The Cove draws hundreds

Nov 17, 2008 (Statesville Record & Landmark - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- TUC | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- A modernized, more toe-tapping and arm-swaying rendition of "Amazing Grace" spilled out into the lobby of Statesville High School's Mac Gray Auditorium Sunday morning.

And the sound, as the old verse goes, was sweet.

The song -- it would difficult to call the performance that took place on the stage of the Mac Gray a hymn -- was part of 20-minute musical introduction of the inaugural service of The Cove in Statesville.

The Mooresville mega-church opened the satellite location to serve an ever-increasing congregation from Iredell County's northern parts and also to attract new members from the surrounding areas.

And they came.

The Cove's executive pastor, the Rev. Rick Carney, said church officials were hoping for a turnout in the 500 range.

"And we've already well exceeded that," Carney said near the start of the service as folks were still filling up seats." "We weren't expecting quite this many people, but we're very excited to have them."

Carney said the decision to begin holding services in Mac Gray came from two sources, which are on opposite ends of the business plan.

"We did a survey and found there was a need," he said. "Then we prayed about it. And God pointed us here."

God pointed Senior Pastor Mike Madding to the location in the Lake Norman area exactly a decade ago -- The Cove celebrated its 10th anniversary this weekend.

The name of the church derives from the idea of a cove as a safe harbor or nook of refuge along that body of water.

"We want the church to be that place for those looking for peace and serenity where they can come and get inspired and refreshed," Carney said.

Judging from the looks on attendees' faces as they left the service, it would appear as if those things were delivered.

"It was beautiful," said Robin White, a Mooresville resident who came to Statesville to support the opening. "I had to walk a long way after I parked, but that's a good thing. When you are talking about church, you can't complain about not having a good parking space."

White said she was drawn to The Cove in part by the diverse makeup of its membership.

"You can be who you want here," she said. "And it may not be as diverse as it could be, it is open to diversity. This is a progressive church and its members represent the progressiveness of this area. It's changing here, a lot."

Amy Pharr, of Statesville, agreed.

"This is a really open-minded, intelligent and diverse group of people," said Pharr.

She said she had attended a service in Mooresville once and was "inspired" by it.

"I was very excited when I found out they were coming to Statesville," she said.

So was Aurora Tudela, who, along with her husband and two kids had been making the weekly trek to Mooresville.

"It was great, as it always is," said Tudela as she left the service. "We're glad to have them here now. Mike (Madding) is very inspiring and the church is wonderful."

And it's big.

Linda Sechrest, The Cove's director of administration, said the combined average attendance at the church's five (and now six) weekly services averages in the 3,000 range, which is actually a higher number than the church's official membership.

"We run opposite others," she said. "Most churches have a certain membership but then get less than that who actually attend service. We have a lower membership and a higher attendance."

To push both those numbers higher, church leaders mailed out some 50,000 flyers and advertised in other ways to grow the flock (including the running of a full-page ad in last Sunday's R&L).

Carney said plans now are to hold services in Mac Gray for the next two years or so.

"Eventually we'll have a building," he said. "But for now the school has been great and we're happy to be here."

To see more of the Statesville Record & Landmark or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.statesville.com. Copyright (c) 2008, Statesville Record & Landmark, N.C. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.

More News:   Market Updates | Stock Alerts | All Trading News | Stock Index