Who We Are
This historic church which has met on the corner of Seminary and Lill for almost 125 years has undergone some changes. What has been Seminary Avenue Community Church is now New Life Community Church, Lincoln Park. This coming March 16 we will celebrate the 125 anniversary of the church and the 1st anniversary of New Life Lincoln Park on the same day!

3 blocks away from DePaul University and nestled into the Lincoln Park community, we are a church for Lincoln Park. In the morning we have a more traditional worship gathering with young families, couples, single people, and college students. In the evening we have a blue jeans and rock band environment called Shift. In both gatherings you’ll encounter a vibrant, brand new congregation—we launched in the Spring of 2008.

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 and the people of Lincoln Park in a way that points them to Jesus.
Vision
What we are growing up to be

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 Lincoln Park 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
Mark Jobe
Teaching Pastor

Mark has been involved in entrepreneurial ministry in Chicago for over two decades. Under his leadership New Life has grown from a hand full of people to several thousand that meet currently at ten campuses throughout Chicago. He and his wife Dee have three children and view themselves as a team in this ministry venture. He enjoys a strong cup of coffee with Dee, playing soccer with his boys, listening to his daughter play piano and tackling “God size” visions with his team. He is currently working on his doctorate degree in Transformational Leadership. Mark can be heard on his daily radio program Straighttalk.


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 and Worship Venue Leader

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.


Chris Groenendal
Worship Venue Leader for Shift

Chris and his wife Christina have been a part of New Life for almost 5 years and have been instrumental in starting and leading our Shift worship gathering on Sunday evenings. Chris is a seminary student and is pursuing military chaplaincy. He and Christina are graduates of DePaul University and live on the North side of Chicago


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.


 
Copyright 2008 New Life Community Church