Bishop Hee-Soo Jung, Episcopal leader for the Northern Illinois conference is proud to announce the appointment of a new District Superintendent to the Northern Illinois Cabinet effective July 1, 2012. Reverend Dr. Zaki Labib Zaki, currently serving as pastor at East Side United Methodist Church, Chicago and the new faith community g2g, will assume the position of Chicago Northwestern District Superintendent. Rev. Zaki follows Rev. James Preston who has been appointed pastor at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove, IL.  | |
Rev. Dr. Zaki Labib Zaki
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Rev. Dr. Zaki Labib Zaki is a visionary whose roots extend across many lands. Born in Sudan to Egyptian missionaries and church planters, he spent much of his early leadership life organizing grassroots Christian Student movements and working with refugees from Ethiopia to the Middle East. In 1989 Zaki came to the United States to accept a fellowship at McCormick Theological Seminary. After receiving his Masters degree from McCormick, Zaki completed and received a Doctor of Ministry degree from The Chicago Theological Seminary.
In 1997, Rev. Zaki was appointed pastor of East Side United Methodist Church. While serving at East Side UMC, Rev. Zaki founded The Zone Youth & Community Center in 2002 together with his wife Ayla and a team of committed church leaders.
In 2010, with support from the Northern Illinois Conference, East Side United Methodist Church, The Zone, and a wonderful team of courageous leaders, Rev. Zaki planted g2g Church (Generation To Generation Church), a youth-led and youth-driven church.
"I am honored to serve a Great and Faithful God under the leadership of a visionary and courageous Bishop who is a man of faith and prayer. I am also honored to serve the most diverse district in our Annual Conference following in the footsteps of Rev. James Preston, an effective leader whom we all admire and love," said Rev. Zaki.
"Zaki is a gifted leader in our annual conference who has helped us stretch into new areas of witness through ministry at East Side and G2G (Generation to Generation). He brings a sense of global inclusion, ministry excellence and a commitment to our future. He will be a gift to the work of the conference and the life of the Northwestern District," said Bishop Jung.
Rev. Zaki is married to Ayla, an artist and a co-planter of g2g church. They are the proud parents of 5 children and just as many community initiatives. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++  | |
Rev. James Preston
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Rev. James Preston has been appointed senior pastor at Kingswood United Methodist Church in Buffalo Grove, IL following Rev. Margaret Gramley, who after serving seven years at Kingswood is entering retirement. Rev. Preston is currently serving as the Chicago Northwestern District Superintendent, where he has served for six years. Prior to coming to the district, Rev. Preston was the lead pastor at Brooke Road United Methodist Church in Rockford, IL.
He also served extension ministries and congregations in Texas, Oklahoma, and Northern Illinois. A native Texan, Preston attended Texas Tech University and then Perkins School of Theology in Dallas where he graduated with a Master of Divinity degree in 1990. Rev. Preston is committed to reaching new people for Jesus Christ, seeking God's justice in the world, and proclaiming a message of full inclusion within and outside the church. Preston said of the Chicago Northwestern District, "This amazingly diverse district lives the great vision of God's reign. I am honored and thankful to serve with such committed United Methodist laity and clergy! God is leading us to change the world in this district!" "It has been a great honor to serve with James over the past six years as a member of the Northern Illinois Cabinet. James' love for Christ, his passion for the church, his witness to social justice and his exemplary leadership have been and will continue to be of great value in his ministry to Kingswood UMC and the wider church," said Bishop Jung. "We celebrate James' dedication to developing new faith communities and all his great works to expand the Kingdom in the Chicago Northwestern District." | 
