Restoration Covenant Church A Sign Of The Times

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By John Singleton

Commuters along a busy commercial strip of I-97 in Millersville have been treated to a series of inquiring signs over the past 12 months. “Need Something Fresh In Your Life?” was the first to appear on the corner of the Brightview Business Center last fall. “Got Jesus?” replaced it over the winter months. This spring, “Jesus said – It is finished” went up just in time for Lent.

“We found this location in Millersville on Good Friday one year ago,” recalled Pastor Kevin Spence of Restoration Covenant Church. “When I saw the corner of the building overlooking the highway I wanted to lift the name of Jesus Christ to all the people on I-97. Jesus said if we lift up his name He will draw all men to Himself.”

For the fledgling Restoration Covenant Church, that promise has been kept as weekly attendance has soared from 25 people when they opened their doors last summer to 75 by this past Easter. Not bad for a congregation that holds its services in a commercial park wedged between a Wawa and a Domino’s Pizza. Indeed, for the family of Covenant Churches that have flourished in Anne Arundel County over the past 30 years that Biblical commission has proved prophetic.

“In 1979, Pastor Jack Cox founded New Covenant Church of Arnold,” added Spence, who graduated from Old Mill High School in 1981. “Today we are one of seven Covenant Churches in Maryland.”

Those churches include Lighthouse Covenant Church on Crain Highway in Glen Burnie, Bay Ridge Christian Church in Annapolis, New Covenant Church of Arnold, Shore Christian Fellowship in Queenstown, and Walkersville Christian Fellowship in Thurmont, and Covenant Family Church in Denton. For Restoration Covenant Church in Millersville, one of their primary missions is to provide restoration and recovery in the area of addictions including 12 step programs in alcohol and drug abuse.

“My wife and I feel called to help folks who have been downtrodden,” added Spence who also attended Old Mill Middle School. “We have both been a part of the recovery movement for 30 years. It’s part of our ministry to help folks suffering from hurts, hang-ups and habits.”

Pastor Kevin Spence is a Crownsville native with a special connection to Severna Park. For 14 years his parents owned and ran the Millhausen Tavern which was located at the intersection of Jumpers Hole and Benfield Road. They sold it in 1985 when it was changed to O’Leary’s Pub. Today, it’s a BB&T Bank.

“We still have many friends in Severna Park,” said the Herald Harbor resident. “I’ve gotten nothing but positive feedback on our sign on I-97 and what we’re doing in the community.”

Today, Pastor Spence and his wife Gwinn have three children, all of whom were adopted through Bethany Christian Services in Crofton, Maryland. Their oldest, Molly, attends Anne Arundel Community College. Middle child Abigail is in 8th grade at Christian Middle School at Granite Baptist Church in Glen Burnie and Seth is in 7th grade at Old Mill Middle School.

As for the high-profile signs above I-97, Pastor Spence intends to keep them coming. But when it comes to a preview of what the next sign will say, he prefers to keep his audience guessing.

“We plan on changing it every 3 months or so,” summarized Spence. “It’s a shot of encouragement to all those weary travelers on the road. So keep on the lookout. You’ll see a new one soon.”

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