BUILDING UPDATE FROM THE FACILITIES STAFF

Hello New Life Family! I must confess that the challenge of maintaining, repairing, and improving the facility, in addition to facilitating events, and being God's witness to all who enter our home, at times has seemed insurmountable. But God is faithful. When He assigns, He provides! Here is a look at what we have been up to

AROUND THE BUILDING

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NEW LIFE PORTAGE PARK 5700 W BERTEAU AVE 773-777-3360

One of the three outdoor garages has been refurbished to facilitate

the landscaping equipment and badly needed cold storage.

The Luther North weight room was relocated to allow a new space for
the Awana program.

Our children's ministry classrooms have been recently carpeted and

dressed up with furniture donated by Starbucks.

Our facility staff consists of 3 men; Herb Virella, Stephen Greenhalge, and Mark Thompson.

Our main lobby has also been spruced up with couches, arm chairs
and coffee tables from Starbucks. (Thank you Hilda Olivera!)

February 2013

We have performed repairs, replaced controls and cleaned the

radiators throughout the building to improved the efficiency of the boiler system.

We have cleaned and redesigned the boiler room to enhance the

ability to be more productive and consolidate storage of materials and tools.

YOU ARE MAKING AN IMPACT!

God is doing incredible things in our church and we are making an impact through our Sunday Worship Services, Awana for Kids, Small Groups, Good News Bible Clubs, our Spanish Ministry, Food Pantry, Children's Ministry, Soul Purpose, Celebrate Recovery, Fusion and much more ministry that goes unseen. Your giving allows us to pursue the goals the Lord has laid on our heart for: Community Outreach, Ministry Training, a Worship Center, and Financial Freedom. We hope you enjoy this newsletter which gives a snapshot of what God is doing among us. May we believe God for even greater things in 2013.

We have organized monthly work days where our church family, in

addition to Luther North volunteers, have served over 300 hours in cleaning our kitchen, replacing over 200 light bulbs, cleaning 100s of windows, organizing different areas throughout the building...and there's more to come! Each light bulb represents 10 light bulbs that have been replaced throughout the building.

HOW DO OUR TITHES & OFFERINGS BREAKDOWN?

For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Thank you for your faithful support of our church family and the ministry taking place here!
Each clock represents 25 volunteer hours of clearing, cleaning, fixing and building.

THANK YOU!
Our desire is that everyone would be respectful of the efforts made to date, enjoy what God's given us and respond faithfully to God's calling. Would like to help around the building? Contact Herb Virella at 773-410-7811. Special thanks to all of the volunteers who have come out for the work days. Watch the bulletin for our next work day coming soon!

UPCOMING EVENTS

WORSHIP & PRAYER NIGHT Wednesday, February 13 6:45pm, Main Auditorium FIGHT NIGHT LIVE Friday, February 15 6:00pm, Main Gym CHILD DEDICATIONS Sunday, February 17 10am & 12 Noon

DISCOVER NEW LIFE Sunday, March 10 & 17 11:30am-1:00pm PALM SUNDAY Sunday, March 24 10am & 12 Noon GOOD FRIDAY DRAMA Friday, March 29 6:30pm & 8:30pm

EASTER EGG OUTREACH Saturday, March 30 at 11am 12,000 eggs fill with candies and goodies! Donations will be accepted February to March at the childrens ministry. EASTER CELEBRATION SERVICES Sunday, March 31 English: 10am & 12 Noon Spanish: 10am

SPANISH SERVICE CELEBRATES 1 YEAR

Our Spanish congregation celebrated one year of services on Sunday, October 14. It was a great time to remember Gods faithfulness and willingness to work through a team. This service was birthed out of our prayer and fasting time in 2011 and was launched that fall with a core team of 25 people. God has grown the service to almost 50 people every Sunday. In addition, they meet in small groups during the week for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Please pray for our Spanish congregation that God would strengthen the team and continue to bring lost people to find faith in Jesus.

HARVEST PARTY OUTREACH

Awana saw 150 kids and over 100 adults for the Harvest Party this year! Two jump houses, face painting station, carnival games, popcorn and taffy apples. Tom Fitzmaurice shared the gospel message through a pumpkin carving illustration. Special thanks to Childrens Hunger Fund for donating candy and supporting our childrens ministry. We are also looking for 10 more childrens volunteers to help serve on Wednesdays and Sundays this year. If you are interested in serving, please contact Traci Fitzmaurice at TraciF@newlifechicag.org.

