Hello, my name is Bruce Hollister, pastor of New Covenant Community Church. A call was extended to me in June of 1995 to be the "organizing pastor" of this new work. This was only shortly after I had personally become affiliated with the OPC. I count it a great privilege to labor in this place of service. My wife Susan and I have five children.

It is frequently of interest to those inquiring about New Covenant that my own background is not reformed or Presbyterian. I was raised and trained in an independent-dispensational-Bible church setting and have, in more recent years, embraced a reformed understanding of the Scriptures. By God's grace and because of my own "sojourn" I can often identify closely with those whom God has been leading along a similar path. Don't get me wrong. I value very much my early training and would say that God has only deepened me in those great distinctives of the historic Christian faith: for example, the infallibility of the Word of God and its sufficiency alone for all of faith and practice.

Now to plant a church-- that is a tremendous challenge, especially in this day and age. I have often said that people have to have a little "pioneer" in them to join together in such a work. On the other hand, I think that anyone who loves the church of Jesus Christ and takes to heart the great commission is able to be excited about the labor involved in planting a church.

However, there is another "common thread" which unites us with those whom God has brought our way. It is a desire for the substance of the Word of God. Frequently families and individuals come to us not able to fully articulate just what it is they are looking for. They do know that they are tired of watered-down teaching, of "games" and entertainment, and of that bland, man-centeredness so common in the church today. Others have just begun to understand the glorious gospel of Jesus Christ for the first time. All alike never tire of hearing of "the righteousness of Another." To such hungry hearts--whatever the background--we say, "Come, and welcome!"

If you have questions about the reformed faith, or about New Covenant Church in particular, please feel free to contact me today, by phone (815) 725-9019, or by email.