Wilfredo “Choco” De Jesus served in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago as Lead Pastor of New Life Covenant Church for over 19 years (2000-2019). The church has seen a tremendous amount of growth and influence through the planting of multi-site campuses, effective urban and community outreach, and through world missions.

Today, Pastor Choco serves as the General Treasurer of the Assemblies of God. A pentecostal denomination serving 13,017 churches in the U.S., with over 3 million members and adherents and with more than 69 million members worldwide.

Pastor Choco has a heart to reach even the most marginalized with the Gospel and the saving power of Jesus Christ. In April 2013, he was named one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world and recognized for his leadership and influence within the Evangelical and Latino community, to the Glory of God.

Pastor Choco is also the author of five books: Amazing Faith, In the Gap, Stay the Course, Move Into More and Love Them Anyway. In December of 2018, he graduated with his doctorate from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida.

He and his wife Elizabeth have three adult children and five pretty amazing grandchildren.

The chords they strike are not only on their instruments, but in the hearts of us all.”  -Gloria Gaither

Jon and Ben Burchfield make music that inspires the soul. Classical guitar, midi-marimba, Irish whistles and recorders make these two artists sound like an entire ensemble! The stylistic diversity of Appalachian, Classical, Praise, Worship and Gospel has attributed to the stunning arrangements that have put this Dove-nominated duo in demand.

“It all started with our musical parents while growing up in the Smoky Mountains of east Tennessee. We lived in a small community called Happy Valley, not far from Cades Cove. Many of the folks would bring their instruments to our home and play, well into the evening. That was the beginning of our musical influence.”

That musical influence would expand, when their parents moved their young sons to a little town called Bourbonnais just south of Chicago. Suddenly the Burchfield boys were exposed to a completely new world of music. “Being well grounded in gospel, spirituals and mountain music, we soon found ourselves embracing classical, and  many other styles.” At eighteen, Jon took a job with a touring group called the Spurrlows. From the book, “Between the Strings“, Jon writes, “The next few months proved to be a whirlwind of concerts and traveling.  Rigorous touring took its toll and for a time, left Jon in poor health. However, his recovery proved to be a time of healing and reflection. 

Returning home to Illinois, Jon found that his younger brothers Mark (bass guitar) and Ben (drums, marimba) were already accomplished musicians. They decided to relocate to their home state of Tennessee and get involved in a full time touring schedule and music ministry. This would set the stage for what would become many years of concerts across the nation. That was miles ago and years past. Today they continue to bring their message and music to thousands of people across America and the world.

Rick DuBose was elected assistant general superintendent of the Assemblies of God at the 58th General Council in August 2019. He is a member of the Executive Leadership Team.

Prior to his present position, he served as general treasurer of the Assemblies of God from 2017-19. He served as superintendent of the North Texas District from 2007-17 and assistant district superintendent from 2005-07. DuBose pastored Sachse Assembly of God in North Dallas from 1987-2005. Prior to that, he served a pastorate in Hallsville, Texas, and began his ministry as a youth minister in Mesquite, Texas.

DuBose is co-author of The Church That Works.

He and his wife, Rita, have two daughters, a son, and eight grandsons.

Riley’s success in Christian music began in 2010 when he left his hometown in Oklahoma and began touring with internationally known Tribute Quartet. During the ten years he spent with Tribute, Riley traveled and sang in nearly all 50 states as well as venues in Canada, Northern Ireland, Scotland, Mexico and Africa. He was honored to perform on stages with talents such as Jason Crabb, Russ Taff, the Isaacs, Gaither Vocal Band, CeCe Winans and the Oak Ridge Boys. During that time, Tribute was nominated for multiple GMA Dove Awards including Album and Song of the Year and enjoyed many chart-topping songs, including three #1 songs on the Southern Gospel Music Charts. In 2016, Riley received the Young Artist Award through Singing News Magazine, and, in 2017, he was named Male Vocalist of the Year through the AGM Awards. 

In 2018, Riley felt God's calling to step out into a different avenue of ministry. He signed as a soloist with Daywind Records and released his first solo album in September of that year – Welcome to Me. In addition to launching a successful solo career, Riley continues to speak and sing across the country and internationally. 

Riley and his wife Megan have two children, Colbin and Charlee Rae & they currently reside in Nashville Tennessee.

Originally from a small town in Western Montana, Wes Bartel began his Pastoral ministry in 1969. He was ordained in 1971 and has ministered for over 51 years within the Assemblies of God. His ministry includes serving as lead Pastor in four districts, a District Youth Director. He has also served in several leadership capacities  over the past 24 years at the National Leadership and Resource Center. His most recent responsibilities included serving as the National Director of Sunday School and Discipleship Ministries. Since his retirement, he has also served as the Director of Senior Adult Ministries within the Assemblies of God. Wes and his wife, Dianne, have been married for over 53 years and currently reside in Springfield, Missouri. They have two married children and six Grandchildren.

Ruthie Oberg is an ordained Assemblies of God minister and a fourth generation Pentecostal. She was born and raised in the Houston, Texas metro area. Her upbringing in the Pentecostal Church of God gave her a solid foundation in Pentecostal teaching and worship. 

She experienced a call to ministry when she was 15 and immediately God began opening doors for her in small churches in the Houston area. She was the first female to take the top award in the preaching category of the Oral Roberts University Educational Fellowship when she was 17.  Thanks to the influence of Rev. John McDuff of Faith Assembly in Pasadena, TX, and her uncle, George Edgerly, Ruthie began a lifelong relationship with the Assemblies of God after graduating from Central Bible College in 1991. She now serves as an events speaker with the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center  She speaks at national conferences, local churches, and has also produced a daily radio program in the Omaha market. Her articles have appeared in the Pentecostal Evangel, Enrichment, Influence, and Assemblies of God Heritage. She is also a regular contributor to “This week in AG History.” In her words, “My passion is to use the teaching of Scripture, combined with lessons of history, to see the Church and the individuals within it fulfill all that God has created them to be.”

Ruthie has been married to Shawn Oberg since 1989. Shawn is also an ordained minister with the Assemblies of God and, together, they pastored for 25 years in the Iowa District.

Joel and Rose Perales are no stranger to the Senior Adult Ministries Conference. We are honored to have them return and lead worship for the general sessions on Friday and Saturday morning.  Guests can also choose to attend their breakout session Saturday morning entitled, Leaving a Legacy of a Godly Marriage  - Dejando un Legado de un Matrimonio Piadoso.

50 Years Of Ministry
Joel & Rose are known for their music, songwriting, Conference speaking, Radio, Recordings, and television ministries. Evangelists for the Tennessee Assemblies of God, Joel & Rose travel nationally and internationally taking the gospel in song and word.

 50 Anos de Ministerio
Joel y Rosa son reconocidos por sus cantos, musica, conferencias, radio, grabaciones y ministerio de television. Son Evangelistas de Las Asambleas de Dios de Tennessee y viajan internacionalmente llevando el evangelio.