In these days of uncertainty, fear and feeling alone, know that our New Life family is here to help. We have created several resources to provide help and support.

Prayer Line

Our prayer hotline is available Monday-Friday, 1:00-4:00PM. Voicemails will be responded to next day.

Men’s prayer hotline is 773-234-8989

Women’s prayer hotline is 773-270-2776

Care Team

Our Care Team provides support with confidential, individual sessions with trained facilitators. Click on “Schedule A Meeting” button below to schedule an appointment with one of our team members. Not sure who to meet with? Scroll through their bios to learn more about our Care Team Members.

Tony Wasso — Pastoral Care

Tony Wasso is a native of Chicago's Maxwell Street area. Through the influence of his wife Linda, Tony began investigating the things of God and soon found himself making a decision to serve God. Tony and Linda have been a part of New Life for many years now and have served in many capacities. In 1999 Pastor Tony and Linda launched New Life Cicero. After leading New Life Cicero for seventeen years, Pastor Tony and Linda transitioned to New Life Midway to lead our counseling ministry. Pastor Tony is known for his shepherd’s heart and deep desire to see Gods people healed and whole spiritually.

Maria Alfaro

Maria became a follower of Christ in 2008 and started attending New Life in 2009. She has been involved in many ministries: women’s Small Groups, Intercessory Prayer, Alter Ministry, Prison Ministry, Youth and Adult Ministry, Homeless Ministry and Soul Care Ministry. Maria works with women and feels called to give care in addictions, grief, anxiety, depression and anger, and marriage. Maria is married with 3 children and 8 grandchildren.

Nina Baez

Nina Baez was born in Oak Park, Illinois. Nina was 15 years old when she gave her life to Christ, but it wasn’t until 2016 that Nina got baptized at New Life and rededicated her life to Jesus. She now lives in the Brighton Park area with her daughter and their cat. She enjoys cooking, watching movies and spending quality time with her friends and family. Nina has been leading a woman’s small group. She is passionate about helping woman discover who they are in Jesus and how much He loves them. Jesus has transformed Nina’s life drastically and has promised to continue to mold and shape her.

Priscilla Balderas

Priscilla Balderas has been an active member of New Life Community church for five years. She and her husband serve in several ministries including leading a small group in Fusion Marriage Ministry. Priscilla has a heart drawn to hurting woman. She also feels a pull to work with married couples, along side her husband Richard. Priscilla has six children and takes great pride in being a stay at home mom including homeschooling her three youngest.

Richard Balderas

Richard has been an active member of New Life Community Church for five years. He serves in several ministries including leading a small group in the Fusion Marriage ministry. Richard was raised in Chicago’s Little Village Community where from childhood he saw God’s calling for his life and hand of protection over him. Richard is happy to work with marriages alongside his wife Priscilla. He also feels called to speak to men in search of God. Richard takes pride in his wife and six children.

Samantha Gasca

Samantha has been attending New Life Midway for just over a year after first seeing Pastor Mark preach at Founder’s Week. She is a third-year student of the Master of Divinity program in Pastoral Studies at Moody Theological Seminary. Samantha specializes in spiritual discipline and biblical spiritual formation/cultivation; physical, verbal, mental, emotional, sexual, and spiritual abuse; and addictions.

SCHEDULE A MEETING

Resources

Grocery Assistance

Families can pick up free groceries at the following locations

People Loving People: Providing grocery assistance to New Life Midway and the community

Every Saturday at New Life Midway. Call Adrianna at 773-877-9957 to schedule a pick-up

*Greater Chicago Food Depository

Visit chicagosfoodbank.org to find the nearest location near you or call 773-247-3663

*Catholic Charities: Casa Catalina Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays

Located at 45th and Ashland Service Area: 35th – 51st St / Halsted – California

Contact Sr Joellen Tumas at 773-376-9425

*TSA: Midway Citadel Reopening April 14th, 2020 Wednesdays & Fridays

Located at 5036 W. 47th Street Service Area: 60632 and 60638

Contact Derek Rose at 773-838-8005

CPS Lunches

Families can pick up free meals outside of ALL CPS District Schools during the closure

WHAT: Free meals for all CPS students outside of all CPS school locations.
WHEN: Beginning Tuesday, March 17 through the closure, between 9:00a and 1:00p, Monday through Friday.
WHERE: ALL CPS district schools will offer free meals for students. Select charter school locations will also offer meals; a link to those locations can be found here.
- Families can pick up meals outside of their nearest CPS school - they DO NOT need to pick up meals at their school of attendance.
- Any student (district school, charter school, options school, etc.) can access meals at the location that’s closest to them.
- Families can find their nearest CPS school at CPS.edu/map

For additional information and the latest updates, families should visit cps.edu/coronavirus.

Families with questions about meals and other family services can call the CPS Command Center at 773-553-KIDS (5437) between 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, or email familyservices@cps.edu.

Housing & Financial Assistance

Ministry Opportunities

Digital Mentoring through the New Life Baptism book online is a ministry we are looking for mentors for. If you have already completed the New Life GPS books or are on your way to completing the GPS books, and are interested in being a mentor, please email Pastor Mike Berry at mikeb@newlifechicago.org.

Midway’s Telecare Team is looking for volunteers to reach out to the New Life Midway Family through phone calls. If you love connecting with all kinds of people and enjoy just being a friend during this time when most people feel alone, this ministry is for you. Please call our office at 773-838-9470.

People Loving People is an organization that distributes clothing and grocery assistance to families in needs and during this COVID season, to hospital staff as well. If you want to donate or volunteer, visit www.plpchicago.org to sign up or call Adrianna at 773-877-9957.

New Life Centers of Chicagoland works with young people and their families in Chicago. In this COVID season, they have turned to emergency response, remote mentoring, street outreach, food provisions, and emergency provisions for families they work with. They have created the Stronger Together Response Fund to keep this vital mission going. Give by visiting https://charity.gofundme.com/o/en/campaign/strongertogethercovid.