RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, New Life Covenant Church celebrated the opening of its Main Campus at a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony on Saturday, December 7, 2013 at 11:00 a.m. at 3400 West Division Street in Chicago; and
WHEREAS, the Chicago City Council has been informed of this important event by Alderman Roberto Maldonado; and
WHEREAS, New Life Covenant originated through the spiritual work of Rev. Ignacio Marrero and a small group of brothers and sisters in 1965 under the name of "Palestine Christian Temple"; and
WHEREAS, Rev. Marrero and his family, responding to the immense need for spiritual guidance in their community, first met with other families in their own homes and after a few weeks, rented a storefront to welcome the ever-growing line of new parishioners; and
WHEREAS, in 1976, to accommodate the church's rapid growth, Rev. Marrero purchased the "Mother Church Campus" located at 1665 N. Mozart Street in the heart of Humboldt Park; and
WHEREAS, in July 2000, the torch was passed down to Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, a native of Humboldt Park, who would ead the church in "the way" with a new name, "New Life Covenant" at Rev. Marrero's original location; and
WHEREAS, since then the church has become one of the fastest growing churches in Chicago, growing from a weekly attendance of .120 to 17,000 globally through more than 130 ministries reaching the most disenfranchised—the broken hearted, poor, homeless, prostitutes, drug addicts and gang members—through the dedication and tireless efforts of Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus; and
WHEREAS, better known as "Pastor Choco", TIME Magazine named Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus one of the 100 most influential people in the world in April 2013, recognizing him for his leadership and influence with the Evangelical and Latino audiences; and
WHEREAS, from its humble beginnings, New Life Covenant Church has become a world-renowned home of spiritual guidance and leadership; now, therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED, that we, the Mayor and the members of the Chicago City Council, assembled this eleventh day of December, 2013, do hereby congratulate New Life Covenant Church on the grand opening of its Main Campus; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a suitable copy of this resolution be presented to Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus.