History
First Covenant began in the 1870s as a group of Scandinavian immigrants who met at informal meetings and were ministered to by the Rev. P. Unden, a student preacher named J. Anjou, and the Rev. J.M. Sanngren. With a desire to preserve and express their oneness in Christ, on December 30th, 1874 a constitution for "Svenska Evangeliska Lutherska Missionsforsamligen i Minneapolis, Minnesota" (The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Mission Church) was adopted and signed by 31 charter members. The group purchased a lot at 17th Avenue and 6th Street where they built a "mission house" and held their first meeting on May 12, 1875. and Rev. C.M. Youngquist was assigned the church as well as the churches of St. Paul and Red Wing.

In 1877, Rev. A. Lidman arrived from Sweden having been called jointly by the church in Minneapolis and St. Paul. Previous revivals led by E.A. Skogsbergh had led many to Jesus Christ and to the congregation and the decision was made to sell the out-grown mission house and build a new church on the corner of 4th Street and Chicago Avenue. In the spring of 1878 they moved into their new church which seated 1200! In 1879, Pastor Lidman accepted a call to serve in the East and over the next two years Rev. F.G. Haggquist, Rev. Emil Holmblad, and Rev. Gustav E. Turnquist served the church.