PASTORS
Senior Pastor
Pastor Vladimir Georgiev was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He receives the call for ministry 6 months after he accepts Christ in 1992. A small congregation in the vicinity of Sofia is the first mission field for him. In the following years he joins the faculty of Sofia Bible Institute as administrative and financial manager. During this time he travels and visits many churches around Bulgaria.
In 1999 pastor Vladimir moves with his family to Chicago, USA . This is the time when he gets involved with the Bulgarian evangelical churches in the area. In the next years God calls him to join New Life church as Teaching pastor and then as Senior Pastor.
He hold a masters degree in Finance from Sofia University of Economics (1996) and MA in Biblical Studies from Wheaton College IL (2001).
Pastor Vladimir is married to Deliana and they have two children – Bistra and Iva. They currently live in Bloomingdale IL.
Pastor
Pastor Stanimir Tanev was born in city of Sliven, Bulgaria. At age eleven he accepts Jesus Christ as a personal Savior. After years of growing in his home church, he commits his life for the ministry of the Gospel. God reveals him the power of worship through music. With a small music group from his home church he begins to travel and serves the Kingdom of God in Bulgaria.
June 1991 he is invited to study in Christ For The Nations Institute – Dallas, TX USA. Stanimir majors in music and mission. Upon graduation he continues his education in Southwestern Assemblies of God University in Watsahachies, TX.
In the beginning of 1995 he is invited to work with the Bulgarian immigrants in Chicago. Upon his arrival in Chicago he begins steadfast work with a small group of Christians. The fall of 1996 is registered The First Bulgarian Evangelical Church in Des Plaines IL and he becomes the pastor of that church.
Today he is a pastor and a worship leader with BECOG “New Life”. Stanimir is married to Vania and both of them have beautiful gifts from the Lord. They called them Nicole and Daniel. Currently they reside in Hoffman Estates IL.
Youth Pastor
Pastor Mario Hristov was born in the town of Sliven, Bulgaria. While serving in the Bulgarian army he accepts Jesus Christ as his Savior. Soon after finishing the military service he returns to his hometown, where in the next few years he starts preaching at the youth services in his home church.
In 1993, while living in Germany, he connects with YWAM (Youth With A Mission). Upon his return to Bulgaria is enrolled and later graduates from the YWAM DTS (Disciple Training School) in Chepelare. After the DTS pastor Mario Hristov enrolls and graduates from the YWAM LTS (Leadership Training School) in Budapest, Hungary. It is during the course of this school that he develops a project for reaching the skateboarders in Bulgaria with the Gospel. After graduation from the LTS, while working on the same project at the Bulgarian YWAM base in Gabrovo, an American pastor from Newport hears about his project and invites pastor Mario to help him with the establishment and running of a skate ministry in Delaware.
During the later part of 1997 pastor Mario arrives to the United States as a missionary and helps build the local skate park and ministers to the local skaters. Over hundred skaters accept Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior through the Weekly Skate Park Bible Studies and the Sunday Skate Church services. While ministering there, on May 23rd 1998, he receives his Minister’s license with the International Pentecostal Holiness Church Denomination.
Few years later Mario Hristov decides to move to the Chicago area, where he enrolls in the Bachelors program at Christian Life College. He is also welcomed very warmly by pastor Stan Tanev and the local Bulgarian Evangelical Church of God. Pastor Mario Hristov graduated from Christian Life College with Magna Cum Laude, receiving a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Biblical studies, and with a minor in youth ministry. For the past two years he has served as the youth pastor, leading weekly youth services, teaching a class in the church’s Sunday School and teaching the Bible classes for the youth!
Pastor Mario Hristov is blessed to be married to his wonderful wife Mira, who helps him with the youth ministry. He also serves on the GLYLA (Great Lakes Youth Leader’s Association) board of the Great Lakes region. Together they have from the Lord an amazing gift … their son Alexander!
Church Board
First row left to right: Stanimir Tanev, Vladimir Georgiev, Mario Hristov
Back row left to right: Stanimir Florov, Anton Pashov, Scott Hagen, Milen Hristov
