Building Faith and Friendships at JOY Camp
JOY Camp 2026 brought together 61 campers and 27 volunteer counselors for a week of faith, friendship, and outdoor fun at Camp Reynoldswood in Dixon, Ill., June 21-27. Centered on the…
Location: Freport: Faith, 1440 S Walnut Ave., Freeport
Is your church looking to connect with new people in your community?
Join Prairie North clergy and laity for a year-long group coaching program designed to help your church grow its outreach, welcome new faces, and strengthen community connections! Each session includes insights, group discussions, and hands-on tools you can apply immediately.
Meetings will be online, except for the first gathering. The first meeting will be in-person on Sat., Sept. 13, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Freeport: Faith,1440 S Walnut Ave., Freeport.
Registration will close after we reach the maximum number of churches.
What You’ll Learn:
- Creative approaches to inviting new people
- Building relationships with newcomers
- Effective communication and engagement strategies
- Outreach best practices and community partnerships
- Creating a welcoming atmosphere
Each session includes insights, group discussions, and hands-on tools you can apply immediately. Paul Nickerson, an experienced outreach coach, will guide you every step of the way!
Program Highlights:
- This is a group coaching with about 5-8 churches.
- Each church forms a team of 5-12 members.
- Two monthly meetings: one with all participants and another exclusively for pastors.
- Cost: $1,000 per church, with $500 returned as “seed money” to launch a new project. This program has been generously sponsored by the Office of Congregational Development and the Prairie North District.
Take this opportunity to grow your congregation and engage your community! Past participants include Christ UMC (Rockford) and Belvidere UMC.
Questions? Contact DS Hwa-Young.