to call P.J. Smyth (Johannesburg, South Africa) to be its new lead pastor. After a lengthy immigration process, he and his family received their visas in October 2016 and he was installed on January 29, 2017. Early in 2018, tensions developed within the Board of Elders. Outside leaders and church members were invited to help resolve differences related to preaching and polity, but in July the elders and Pastor Smyth decided to part ways. Covenant Life's Board of Elders continues to provide leadership for the church. Smyth plans to plant a new church in the DC Metro region. When Smyth left the church, many middle aged people, and parents with children left the church too and decided to follow Smyth and help him start a new church. Educational support for parents Covenant Life School, an accredited K-12 day school, is housed in Covenant Life's facility. Over 250 students currently attend the day school, which is accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International and the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools. Covenant Life Church also provides a Family Schools Program to support homeschooling parents in the church and community. Church plants Covenant Life has over 25 years sent out 13 church plants to many cities in the U.S. and a few abroad, including Cleveland (1982), Chicago, San Diego, Mexico, Texas, and the Philippines (1983-1984). In 1984, Covenant Life Church planted Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania. In 2006, Covenant Life Church planted Sovereign Grace Church of Frederick in Frederick, Maryland. In 2008, Covenant Life Church planted Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Iglesia Gracia Soberana de Gaithersburg is the second Spanish-speaking Sovereign Grace church in the USA. Its pastor is José Mercado. External links Official Website Covenant Life School References Churches in Montgomery County, Maryland Christian organizations established in 1977 1977 establishments in Maryland Evangelical megachurches in the United States Evangelical churches in Maryland Megachurches in Maryland