A Scripture and a Prayer for the Church After a Shooting Death
Bishop Dan Schwerin offers a prayer and meditation on scripture following the news that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a man leaving the…
Mark Manzi, NIC Co-Lay Leader
The first question may be “What is a disciple?” The Rev. Junius Dotson, General Secretary of Discipleship Ministries for The United Methodist Church, says that a disciple is a person who Knows Christ, Grows in Christ, Serves Christ, and Shares Christ! Dotson says that we must be disciples to make disciples. Making disciples is the WHY of The United Methodist Church. He says we must move away from “fixing” churches toward making and growing disciples.
The first of the three Annual Conference Shepherding Team (ACST) goals approved at Annual Conference this year was “To Grow and Reach Disciples of Jesus Christ.” WHY is this goal so important?
Are you a disciple? A first step may be to think of yourself as a disciple. Take a look at yourself. Do you worship almost every Sunday, participate in a small group, live a welcoming and invitational lifestyle, and serve your neighbors? If so, you are a disciple! Of course, now comes the challenging part (or perhaps not so challenging). How will you live as a disciple? As we grow into the thought and practice of a disciple, we will be more prepared to help those in our churches become disciples. As we all become stronger disciples, we will be ready to “Go and Make Disciples for the Transformation of the World”!
Consider registering for Discipleship Systems Training being held in September. Click here to learn more.
Bishop Dan Schwerin offers a prayer and meditation on scripture following the news that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent fatally shot a man leaving the…
In an effort to be more transparent, the Finance and Administration office is going to be consistently sharing where we are as a conference are in regards to the giving versus what is needed fo…
As the nation's president talks about sending the National Guard and Immigration and Customs Enforcement troops to Chicago, Bishop Dan Schwerin urges United Methodists to return oft…
This summer, churches across Northern Illinois embraced Bishop Schwerin’s call to experiment with new ways of being the church—reshaping Vacation Bible Schools, hosting local…