Who We Are
New Life Community Church (www.newlifechicago.org) is a dynamic community of faith and Chicago Hope Academy (www.chicagohopeacademy.org) is an innovative High School based on Christian values. Church and School have come together in partnership to help transform lives and become a positive influence on the surrounding communities.

Our desire is to build on the tradition of “parish church” models that have been a part of Chicago’s history and rich heritage. We hope to minister to the educational, social and spiritual needs of our area at these facilities in the heart of the community.
Vision
Our hope is that this school/church partnership will allow us to minister more holistically to the spiritual, educational, and social needs of people in the community. Our desire is that the limits of a school would be strengthened by the ministry of a church and the limits of a church would be complimented by the partnership of a like minded school.

Our prayer is that the combination of quality education, sports programs, mentoring minded teachers and after school activities combined with Sunday worship experience, small groups, discipleship, counseling and various ministries will provide a wrap around environment that would transform the quality of life and impact the community in Jesus name.
The Team
Danny Lopez
Campus Pastor & School Chaplin

Danny Lopez is a native of Chicago and grew up in the Humboldt Park area in a home where drugs, alcohol, gang activity and witchcraft was prevalent. At the age of 13 God’s grace changed the course of his life. He graduated from Moody Bible Institute with a degree in Bible Theology and is well known in the city for his 25 years of youth ministry to the teens in churches and the local high schools. Danny has been married for 26 years to Cyrene and they have 3 grown children who are serving the Lord and active in various areas of ministry. Danny is a dynamic speaker who is passionate about Jesus. He is the newest pastor to join the New Life staff. Danny will be the Teaching Pastor at the New Life Tri-Taylor Campus at Hope Academy where he will be leading worship as well.

Mike Berry
Pastor of Discipleship and Assimilation

Mike Berry grew up in the suburbs north of Chicago. While at Western Illinois University he met some friends that introduced him to Christianity. Sensing a desire to learn more about God he went on to study at the Moody Bible Institute and received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity International University in Deerfield. During his college years Mike began attending New Life and fell in love with the vision of the church and with his wife to be, Debbie. In 1994 Mike came on staff at New Life Central and has served in various capacities over the years. He currently oversees adult home groups, training and coaching of small group leaders, assimilation of new comers and helps organize larger church events. Pastor Mike is married to Debbie and they have three young children.

Mark Jobe
Lead Pastor

Mark has been involved in entrepreneurial ministry in Chicago for over two decades. Under his leadership New Life (www.newlifechicago.org) has grown from a hand full of people to several thousand that meet at eleven campuses throughout Chicago. He and his wife Dee have three children and view themselves as a team in this ministry venture.

Mark 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. Pastor Mark can be heard on his daily radio program called Straight-talk www.straighttalkchicago.org.

Vilma Arguelles
Director of operations

Vilma is a native of Chicago. She graduated from Columbia College in Chicago with a BA in Fine Arts and minor in theatre. She has worked professionally as a sound engineer and functions as a Director of Operations and Creative Arts Coordinator at New Life. She enjoys helping people find their place in ministry and spearheading all church events. Vilma has led women's groups for years and is affectionately known as "V".
 
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