SMALL GROUPS MAKE LIFE BETTER

At New Life, we value meeting in small groups and believe that is where people grow to become fully devoted, fruitful followers of Christ. There are over 40 different groups that meet during the week for Bible study, prayer, fellowship and yes, food! Pick up an orange semester catalog today and find a group to connect.

SOUL PURPOSE IS NOT A FAN...

On Friday, February 15, 70 youth will be going to serve with Feed My Starving Children, a ministry that prepares food to send to cities worldwide that are in Jesus has many fans, but need. They are going to fewer followers. In Not A serve and be the hands of Fan the youth have been learning that following Jesus Jesus, to provide for those who have none. is not about lip service, duties or casual relationship. It is about completely For I was hungry and you surrendering everything to gave me something to eat, I Him and committing to was thirsty and you gave follow Him with your whole me something to drink, I was life. a stranger and you invited me in - Matthew 25:35 "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. - Luke 9:23 There are many youth serving every week in Awana, as teaching assistants in Sunday School, the welcome team, tech booth, and two worship teams that lead on Friday nights and some Sundays. Please pray for our youth, that the Holy Spirit would prepare their hearts as good soil, that Gods word would grow up in them and that He would protect them from harm and for His purposes.

BAPTISM IS THE FIRST STEP TECH TEAM BITS

The Tech Ministry at New Life Portage Park is here to serve God and the church, to enable the Word of God to be proclaimed boldly to all generations. We are challenged in this season to buy the rest of the equipment we need to make these Live Streaming Services professional and easy to watch. Prayerfully consider buying and We hope that adding donating a piece of the cameras and lighting to equipment we need or Sunday morning services has making a donation toward improved the worship the purchase of same to experience, but really, we help us make this happen. have installed these to get us ready for our next step in Pray for those in the back of bringing the Gospel to the the sanctuary every time Northwest Side of Chicago: there is a service or event to Live Streaming the Sunday help us worship God with our service over the Internet. hands and heart. If you are interested in getting involved, contact Scott Hughes via email at ScottH@newlifechicago.org or visit us in the tech booth on Sunday morning. We had an amazing celebration of baptism over the past few months. As Pastor Asa preached through the letter of Romans, many people were hearing the gospel message and responding for the first time. We saw 17 baptisms in the last semester alone for a total of 46 baptisms for the year. Praise God for the lives that are changed forever. We pray that we would see many more taking the step of baptism in 2013.

CHRISTMAS IMPACT
Christmas is a time for giving presents and toys for girls and boys. It is also a time to give back to those in need. New Life was pleased to partner with several organizations this past Christmas to impact many lives with a small gift and a message that God loves them.

THE BAPTISM SPEECH

On the first Sunday of every month, we celebrate baptism. Recently, we had a young girl take the step of believers baptism. Beforehand, each person shares a brief testimony of why they are getting baptized. This young girl articulated the gospel invitation so clearly, that it serves as a good reminder to each of us who follows Jesus or desires to know Him. Here is her speech... Im getting baptized today because I thinks its time to open up my heart and accept Jesus into my life. I want Jesus to forgive me for my sins and what Ive done wrong. Luke 19:10 says Jesus came to seek and to save what was lost.

Here is a summary of how our church family gave this past Christmas Sent 136 shoeboxes filled with gifts to children overseas through Operation Christmas Child. Sponsored 43 kids with gifts and Christmas Dinner at Lydia Home. Gave 60 gifts for 30 children with Angel Tree for children whose parents are in prison. Collected over 500 cans and boxes for the Food Pantry ministry. Hosted 180 parents and children for an all day Christmas Party with Project Uplift. Over 500 guests came to see the Cinderella Christmas Story put on by The Miracle Center and heard the gospel message.

ROCK N ROLL GODS WAY IN MARRIAGE

Watch a short video from Fusion leader Nick Rosario to see what the Fusion ministry has been up to and learn about some exciting events coming up! Scan the code with your phone or go to the link below. youtu.be/2TgNWCsA2YI