Pastor

Licensed:
Illinois State - May 1996
Ordained:
Illinois State - July 1998

Isaiah 42:6-7
“I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness, And will hold Your hand; I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the Gentiles, To open blind eyes, To bring out prisoners from the prison, Those who sit in darkness from the prison house.

On the Sunday after Thanksgiving in November 2004, Rev. Brenda J. Miller preached at New Life Church of God as pulpit supply while the church searched for a new pastor. Although it was not her intention to candidate for the position, God had another plan. After interviewing with the search committee by their request and a season of prayer,she was called to pastor New Life March 2005, by unanimous congregational vote.
Before moving to Decatur, Rev. Brenda served in ministry at First Church of God Christian Life Center in Evanston, Illinois, the city of her birth. She accepted the call on her life in August 1991, under the leadership of Rev. Michael D. Curry, and began attending The Midwest School of Ministry and Theological Studies located on the church campus.
Spiritually gifted to teach and preach, Pastor Brenda chose not to pursue education in seminary, but instead began training in addictions counseling. She completed an intensive one-year program at Grant Hospital’s Clinical Training Program for Addictions Counselors and earned an Associates Degree in Mental Health from Harold Washington College. Both institutions are located in Chicago.
Pastor Brenda is a trained substance abuse counselor and maintained state certification in the field for a decade. She worked in residential treatment settings for five years, before becoming employed in full time ministry in February, 2002.
Pastor Brenda has been married to her devoted husband, Elder Ken for twenty years. During the past seven years, New Life Church of God has experienced spiritual and numerical growth under their leadership.
Pastor Brenda is committed to the ministry of the gospel of Jesus Christ and believes in the power of the Holy Spirit to affect change in people’s lives. She is surrendered to God’s will for her life, because she knows as the Spirit spoke to her when she accepted Christ that “your life is not your own.”