Covenant Presbyterian Church of Fayetteville opened a new decade of ministry with groundbreaking for a new educational building last Sunday.

In ceremonies which included every age group in the church, members took shovels to the ground at the congregation's site on Ga. Highway 314. First to turn earth was Harmon Mattox, charter member and one of the first elders, who wielded the same shovel used in the groundbreaking for the church sanctuary 18 years ago.

Others participating included Jack Stillman, also a charter member and chairman of the building committee; Melanie Pruiksma, a senior at Landmark Christian School and the first person baptized in the new sanctuary; middle schooler Kathryn Rainwater; Matthew Casemeier, elementary school, and Thomas McCalla, kindergartner.

Covenant's historical records show that about 40 adults with their children began a Bible study in the spring of 1976 under the leadership of the Rev. Eugene Hunt. The group held its first worship service Nov. 26, 1976, in a storefront in Riverdale.

The official date of organization for Covenant was June 5, 1977. In November of 1978 the church purchased a 14-acre site on Hwy. 314 and began building in February, 1980. The first communion worship service was held Oct. 4, 1981, with dedication on Dec. 6, 1981.

Covenant's present music director, Sam Burch, came to the church in the spring of 1982, and its music program has continued to grow along with missions and youth outreach. Mission giving was $300 in 1977, $15,000 in 1986, and has quadrupled in the church's "third decade." The church sponsors frequent mission trips overseas, and the elementary grades of PACE Christian School meet on the Covenant grounds.

The Rev. Dale Welden and the Rev. David Robinson serve the congregation as pastors. The church logo is a tree planted by a stream of water, portraying the purpose of the congregation: "Helping people joyfully know Jesus Christ, love Him more, and serve Him better."