Hispanic Mega Church Pastor Joins Chicago Mayoral Race

 WASHINGTON -- America's largest Hispanic Christian Organization, The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC), The Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals, has announced the candidacy of Rev. Wilfredo De Jesus, Senior Pastor of New Life Covenant in Chicago and Justice Vice President for the association. De Jesus seeks to become the next mayor the city of Chicago, Illinois.

"Chicago requires leadership that reconciles integrity with stewardship. As a Pastor and community leader, I have demonstrated the ability to address problems with real solutions by partnering with business and civic leaders. I stand committed to a transformative agenda; one that is centrist in nature and transcends polarizing political rhetoric where the loyalty is exclusive to the people of Chicago. Simply stated, I will work arduously to address our three major crises: jobs, education and crime. Only an independent, practical approach engaging faith, business and civic leaders can catapult us to our full potential," explained Rev. De Jesus.

NHCLC President, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, believes the candidacy of De Jesus speaks to a greater narrative. "Pastor Wilfredo's candidacy speaks to the growth of our community as it pertains to extending our commitment to righteousness and justice beyond the pulpit. Across America, more and more Hispanic Christians will seek public office and demonstrate that we offer an agenda that reconciles the message of Dr. Martin Luther King and the justice commitment of Lincoln, with the optimism of John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan. Marco Rubio's victory proves that Hispanics with strong faith commitments can offer viable alternatives to the current polarized political landscape. "

De Jesus obtained the necessary signatures in order to qualify for his name to appear on the mayoral ballot in record time for a Latino candidate. "If you believe this race is already pre-determined as some pundits have declared, we are about to demonstrate to America that the days of typical Chicago politics are over. It's time to clean up Chicago and I am determined, for the sake of our children, to engage, empower and enrich the Chicago land family."

The National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference is the Hispanic National Association of Evangelicals unifying, serving and representing the Hispanic Born Again Community via 30,454 member churches and 16 million constituents by reconciling the vertical and horizontal of the Christian Message through the 7 Directives of Life, Family, Great Commission, Stewardship, Justice, Education and Youth.