December 21, 2024

Giving beyond tithes and offerings

New Covenant Worship Center in Joliet shows God's love in word and deed

By Denise M. Baran-Unland

January 29, 2019 at 5:30 am CST

Most of those donations during that time period – 2011-2018 – came from the church's members, about 60 to 80 of them, Jones added. He calls it "purpose-driven giving."

"It's given above and beyond tithes and offerings – after we take up tithes and offerings at the end of the service," Jones, pictured above with his wife Vinice Jones and their son Jonas Jones Jr. and his said. "We give on purpose.

"People think we've got sponsors and maybe organizations and different things, but all of our events have been sponsored from the people through free will giving." — "It's given above and beyond tithes and offerings – after we take up tithes and offerings at the end of the service," Jones, pictured above with his wife Vinice Jones and their son Jonas Jones Jr. and his said. "We give on purpose. "People think we've got sponsors and maybe organizations and different things, but all of our events have been sponsored from the people through free will giving."

Jones said individuals outside the church often contribute to New Covenant's outreach programs, too.

"One member works at a local bank and a co-worker gave her $100 for our coat drive," Jones said. "She just wanted to be part of something bigger than she could accomplish on her own individual basis." — Jones said individuals outside the church often contribute to New Covenant's outreach programs, too. "One member works at a local bank and a co-worker gave her $100 for our coat drive," Jones said. "She just wanted to be part of something bigger than she could accomplish on her own individual basis."

Speaking of coat drives, Jones said New Covenant only gives away new coats, which they buy with donations. Sometimes a department store will discount some of the coats or donate a few free ones, Jones said.

New Covenant Worship Center was founded in 2009 by 13 people who stayed in the Joliet area after their previous church closed. Around December 2009, Jones was asked to serve as pastor. He formally was installed in March 2010, he said. — Speaking of coat drives, Jones said New Covenant only gives away new coats, which they buy with donations. Sometimes a department store will discount some of the coats or donate a few free ones, Jones said. New Covenant Worship Center was founded in 2009 by 13 people who stayed in the Joliet area after their previous church closed. Around December 2009, Jones was asked to serve as pastor. He formally was installed in March 2010, he said.

One of New Covenant's ministers, Cesar Trevino, above, said the church has given away 40 to 50 coats at a time. Members have gone to gas stations and distributed $2,500 worth of gas in $25 gas cards or gathered at laundromats to give away money for laundry, also in $25 increments.

"We don't do advertisements, no 'Here's a tract for our church,'" Trevino said. "We do it for the honor and glory to God." — One of New Covenant's ministers, Cesar Trevino, above, said the church has given away 40 to 50 coats at a time. Members have gone to gas stations and distributed $2,500 worth of gas in $25 gas cards or gathered at laundromats to give away money for laundry, also in $25 increments. "We don't do advertisements, no 'Here's a tract for our church,'" Trevino said. "We do it for the honor and glory to God."

That's how New Covenant gave away 100 turkeys at Pilcher Park during Thanksgiving ("We just held up a sign," Trevino said) and backpacks of school supplies in August ("We put up a sign in front of the church for whoever walked by," he said).

At Christmas, the church gave away $1,000 as part of its Secret Santa ministry.
"We just walked around Walmart," Trevino said. "And if someone looked needy, we handed them $100. We believe in giving back to the community. We put it into action. We don't just say it."

High school seniors who belong to New Covenant can apply for $1,000 scholarships. The amount of scholarships the church is able to provide depends on donations for that year, Trevino said.

"One recipient dad gave $2,000 back to the church," Trevino said. — That's how New Covenant gave away 100 turkeys at Pilcher Park during Thanksgiving ("We just held up a sign," Trevino said) and backpacks of school supplies in August ("We put up a sign in front of the church for whoever walked by," he said). At Christmas, the church gave away $1,000 as part of its Secret Santa ministry. "We just walked around Walmart," Trevino said. "And if someone looked needy, we handed them $100. We believe in giving back to the community. We put it into action. We don't just say it." High school seniors who belong to New Covenant can apply for $1,000 scholarships. The amount of scholarships the church is able to provide depends on donations for that year, Trevino said. "One recipient dad gave $2,000 back to the church," Trevino said.

But community outreach was part of Jones' style going back to 2003, when he pastored God’s House of Prayer and Restoration Ministries in Chicago. But the church did more than hand out food baskets.

"We'd give out free bottles of water during the month of July at the four major intersections in Chicago," Jones said. — But community outreach was part of Jones' style going back to 2003, when he pastored God’s House of Prayer and Restoration Ministries in Chicago. But the church did more than hand out food baskets. "We'd give out free bottles of water during the month of July at the four major intersections in Chicago," Jones said.

When Jones came to Joliet, he felt this type of outreach would benefit New Covenant's founders – who were healing from the loss of their previous churches – as well as the community.

"We wanted to show them that true love for God is really people who are living for God and really have a heart for the community," Jones said. "We wanted to break the stereotype of what church is all about. We wanted to give back to the community and help them in their everyday walk." — When Jones came to Joliet, he felt this type of outreach would benefit New Covenant's founders – who were healing from the loss of their previous churches – as well as the community. "We wanted to show them that true love for God is really people who are living for God and really have a heart for the community," Jones said. "We wanted to break the stereotype of what church is all about. We wanted to give back to the community and help them in their everyday walk."

Jones said before Food For Less in Crest Hill closed, members would randomly buy $50 gift cards and then, just as randomly, hand them to shoppers.

For seven years, New Covenant met at the Birdhaven Greenhouse in Pilcher Park. In 2016, the church bought the former Speech Tree on Glenwood Avenue, gutted and remodeled it, and then held the first service in the new space in July 2017, Trevino said

.Jones said the church paid cash for the church and financed the remodeling. The present location holds about 130. Attendance now averages 120, he said.

Worship is energetic and enthusiastic. New members are welcome. Trevino considers New Covenant a multicultural church because "We believe God has no color."

IF YOU GO WHAT: New Covenant Worship Center WHEN: Sundays: Sunday School is 9 a.m. Worship is 10 a.m. Thursdays: Bible study is 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. WHERE: 2423 Glenwood Ave. Joliet ETC: Sunday morning preachings is livestreamed on Facebook. Text tithes and offerings to 815-513-6262 or download Easy Tithe App. INFORMATION: Visit www.newcovncwc.com

Joliet Faith

Denise M. Baran-Unland

Denise M. Baran-Unland is the features editor for The Herald-News in Joliet. She covers a variety of human interest stories. She also writes the long-time weekly tribute feature “An Extraordinary Life about local people who have died. She studied journalism at the College of St. Francis in Joliet, now the University of St. Francis.