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.

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#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 will  present three #BeUMC Awards:

•     One award to an outstanding layperson (nomination form will open Feb. 3)
•     One award to an outstanding clergy member (nomination form will open Feb. 3)
•     One award to an outstanding congregation (nomination form will open Feb. 3)

Award recipients should demonstrate faithfulness, leadership, and impact that reflect both the mission of the Church and the values central to the United Methodist vision.

All clergy, laity, and congregations within the Northern Illinois Conference are encouraged to participate by submitting nominations. You are welcome to nominate yourself or someone else. This is a meaningful opportunity to lift up stories of faith, service, and leadership that inspire the wider connection and bear witness to what it means to #BeUMC today.

The nomination forms will open on Feb. 3. The submission deadline is April 15.

For more information, please contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer.

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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. 

Read the stories of the former One Matters Award recipients here.

For more information, please contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer.

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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.

The John Wesley Award is given to the church with the Highest Mission Link Giving per Member. 

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.