Reconciled to be Reconcilers

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation.

2 Corinthians 5:17-19

History

In 2010, New Community Covenant Church on the north side of Chicago sent a small group to start a new multiracial church in the south side community of Bronzeville. Since then we have lived into our identity as a reconciled and reconciling people by growing in our values of grace and truth, unity, and the kingdom of God.

At New Community, our values of

grace and truth, unity, and the kingdom

shape our identity.

Grace and Truth

We desire regular confession, repentance, and forgiveness with God and one another. We desire the Gospel to transform our lives as we follow Jesus wholeheartedly. We desire to listen and submit to Scriempture, God’s revealed Word for His beloved children.

Unity

We desire to represent the diversity of our city as evidence of the Gospel’s reconciling power. We desire authentic and accountable fellowship. We desire the corporate gift of Sabbath worship and rest.

The Kingdom

We desire to proclaim the Kingdom—evangelism, to demonstrate the Kingdom—compassion, mercy, and justice, and to participate in the Kingdom through prayer. We desire to welcome the stranger with radical hospitality. We desire to be intentionally present to our neighborhood as we discern the Holy Spirit’s invitation to love our neighbors.

We are affiliated with the Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC). Along with other ECC congregations we affirm: the centrality of the word of God; the necessity of the new birth; a commitment to the whole mission of the church; the church as a fellowship of believers; a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit; the reality of freedom in Christ. We invite you to read more about the denomination and our theological affirmations or to email us with any questions.


Ministry Staff

The ministry staff team is responsible for preparing the congregation to serve in ministry, nurture community, and engage in outreach with our neighbors. Staff members can be emailed at [first name]@newcommunitycovenant.com.

Pete Blodgett

Director of Discipleship for Children and Youth

Pete loves to see God work through His diverse church to transform communities toward the kingdom of God. With two decades of youth ministry and pastoral experience, he is committed to equipping students and strengthening families as they strive to live out the Gospel. Pete and Nikki have been married since 2007 and live in Woodlawn with their four kids.

AMY CALKIN

Director of Corporate Worship and Administrator

Amy moved to Chicago after college and taught 7th and 8th grade for 15 years. She then spent 15 years in graphic design and first came to the church in 2017 as a pastoral intern during seminary. God made a way for her to continue on ministry staff where she coordinates Sunday morning services and has taken care of the administrative side of things since 2019.

Valeri Chow TAO

Director of Leadership Formation

Valeri is a 3rd generation Chinese American, born in Washington DC. She has called Chicago home for almost 20 years and has lived and worked on every side of the city. Valeri is committed to bear witness to the good news that God has and is making all things new. In addition to her pastoral work, she works in operations at a national nonprofit. Valeri and Mark have two children, who continue to humble and teach them how to be fully alive.

Michelle Dodson

Associate Pastor

Michelle is a Doctoral Candidate at Loyola University where she is completing a Ph.D. in Sociology of Religion; her focus is on multiracial congregations. She is a Teaching Fellow at North Park Theological Seminary. Pastor Michelle has been dedicated to the work of racial reconciliation for nearly two decades and has helped to plant two intentionally multiracial churches in Chicago. She and her husband Karlos have been married since 2003 and are the proud parents of two amazing daughters.

Hana Sobeck-Kim

Church Planting Resident and Director of Discipleship

Kaitlin and Hana have been married since 2013 and are the proud parents of three amazing sons. He is passionate about church community, discipleship and pastoral care, with an emphasis on emotional health and spirituality. He spent the first 21 years of his life not knowing Jesus and is still filled with joy 22 years later that he gets to now. Hana has an educational background in engineering and has spent the past 21 years working for consumer-packaged food companies.

Kaitlin Sobeck-Kim

Church Planting Resident and Operations Manager for New Community Outreach

Kaitlin and Hana have been married since 2013 and are the proud parents of three amazing sons. She is passionate about organizational systems that enable non-profits to focus on racial justice, reconciliation, and community development. She has worked as an executive pastor and in the business sector previously.

David Swanson

PASTOR

David and Maggie have been married since 1999. They are the parents of two wonderful sons. David is passionate about racial justice and reconciliation within the Body of Christ and regularly writes and speaks about these and similar topics. He is Ordained to Word and Sacrament with the Evangelical Covenant Church.

KEVIN SWANSON

Associate Pastor of Congregational Care

Kevin has served in pastoral ministry for 13 years following 28 years of ministry in foreign missions. He and his wife Linda have been married for 47 years. Kevin’s twin focuses at New Community are strengthening marriages and equipping the church for financial stewardship.

SONIA WANG

Executive Director of New Community Outreach

Sonia is a restorative justice practitioner, educator, mentor, and most importantly, an auntie to her two amazing and spunky nieces. In any role she assumes, she is committed to creating safe and collaborative spaces for learning and growth for students, staff, and the community at large. It is in these spaces, she believes, that we can make a positive impact.

Visit New Community Outreach to learn more about Sonia

Cherise Wilson

Director of Worship Arts

Cherise's love for music has been a lifelong journey which started as a little girl singing in the children's choir at church. Her love for God, music and fellowship is the fuel that drives her when leading others in worship. In her free time she enjoys shopping, baking, and spending time with family and friends.She and her husband Richard have two children, Jayden and Joy.

Leadership TEAM

As a congregational church, our membership elects a leadership team to steward the church’s mission. The leadership team also oversees the church budget and provides ministry leadership.