OUR STAFF
Rev. Miguel Nieves
Pastor Rev. Miguel Nieves was born in Arecibo, Puerto Rico in 1953. His mother, Carmen Natal and his father Miguel Nieves, were married in Iglesia Metodista La Roca (The Rock Methodist Church) in Camuy, Puerto Rico. They were married the same year Miguel Nieves, Sr. returned from Korea where he served as an infantryman in 1952. Rev. Nieves is the oldest of four siblings. His younger brother Dennis also served in the military for 20 years before retirement. In 1971 he met Ilza Enid, while they were attending College. They married at a very young age and have been married for 50 years. April 19, 2024 marked their 50th wedding anniversary. They have three children, and four grandchildren. Miguel Nieves III has a Communications major from NEU, the middle child Pedro is Psychology major also from NEU and Sarah is a Chiropractic Dr. from Palmers Chiropractic School in Davenport, IA. His academic formation is from the PRU and G-ETS. In 1996 while serving his first appointment in PR for several years, Rev. Nieves received an invitation to serve a church in the NIC. His first appointment was at El Redentor UMC, in Chicago. Two years later he was received as an Associate Member and Ordained Deacon in the NIC. He was ordained by Bishop Sprague after fulfilling the requirements of the NIC- BOOM (1998 BOD). He has served as Senior Pastor of Lincoln UMC, Aurora First & Nueva Vida UMCs, and York House & San Pablo UMCs. He is currently serving as Senior Pastor of York House and North Prairie UMCs. His wife Ilza Enid- Nieves is a Certified Candidate to Ordained Ministry and is in her third year of the Course of Study School for Local Pastors also at Garret Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston. She was appointed as Senior Pastor at San Pablo UMC in Waukegan on June 1, 2015. Rev. Nieves has been a member and Chair of La Junta Hispana, a member of Hispanic Plan of the UMC, a member of Chicago Metropolitan Alliance of Congregations, a member of the Latino Jurisdictional Caucus, a member of MARCHA, a resource for the Lay Speaker (Lay Servant) Academies, a member of the Elgin District Committee on Ordained Ministry, a member of the NIC Board of Ordained Ministry. He is also the proud grandfather of Pedro, Sienna, Arianna and Elena. Rev. Nieves has been serving the Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Churches since 1996. He has passion for the gospel and a vision of the world as our parish. Rev. Nieves believes that Jesus speaks the universal language of love. |
Laura Kranzfelder
Director of Music & Choir Laura grew up in rural North Dakota. She started playing piano for her local church and accompanying the school choirs when she was in Junior High School. She continued accompanying for church services and took piano and trumpet lessons throughout her college career. Laura has lived in Chicagoland since 2003. When she's not working as an RN, Laura loves spending time with her family, crafting, baking, and travelling. |