joon & Julie hwang

LEAD PASTORs

Joon Hwang was born in Korea, grew up in Canada, and began his children & youth ministry as a college student of Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, IL. After graduating from college, he continued to study (M.Div from the Trinity Evangelical Divinity School & M.A. from the North Park Theological Seminary) and led several youth ministries in the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago. He came to New Life Church as a youth pastor in 2004, became an English Ministry pastor in 2010, and is now the lead pastor of New Life Covenant Church since May of 2011. He is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. Joon loves to meet people, network with pastors and churches, and eat all kinds of food. He also has a burning passion to see revival and the transformation in the Chicago region. Joon is married to Julie and they have 2 sons and 3 daughters.


Julie was born in Korea, raised in the USA and Korea as an ambassador's kid. She is a graduate of Moody Bible Institute, majoring in Missions and also studied Christian Education. Her calling is to serve Jesus in anyway or form He calls her to and her mission is to live out for Jesus to the extreme. She sees everything in her life as a training session and an opportunity to be intimate with the Lord. Her favorite thing to do personally is writing a journal with a cup of coffee and yummy bread of some sort. 

Jung Ha

children's ministry director

Jung is the King’s Bunch Children's Ministry director at New Life Covenant Church of Palatine. She finds great joy in creating a space for kids to know and worship Jesus. Her aspiration is to help both children and families to grow closer to God, utilizing their gifts for His Kingdom.


Jung was born in Seoul, South Korea but grew up in a small city in Canada. She moved to Chicago to attend Moody Bible Institute. After studying at MBI, she served as a children’s pastor at Chicago Full Gospel Church for five years. In 2009, God called Jung into music teaching at Yongsan International School in Seoul as a music teacher/choir director. She is currently a mom of two energetic boys and a wife to a supportive husband.


Exploring different places, landscapes, and cultures fills Jung with a sense of awe and wonder. She has a deep appreciation for God's creation, although insects might be the exception to that admiration.

John Kim

Associate Pastor of pastoral care

John was born and raised in the Chicagoland area. John is accompanied by his wife Esther and their two daughters, Sofia and Lucille, and their son, Elisha. 

Although growing up in church it wasn’t until a life changing encounter with Jesus in his 30s that he decided to pursue a life in ministry. He quit his job to pursue ministry by attending North Park Theological Seminary in 2016 and graduated in 2019 with an M. Div. 

John has a passion for helping others encounter Christ as they embark on their journey to better their emotional and spiritual health. In addition, John has a heart for worship and prayer and continues to pray for revival throughout the Chicagoland area. If you’re struggling spiritually or emotionally don’t be afraid to reach out to him for a listening ear over a meal or a cup of joe.