For over 25 years, in one way or another, Charles Covington has been associated with Community Grace Brethren Church of Whittier. He found a wife among our people and became stepfather to her children. He often preached at the church, and his Sunday School teaching was legendary. The senior citizens still chuckle about his protracted study of the book of Romans.

Charles and Eva left CGBC to serve at Cypress, California, but they returned for special programs and events. When their ministry at Cypress was finished, they once again actively served at Whittier. After a while, they left to minister in Long Beach but through their extended family kept ties with Whittier.

Just last November, at our annual Thanksgiving service, Charles thanked God for the church and for the wife he found there.

A few weeks ago, from his wheel chair, he spoke here at a granddaughter’s baptism. Teenage Katie had received the Lord as a youngster, but she had waited for baptism “until Grandpa was able.” For Katie and CGBC that service was a kind of grand finale for a much-loved Bible teacher who had fought his way back from a debilitating stroke to be able to once again publicly speak as a minister of the Lord.

Our church family rejoices that Charles is now in the presence of his Saviour and at the same time extends our sympathy to the family as they adjust to his absence from earth.