A fundraising dinner Sunday, July 29 at 6 p.m. at the original Wellington Mall will benefit the Royal Palm Covenant Church building fund.
The evening is hosted by County Commissioner Jess Santamaria, along with members of My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust and Peter Wein of the WEI Network.
The evening promises to be enjoyable with an auction and live entertainment from various artists, including pianist Copeland Davis.
Known for being the oldest church in Royal Palm Beach, Royal Palm Covenant Church is located at the southern end of Royal Palm Beach Blvd. It opened in 1962 and was previously known as the Evangelical Covenant Church. Pastor Michael Rose is the church’s fourth pastor, along with his wife Carolyn, who serves as co-pastor. The church has been ministering in the community for 50 years, but is currently $300,000 in debt.
Royal Palm Covenant Church is in desperate need of money and in jeopardy of closing its doors. The church’s financial troubles were escalated by the devastating hurricanes of 2004-05, which blew off the church’s roof and resulted in significant structural damage. This, along with the economic downturn, has made it difficult for the church to recover and keep up with its expenses.
“Royal Palm Covenant has been a community church for the past 50 years,” Rose said. “This year we are celebrating our 50th anniversary. Many people in the community use this church for various reasons, and it’s important that this ministry continues here because it’s very active; it’s fulfilling the needs of people who need help. We want to make sure it stays here. We’re going to do our utmost best to keep the ministry here in Royal Palm.”
The church is not only a place of worship but a community gathering point. Over the years, the church has been a center for assisting people in the community from all walks of life. The weekly food pantry feeds more than 300 people per week. Many families with small children or homeless people depend on the church’s pantry for sustenance. The church is close to many people’s hearts in the community, from business owners to the elderly, and some have been members for decades. Many people in the community have used the church for weddings, baby dedications and funerals.
The church is also known for its annual Thanksgiving basket giveaway, partnering with My Brother’s/Sister’s Keeper Charitable Trust, the Royal Palm Beach Rotary Club, the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office District 9 substation, Palm Beach County Fire-Rescue and J&J Produce to feed 500 to 700 people.
The church has also initiated programs such as the Youth Explosion for young people to learn about important issues affecting them through several days of workshops and entertainment. The after-school tutoring program is the latest program the church has established, which provides inexpensive tutoring for students from low-income families.
Tickets to the fundraising dinner cost $40 per person. For more information, call Rose at (561) 294-9258 or the church at (561) 793-1077.
Above: Pastor Michael Rose at the church.
