School, working with the Youth Group, and serving in the nursery. Dori has a passion for educating the young, and has been teaching at Jubilee Preschool for over 9 years. Her desire is to serve the families of Covenant through the various children’s ministries that help create the building blocks for faith and share the love of Christ. Dori has been married to her husband Alex since 2010, and they have three children. In her spare time you can find Dori enjoying time with family, exercising, and passionately cheering on all things Philly sports.
For many years, Lisa served as a volunteer in the church nursery, and while doing so, she developed a real passion for the care of the children of our church families. Because of her love for these youngsters, she now oversees the scheduling of the many volunteers for this ministry, which has been a valuable resource for the young families of Covenant. Lisa also serves both the Middle School Sunday school and youth group. Lisa and her husband, Joe, have four children.
After serving as a teacher for eight years at the Jubilee Preschool at CPC, Donna became the director of the preschool in 1997. She is thankful to work in a nurturing, loving environment where children can learn and grow. She has the support of a tremendous staff of educators who have played a key role in the preschool’s continual growth. Donna grew up in Cherry Hill and has been a long-time member at Covenant. She and her husband, Mark, have been married for over 35 years. They have three grown children and two grandchildren with more on the way.

Samantha Sabin-Rex joined the Covenant team in 2018 as the church administrator, following a 28-year career with the American Cancer Society. She is a member of All Souls Anglican Church and is delighted to have this opportunity to serve the body of Christ. She and her husband, Bob, share their home with their son, Noah, and two cats, Red and Yoshi. Their older son, Liam, lives nearby.

Chris spent her childhood on a farm in central Illinois enjoying all things peaceful.  That was until she met her husband Bob, a pastor, and began a three-decade ministry adventure.  Together they have worked with students in Chattanooga, TN and Winter Springs, FL, served a church in Ormond Beach, FL and planted a church in Newnan, GA.  Chris has taught Science in all levels of secondary education, and has a special place in her heart for teenagers and young college students. In 2013, Chris received a Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando, FL.  She and Bob have one son, married to a very special daughter-in-law, who live in Nashville, TN.