Through their home church in West Chester, PA, the opportunity to preach at a church planting work in South Jersey came up. He began regular pulpit ministry at the newly formed Covenant Baptist Church in July of 1985. He was ordained to the ministry on December 8, 1985 during which time the church was also officially constituted. The church was greatly helped in the early years by the Trinity Baptist Church of Montville, NJ. The Reuthers have five children. "We praise and thank God for leading us to this wonderful church family, and count ourselves blessed to serve Him in this ministry."

It is our Pastors desire to build Covenant Baptist Church in the spirit of 1 Cor. 3:10 "According to the grace of God which was given to me, like a wise master builder I laid a foundation, and another is building on it. But each man must be careful how he builds on it."