In late 1977 two Covenant families living in Crystal Lake, Craig and Elizabeth Stewart, Jack and Linnea Root, were concerned about beginning a Covenant fellowship in the Crystal Lake area. The Covenant Office in Chicago was contacted regarding this interest. The Covenant Office responded in a positive fashion, providing the names of several families living in the area who support the Evangelical Covenant Church. Dr. Robert Larson of the Department of Home Missions expressed interest by doing a survey of the Crystal Lake area.

In April 1978 Nucleus Builder Edmund Train of the Central Conference office contacted the Crystal Lake families to assist in starting a fellowship group.

Reverend Ed and Dorothy Train

In May 1978 Reverend Train met with the Crystal Lake group for the first time. They decided to continue meeting and called themselves the Covenant Fellowship of Crystal Lake, and meetings were held monthly thereafter.

In early 1979 the fellowship proceeded with a more aggressive plan. Plans were set to begin regular Sunday meetings in September 1979. In February 1979 a statement of purpose was drafted. Meetings were held twice a month in homes. The first official communion service was held March 18, 1979 at the home of Jack and Linnea Root. Also attending were Ed and Dorothy Train, Craig and Elizabeth Stewart, Dick and Karen Maiman, and Dr. Truman Esau. Later that Spring papers of incorporation, a constitution and bylaws were prepared. Officers were elected for the purpose of establishing legal papers and a budget: Chairman - Jack Root, Secretary - Elizabeth Stewart, Treasurer - Dick Maiman. On May 17, 1979 the church name was selected: Hope Evangelical Covenant Church of Crystal Lake, Illinois.

On June 10, 1979 the fellowship met with Central Conference superintendent Clarence Winstedt to establish procedures for calling a full-time pastor. In July a decision was made to call Edmund Train as pastor. He accepted the call in August 1979.

Hope Covenant held its opening Sunday service at Canterbury School in Crystal Lake on October 7, 1979. Sunday school classes began November 4, 1979.

Reverend Train was officially installed as pastor on November 25, 1979 at a rented chapel in the first Congregational Church of Crystal Lake, Clarence Winstedt, Central Conference Superintendent, officiating.

Twenty persons signed the membership charter on February 10, 1980 and a constitution and bylaws were officially adopted. Hope Covenant applied for membership in the Evangelical Covenant Church of America in March 1980 and was formally received into membership at the annual meeting in June 1980.