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LIFE IN ABUNDANCEEfrem Smith’sSanctuaryCovenantRedefinesChurch,EvangelismBy Kelsey Holm, Communication SpecialistAfew months ago, the sound ofcrying brought Efrem Smithout of his office at SanctuaryCovenant Church in North Minneapolis.A young woman was distraught. Sheappeared to be searching for someone.“When I asked her if I could help, shesaid she was looking for one of our staff.She was looking for Jen,” says Smith.The tears turned out to be onesof happiness.“She said, ‘I’m so excited. I got ajob today, and I just wanted to tellJen,’” says Smith, ‘96. “See, that’swhat we’re about. She has thispivotal spiritual thing going on inher life, but she also got a job. She’sempowered. That’s what we call aholistic impact.”Smith also sees reconciliation in thelink between the young woman, whois black, and the staff member, whois white. Through the CommunityDevelopment Corporation (CDC)founded through Sanctuary, Jen hadtaken the young woman under herwing, got her excited about churchand helped find her a job.“This is why we exist,” says Smith.“At the end of the day, it’s not about900 people. It’s about a relationshipbetween two women and how thatrelationship leads to transformation.”Pastor Efrem Smith is leading SanctuaryCovenant Church in North Minneapolisinto a new form of evangelism.A True Community ChurchNone of the pieces of this storyhappened by accident. From thetime Smith planted SanctuaryCovenant Church in January 2003,he has intended it to be evangelical,urban and multiracial. Smith wascalled to lead Sanctuary through theEvangelical Covenant Church.Inspired by the writings of MartinLuther King Jr. while working on hismaster’s thesis at Luther Seminary,Smith thought, “‘If Martin LutherKing were still living and pastoring6STORY Fall 2009