Our Values

Behold His Presence

• We center our lives on Scripture.

  • We commit to reading, studying, and reflecting on God’s Word in our homes and in gathered worship—learning to live it out with healthy rhythms both personally and corporately. By practicing these rhythms, we also regularly rehearse the Story of redemption by singing theologically sound lyrics, practicing the sacraments and engaging in the Church year traditions.

• We gather as one body, seeking to honor others more than ourselves.

  • We value the corporate nature of our worship gatherings seeking to honor God by worshiping with diversity and depth through the many voices, prayers, and songs of His people which includes a variety of music styles, worship practices, styles of prayer, cultures and time periods.

Build the Church

• We honor the Imago Dei.

  • We celebrate the many parts of Christ’s Body by welcoming and empowering women and men, children and elders, and those with special needs or diverse backgrounds.

• We serve and sacrifice for each other.

  • We practice prayer, generosity, service, and hospitality as daily habits that grow Christlike character. We respond to suffering with presence, prayer, and tangible care, seeking to reflect the mercy of Christ, and we seek reconciliation, speak truth in love, and practice forgiveness—choosing people over comfort and integrity over ease.

Bless the World

• We engage with our community.

  • We value being present in our neighborhoods—sharing our time and resources to strengthen relationships and nurture the common good in order to share the love of Jesus.

• We share our testimony.

  • We tell the Story of God’s grace through our words and our lives by creating spaces where those who don’t yet know Jesus can encounter the Gospel.

Partnered with the Evangelical Covenant Church

As part of the Covenant family, we hold to six key affirmations—core beliefs that shape who we are and how we live out our faith together.

Affirmations:

• The centrality of the word of God

• Necessity of new birth

• A commitment to the whole mission of the church

• The Church as a fellowship of believers

• A conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit

• The reality of freedom in Christ

To explore more about the affirmations and core beliefs that shape the Evangelical Covenant Church, visit covchurch.org/beliefs.

Our team

Travis Dahlke

Travis is a gifted problem-solver with a mind for data and a heart for people. With a background in data integration and a deep love for the Church and serving as a Stephen Minister, he brings both technical expertise and a pastoral care to his work. Known for his empathy and kindness, Travis approaches ministry with a desire to listen well, encourage others, and help them grow. When he’s not working on thoughtful solutions to support the Church’s mission, you will likely find him working on his family's crop and beef farm. Travis also loves teaching and equipping others, using his organizational and analytical strengths to create thoughtful, effective solutions that serve the Church’s mission.

A native of this area, he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN, and completed his seminary training at Bethel Seminary. Travis' heart is to see the body of Christ flourish—working together with grace, purpose, and joy.

Julia Dahlke

Julia has a heart for helping people draw near to God through worship that is both Spirit-led and grounded in Scripture. She loves creating spaces where God’s presence is welcomed and people are invited to respond with honesty and joy. When she’s not leading worship or mentoring others, you’ll probably find her savoring a strong cup of coffee in the quiet of the morning or diving into some creative project—because she believes life with God is meant to be full of wonder and imagination. With years of experience in both church and educational settings, Julia approaches ministry with a shepherd’s heart and a love for discipling others. She’s passionate about seeing worship overflow beyond Sunday gatherings—bringing the hope and beauty of God’s Kingdom into everyday life.

Julia received her Bachelor of Arts at Northwestern College in Orange City, Iowa, and completed her Master of Divinity degree at Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary.