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Every year, we celebrate and honor the ministries of churches and United Methodists across the conference. We intentionally set aside time to recognize the outstanding achievements and contributions of the people and congregations of the Northern Illinois Conference. By lifting up these remarkable efforts, we seek to encourage and inspire others to follow their example of faithful service and leadership.
#BeUMC Award
New for 2026
The #BeUMC Awards are a new opportunity to honor and celebrate outstanding faithfulness across our conference, provided by the NIC in partnership with United Methodist Communications.
The #BeUMC Awards recognize individuals and congregations who embody our shared United Methodist vision to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously. These awards highlight lives and ministries that reflect the mission of The United Methodist Church: to make disciples of Jesus Christ for the transformation of the world.
This year, our Annual Conference is presenting three #BeUMC Awards:
- Outstanding layperson:
Robbie Moultrie, Resurrection UMC of Chicago
Read her story - Outstanding clergy member:
Rev. Dr. Char Hoffmann (Posthumously)
Read her story - Outstanding congregation:
Durand UMC
Read their story
Award recipients demonstrate faithfulness, leadership, and impact that reflect both the mission of the Church and the values central to the United Methodist vision.
For more information, please contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer.
One Matters Awards
The One Matters Discipleship Award was created by the Discipleship Ministries (GBOD) in 2015 with the purpose of lifting up churches who have in recent years moved from zero baptisms and zero professions of faith into positive numbers as they redirected their focus toward intentional discipleship. In addition to the One Matters Discipleship plaque, each church will receive $1,000 to encourage the continuation of their work in discipleship.
The Northern Illinois Conference is one of the most diverse conferences in The United Methodist Church, so instead of recognizing one congregation, we have the opportunity to offer one award per district with the help of the Office of Connectional Ministries.
Most importantly, as we celebrate these churches and hear their stories, we are invited to ask “What are they doing differently that is helping them to turn things around by God’s grace?” And when we discern an answer to that question, we can ask ourselves, “What can we do to make a difference?” Each person matters to God!
One Matters Award recipients are nominated by their District Superintendents.
- Lake North:
Evanston: First UMC
Read their story - Lake South:
Chicago: House of Praise UMC
Read their story - Prairie Central:
Naperville: Grace UMC
Read their story - Prairie North:
Rockford: Christ UMC
Read their story - Prairie South:
Plattville UMC
Read their story
Read the stories of the former One Matters Award recipients here.
For more information, please contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer.
Mission Links Awards
The Mission Links Awards are awarded to churches within the Northern Illinois Conference that have given
100% of their apportionments and supported a project in each of the 7 giving areas (Special Sundays, Global Advance Projects, Missionary Support, UMCOR/Emergency Relief Projects, U.S.-Based Advances, NIC Conference Projects, and NIC District Projects).
The Philip Otterbein Award is given to the church with the Highest Total Mission Link Giving.
2026 Recipient: Kingswood UMC in Buffalo Grove and Deerfield: $25,580
The John Wesley Award is given to the church with the Highest Mission Link Giving per Member.
2026 Recipient: Hope UMC in Joliet: 84%
Other 2026 Mission Link Churches:
- Antioch UMC
- Brookfield: Compassion UMC
- Downers Grove: First UMC
- Hanover UMC
- Hebron UMC
- Milledgeville UMC
- Mount Carroll UMC
- Triumph UMC
Mission Link Awards are determined by giving data received by the Administration Office.
Learn more about our Mission Links program here.
For more information, please contact Pastor Shirley Pulgar-Hughes.
Francis Asbury Award for Excellence in Higher Education
The General Board of Higher Education, in partnership with the Northern Illinois Conference, presents the Francis Asbury Award to honor the contributions to United Methodist ministries in higher education.
Named for early American Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury, this award honors his call to establish a school in the vicinity of every church. “We must,” he said, “ … give the key of knowledge to your children, and those of the poor in the vicinity of your small towns and villages.” The award recognizes United Methodist individuals who have made a significant contribution to fostering United Methodist ministries in higher education at the local, district or annual conference level.
Presented To:
Rev. Dr. Javier Viera,
President of Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary
Read more.