Staff
L to R: Jillian Yu, Michael K. Washington, David Swanson, Libby Van Opstal, Valencia Carter,
Angela Zirk, Peter Hong
- Valencia Carter• Children’s Ministry Coordinator • Valencia's Email
- Valencia is from Chicago, IL. She completed herMasters in Accounting Finance at Keller Graduate school of management. Valencia is the Children's' Ministry Coordinator at New Community. She is also the financial director, actor and singer for Divine Interpretations Worship Arts ministries. Free time activities include museums, movies, and occasionally Karaoke!
- Peter Hong • Lead Pastor • Peter's Email
- Peter is a native Chicagoan. Since arriving in the U.S. at the age of 10 he has lived most of his life here in the greatest city in the world. He has completed a Master of Divinity and a Master of Theology from Trinity International University (formerly known as TEDS). His passions in life include preaching Jesus as the goal of all of life, planting multicultural churches in major urban city-centers that will proclaim Jesus as Lord, and pastoring kingdom missionaries that will make Jesus known to the ends of the earth. His "rock" (that's with a small "r") is the love of his life Jenny and his joys are his two beautiful children Parker and Sophie. When not in his office you will most likely find him hanging out at a local coffee shop reading, studying, meeting new people, and yes drinking a beverage.
- David Swanson • Pastor of Community Life • David's Email
- David has lived in many different places--Venezuela, Ecuador, California, North Carolina--but is happy to call Chicago home. David and his creative and adventurous wife Maggie were married in 1999 and 10 years later they adopted their amazing son, Eliot. David supports the community life of the church and is providing leadership for New Community's first church plant in Bronzeville. Check out David's eclectic blog: http://www.davidswanson.wordpress.com.
- Libby Van Opstal • Warming Center Director • Libby's Email
- Libby is originally from Chicago, but has also lived in Texas and Minnesota. She has a B.A. in Sociology from Baylor University in Waco, TX and a MA in Theological Studies from Bethel Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Libby directs operations at our church's Warming Center, a social ministry to the homeless in Logan Square. Libby and her husband Omar enjoy attending festivals, going to museums, and spending time with extended family.
- Jillian Yu • Worship Leader • Jillian's Email
- Jillian was born in Taiwan and she moved to the states at the age of 9. She oversees the musical production of Sundays, weekly rehearsals with the bands, and the logistics of the ministry. Aside from doing worship ministries, she is also a trained classical flautist, freelancing when she can. Jillian enjoys salsa dancing, playing video games and exotic animals.
- Michael K. Washington • Associate Pastor • Michael's Email
- Michael was born and raised on the South Side of Chicago. He works with ministry leaders, offers pastoral care, and gives leadership to random and, sometimes, unrelated elements of church operations. In his time away from the church, Michael serves as an adjunct faculty member at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary and works as a freelance writer for Urban Ministries, Inc. Michael writes historical fiction and engages his wife Dawn in conversations about aspects of American life in the late 17th and early 18th centuries because of it. He loves his family, gets lost in used bookstores, plays in botanical gardens, and walks at weird hours in Hyde Park.
- Angela Zirk • Church Administrator • Angela's Email
- Angela is originally from Minnesota. She has a B.A in Psychology and Elementary Education from North Park University in Chicago, IL and is currently pursuing her M.A in Clinical Counseling from The Chicago School. Angela is in charge of making sure all things run smoothly administratively, including keeping the Pastors in line! When not working or studying, she likes to eat good food, watch movies, go shopping, read, cook, play soccer, and meet new people.
Home • Logan Square • Staff
