Christmas Institute in July Grows Youth Disciples in the Filipino-American Tradition
The 2026 Christmas Institute in July, a beloved Filipino-American United Methodist tradition, gathered 21 youth, 23 pastors and deaconesses,…
Location: Multiple locations across the conference
Explore the wave of new Christian churches emerging to reach unchurched and dechurched people living in a culture that is increasingly non-religious and multi-religious.
Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Dr. Michael Beck, Director of Re-missioning with Fresh Expressions
Watch a Recording of the Prairie South Event
Sunday Worship Experience with Rev. Dr Beck
Sunday, September 18 at 9:30 am at Schaumburg: Our Saviour's, 701 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg, Ill. (847) 352-8181
Teaching Offerings
- Sunday, September 18 at 2:00 - 5:00 pm at Schaumburg: Our Saviour's, 701 E. Schaumburg Rd., Schaumburg
- Monday, September 19 - 9:00 am to Noon - Prairie North - Freeport: Harmony, 2600 W Pearl City Road, Freeport
- Monday, September 19 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Prairie South - Dixon: First, 202 S. Peoria Ave, Dixon
- Tuesday, September 20 - 9:00 am to Noon - Lake South - Oak Lawn: First, 10000 Central Avenue, Oak Lawn
- Tuesday, September 20 - 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm - Prairie Central - Naperville: Grace, 300 E. Gartner Road, Naperville
- Wednesday, September 21 - 9:00 am to Noon - Lake North - Park Ridge: First, 418 Touhy Ave, Park Ridge
Questions Contact Martin Lee mlee@umcnic.org
Learn More about Fresh Expressions
Rev. Dr. Michael Beck
Rev. Dr. Michael Beck is a pastor, professor, and author. He is a spiritual guide who helps people heal, love, and unleash imagination to create better lives, organizations, and communities. Beck and his wife Jill are co-pastors of Wildwood UMC in Wildwood, Florida, St. Marks UMC in Ocala, Florida, and a network of 13 fresh expressions led by laity that gather in tattoo parlors, dog parks, burrito joints, and digital spaces. They direct an inpatient rehab center, a shelter for those experiencing homelessness, and an anti-racism movement.
He serves as the director of Fresh Expressions for the Florida Conference of The UMC, director of the Fresh Expressions House of Studies at United Theological Seminary, and director of ReMissioning for Fresh Expressions US. Beck has a passion for helping laity and clergy plant new forms of church. He helps church leaders across the globe follow Jesus in fresh and exciting ways. In addition to teaching as an adjunct professor at several seminaries, he coaches, trains, and educates leaders internationally across a broad theological spectrum and has consulted with hundreds of churches, districts, denominations, networks, synods, and dioceses.
Beck earned a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary and a Doctorate in Semiotics and Future Studies at Portland Seminary with his mentor Leonard Sweet. He’s the author of eight books and is considered a global thought leader in the missional church movement. View his books here.