Who We Are
In the summer of 2000 Chuck McWherter, a long-time leader at Galilee Baptist Church, called Mark Jobe, New Life’s lead pastor. His request? “Can we talk about New Life restarting Galilee as a New Life congregation?” A few short months later, that conversation led to New Life’s first “restart” experience and New Life Lakeview was birthed on the corner of Damen and Wellington where Galilee Baptist Church had stood for over 100 years.

In the past 8 years New Life Lakeview has become a thriving congregation in the Lakeview/North Center community. A church that embraces its past of over 100 years and looks forward to its future as a vibrant faith community on the North side of Chicago.

New Life Lakeview is a community of people who are devoted to Jesus. We gather, sing, pray, serve, teach, lead and celebrate every week, in larger gatherings and in small groups. We love the city of Chicago and we want to serve the people of this city in a way that points them to Jesus.

We’re a mix of young families and single adults. A few of us are grandmas & grandpas and a bunch of us are college students. We’ve got a lot of young children and some teenagers. We’re construction laborers and computer programmers, teachers and options traders, students and social workers, lifelong Chicagoans and recent transplants to Chicago, white, Latino, black and Asian. We’re a mixed bag and fun bunch and there’s a place for you to help mix it up some more.
Vision
New Life’s big vision is to reach and gather 1% of the city of Chicago (30,000 people) in Jesus’ name. We do that by planting life-giving congregations of different sizes and cultures all over the Chicagoland.

At New Life Lakeview our vision is to work with our other North side locations to help accomplish that 1% vision in this region of the city by birthing new congregations in communities like Uptown, Rogers Park, Logan Square, Ravenswood, Lincoln Square, Humboldt Park and Edgewater. We envision a web of interdependent locations that serve their specific communities in Jesus name with a spirit of cooperation and blessing.

And as we do, we will also be a connector of other life-giving churches and leaders so that we can cooperate in loving the city and bringing Jesus to the city.
The Team
Kevin Bruursema
Location & Teaching Pastor

Kevin and his wife Gillian moved to the city in 1995 to attend school it has been their home ever since. He worked as an urban youth worker and as an internship director before stepping into a pastoral role in May of 2003. Kevin and his family have been part of New Life since 1999 and the Lakeview location since January of 2002. Kevin teaches at our Lakeview and Lincoln Park locations and lives, worships and serves Jesus alongside a great team of people in both communities. He and Gillian and their four children live in the Logan Square neighborhood of Chicago.



EJ Lyon
Ministry Director

EJ is from Tennessee and moved to Chicago in 1994 to attend Moody Bible Graduate School.  She was on staff for Lydia Home Association and worked in fundraising and volunteers for seven years.  In 2005, EJ came on staff as part-time for New Life Lakeview as Ministry Operations Coordinator.  In 2007, she is now full-time and functions as a combo staff for Lakeview and Lincoln Park. She enjoys helping people to find their purpose for which God has designed them.  EJ is also involved in women’s ministries and leads a small group.


Mike Hansen
Outreach Director

Mike Hansen grew up in Crystal Lake a suburb of Chicago and earned his undergraduate degree in 2001 from Eastern Illinois University in Marketing. Marrying his wife Rachel in 2004 they currently live in Chicago. After working in technology sales for six years at CDW Corporation God led Mike out of the business world and into full time ministry in 2007. Mike's role involves assimilation, mobilization and outreach. He has a passion for connecting with people in the church, walking along side others encouraging spiritual growth and launching new ministries. Mike is currently attending Moody Bible Institute pursuing a Masters of Divinity.


Maria Munoz
Office Manager

Maria has lived in the Lakeview community almost her whole life. She and her husband Ed and their 3 children came to New Life Lakeview in August of 2003 and have been a vital part of the church ever since. Besides keeping everyone organized, managing the building, managing the church calendar, keeping up with supplies and materials, answering phones and keeping the staff from going crazy, she and her husband also serve regularly in our children’s ministry.


Stacey Pittman
Communications Director

Originally from New Jersey, Stacey has lived in Chicago since the mid 90’s. She is a fun-loving party planner who keeps us all encouraged. Stacey works part time at New Life on communications and events while working full-time at Moody. She also leads small groups regularly and is a big contributor to women’s ministry events.


 
Copyright 2008 New Life Community Church