2026 Will Be a Year of Hope
Bishop Schwerin looks ahead to 2026 by turning to scripture; specifically, Psalm 130:5: “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in his word, I hope.” He ponders, What kind of spiritual focus is nee…
Looking for a bit of a financial boost to help get a ministry off the ground?
Healthy churches look for ways to share God’s love with their neighbors in practical ways. The Northern Illinois Conference offers a number of grants that assist many kinds of ministries for your church’s context. Your church may qualify for one of the following. Some of the deadlines are coming up soon, so visit the grants web page now in order to plan ahead.
Creative Ministry, Congregational Redevelopment, and Social Reform Grants
These support ministries that engage the community in new ways, witness to the transformation of society, and experiment with new ways of being the church. Church apportionment giving makes these grants possible.
Town and Rural Pack/Town and Rural Keagy Grants
These are available to any small town/rural church in the conference. Funds are drawn from a trust specifically dedicated to small-town and rural churches.
United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Grants
For districts and local churches that will organize, fund, and lead youth and/or adult mission journey teams.
Accessibility Grants
Assists churches in making their service, activities, and facilities more accessible for people with disabilities.
Midwest Methodist Foundation Grants
Grants of up to $2,000 to churches and church-related organizations that are developing new or expanded creative ministries.
Learn more and apply for these grants here.
For more information, contact Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, Northern Illinois Conference Director of Connectional Ministries.
Bishop Schwerin looks ahead to 2026 by turning to scripture; specifically, Psalm 130:5: “I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in his word, I hope.” He ponders, What kind of spiritual focus is nee…
Rev. Lora Zink, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025.
Mrs. Freda Whittle, surviving spouse of Rev. Paul Whittle Jr., a deceased member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on April 16, 2025.
This summer, churches across the conference brought vacation Bible school to life, each one putting its own unique spin on the beloved tradition. From creative scheduling and special…