Who We Are

For forty years, Bethel New Life has recognized and met the challenges that have plagued the communities we serve. Since 1979, Bethel has been providing opportunities for West Side residents in various ways. Under the leadership of Vauna Hernández, Bethel New Life will continue to provide safe and affordable senior housing, provide space for Mary Crane Day Care Center, I Care Ministries Afterschool Program and the University of Illinois Extension’s Nutrition program. Bethel New Life has affordable office lease options for community businesses and popular community gathering spaces Amberg Hall and The Chapel.

"One of the strengths of Bethel New Life has been to keep its fingers on the pulse of the community and respond to those changing needs. This has allowed Bethel to weather changes in the real estate market, economic downturns and political climates that challenged our neighborhoods. We now stand ready to reaffirm our mission, vision, and values and get back to the business of acting out our faith by rebuilding our community.

That rebuilding may no longer take the form of bricks and mortar but we can rebuild that figurative wall of safety for our children and senior citizen by providing safe spaces. We can educate and provide land to bring fresh vegetables to our children and seniors while organizing and advocating to bring an oasis to a food desert...we can build. Over the years we have transformed into a lean and agile organization for which there are no limits to what we can accomplish with the assistance and guidance of those we serve.

This is an exciting time for Bethel New Life and I look forward to our collective future.