ABOUT US
Who We Are and What We Do
Covenant Village is a 400+ acre Christian retreat center located in south-central Pennsylvania, just outside of Cumberland, MD, and within a couple of hours’ drive of DC, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh.
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We serve as a place for church groups to relax and rejuvenate: youth groups, family reunions, sports and recreation enthusiasts, men’s and women’s groups, and outdoor education — all on over 400 spectacular acres of forest, hillside, and meadow.
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Our facilities include cabins/bunkhouses, a meeting and recreation hall, a commercial kitchen, bathhouse, and a farmhouse, as well as several on-site activities.
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We also lease out our commercial kitchen for food prep ($20 per hour, minimum fee of $75), welcome disc golfers to come check out our course, and even open up the property for exploration (for a small fee of $5 per person/day).
Let’s Go Back to the Beginning
Dr. Richard C. Halverson, former chaplain of the U.S. Senate, found Christ as a young man in southern California. For many years, he was actively involved with Forest Home, a Christian camp and conference center on the West Coast. When Halverson moved east and became pastor of the Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, he longed for a Christian camp like Forest Home, one that could serve the needs of his growing church.
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Halverson’s dream eventually paid off. In April 1977, during a speech by Dr. Halverson at a Forest Home Banquet, God spoke to the hearts of Arnie and Carolyn Ensfield. The Ensfields felt led to undertake his vision to develop a conference center in the mid-Atlantic. In 1979 they moved to Washington, DC specifically to cultivate the project among area churches. Covenant Village was soon incorporated and began conducting Christian conferences in hotels until the land and facilities needed for a center could be found. Through prayerful planning, Covenant Village was founded in October 1980 through its Board of Directors: Ritchie Coryell, Brad Davis, Arnie Ensfield, Al Hagen, Sam Hines, Phil Jordan, Paul Miller, and Paul Watson. Dick Halverson provided wise counsel.
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Meanwhile, an insurance businessman George Harris of Wheaton, Maryland – who had purchased 405 acres of woods and farmland in southern Bedford County, Pennsylvania back in 1971 – was losing money on his investment. Together with his wife Fran, Harris had developed the land and renovated the barns and farmhouse. Yet despite his hard work, the farm did not prove to be profitable. In 1985, he determined to donate the property to establish a summer camp for boys and girls under the George F. Harris Foundation. While Harris was promoting this idea over Christian radio, Harvey Kissinger, an acquaintance of Ensfield’s, was listening to the broadcast and suddenly recognized the opportunity that Harris’s land presented to Covenant Village. Soon after, a tour of the property was arranged, leading to a merger of the two corporations. Covenant Village Christian Conference Center was formally dedicated to the Lord on May 16, 1987.
Our Board of Directors
Chris Eberlin
Board Secretary Christopher (Chris) Eberlin is a Quality Process Engineer at American Woodmark Corporation, a manufacturer of kitchen and bathroom cabinetry. Chris is responsible for leading process improvement and cost saving initiatives in his current role. Chris is a graduate of Virginia Tech where he earned his bachelor’s degree in Industrial & Systems Engineering.
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Chris is a member of Faith Presbyterian Church in LaVale, MD where he is serving as a Deacon. Chris’ favorite passage of scripture is 1 Corinthians 10:31 “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.”
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Outside of work and church, Chris enjoys hiking and traveling to new places with his wife Lindsey.
Leigh Squier
Leigh is a veteran of the United States Army Special Operations Forces (USASOF).
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While attending Founder's week at Moody Bible Institute in February, 2000, Leigh was motivated through speakers, John Piper and Alistair Begg, toward Christian ministry, which came to fruition within two years as Leigh and his young family moved to Somerset county in Pennsylvania to serve at Allegheny Brethren Youth Camp (Camp Albryoca).
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After a seven year term of caretaking, managing, and serving; God led Leigh into a friendship with Juls Wood, who was the first to formally introduce him to Covenant Village.
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Leigh is currently serving as the Treasurer and Executive Director of Covenant Village.
Chris Seymour
Chris is currently serving as the president of the board.
Chris started his career as an entrepreneur in 1984. He opened his first retail clothing store at the early age of 21. He gained many experiences in sales marketing and business strategy over the years. Chris later opened his own clothing manufacturer line (Moco Sportswear) where he achieved success bringing in over 10 million dollars in annual sales. Chris left the fashion industry in 2000. He explored a new venture in real estate. With the experience of business management and sales Chris opened up a residential custom home business (Nehemiah Design & Build) where he built houses from 4000 sq. ft. to 18,000 sq. ft.
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After recognizing the success of building homes on individual lots, Chris decided to purchase parcels of land to subdivide and make multiple lots where larger home builders purchased from him. This industry transitioned Chris to be one of Maryland's minority developers. This brought Chris a level of success in the Maryland area. He credits God for giving him the wisdom to experience so many various successful businesses and his mother who is his biggest fan.
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Chris has not stopped pursuing business opportunities as he is now in the process of attaining a new exciting venture. Galaxy 5000—a hair extension business—where the manufacturer is in the Philippines. Chris has now been a entrepreneur for almost 30 years His motto is “Thinking outside of the box will always bring you to a higher level of success.” Chris continues to use his experiences to assist others in business ventures.
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In addition, Chris is very committed to his faith as a Christian; he holds Bible study at his home every Monday. He’s currently the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at his church. Chris accounts all his success from God. Chris was selected in 2015 to be a board member on Doctors Community Hospital Foundation Board.
Marcy Donovan
Marcy Donovan is a long-time resident of Maryland, having spent her entire life in the same area where she was born and raised. Although she did not grow up in a Christian household, Marcy and her husband Mark both came to their faith simultaneously at the age of twenty-eight. They have been attending Severn Run Evangelical Presbyterian (PCA) since 1996, which has been a significant part of their lives since becoming Christians.
Marcy's faith has continued to grow and deepen over the past twenty-seven years, and she is grateful for the blessings and trials that have contributed to her understanding of God's plan. Mark is currently serving as a ruling elder at their church, while Marcy works as the office administrator, a position she has held for seven years. In the past, Marcy has worked in residential architecture, taught at a Christian school, and has been a homeschooling mom since 1999.
Marcy and Mark prioritize spending time with their family, which includes six children and eight grandchildren. They attend church together and often gather for lunch afterward.
Having grown to appreciate the beauty of God's creation, her church has camped at Covenant Village (CV) for about twelve years. They appreciate the camp's ministry and affordability and have seen many positive changes occur from their visits and continue to support the ministry.
William (Bill) Quick
To be posted soon. Vice-President of the board.