On October 30, 1999, over 40 Covenant Discipleship members came together at Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington, DC, to fellowship, to be spiritually uplifted, and to be reminded of who we are as Covenant Discipleship members. Bill Johnson and Rev. Irene Pierce, newly assigned coordinators for the CD groups, planned the meeting in order to bring members of the 15 groups together for the first time. They will plan semi-annual meetings of the body in the future and visit group meetings periodically. Subjects discussed at the meeting included:

• Clarification of the differences among Covenant Discipleship, Disciple Bible Study, and Class Leaders;
• The dynamics of the Covenant Discipleship Group—how members leave a group, join a group, revitalize or rewrite the old covenant, or stretch and strengthen themselves.
• The future of Covenant Discipleship Groups—making disciples, creating more groups, witnessing, and testifying.
• Resources available to members included Covenant Discipleship by David Lowes Watson, Guide for Class Leaders by Grace Bradford, and copies of Covenant Discipleship Quarterly. Subscription blanks for complimentary copies of the Quarterly were made available.

A period of devotions led by Josephine Baker and Richard Nero opened the meeting; Holy Communion given by Rev. Eugene Matthews, senior pastor, and Revs. Pierce and Holmes closed the meeting.

The following statements were gathered from some of the attendees during the fellowship that followed:

“Being in a CD group makes me stop and think about the way I do things and respond to others. It has changed my attitude toward people I meet on the streets.”
     -- Richard Colbert

“I give praise to God for the experience and Christian growth. We share our weekly tasks with honesty and love. There are times when we show our imperfections; however, as Christians we share each other’s burdens. My experience from this group and from the general leadership has strengthened my fellowship with the Asbury congregation. I am now more cognizant of what God is calling us to do.”
     -- Dorothy West

“I didn’t think I had time for another meeting, but now I look forward to my Covenant Discipleship Group. I find the meetings invigorating.”
     -- Isham Baker

“Covenant Discipleship is helping me to become a better person. I find I give more freely now to people in need without judging them.”
     -- Thelma Tinsley

“My faith in God has been strengthened. It is nice being around other people who are working on the same thing—spiritual growth.”
     -- Marcus Fulton