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…
Posted: October 22 2025 at 08:15 PM
Author: Thomas Newby, CCFA lay member
It’s November: a busy time of year for individuals, families, churches, and the Northern Illinois Conference. During the busyness and upcoming celebrations, we are called to pause and to take stock of the many blessing that we have received. And for many, particularly those living on the margins, it is also a time of increasing hardship and uncertainty. It is a challenging time in our faith for each of us in many and different ways.
My blessings include being lay leader at First United Methodist Church in Princeton, a voting member of the Annual Conference, and a member of the Conference Council on Finance and Administration. I have learned much about the ministries that this Conference offers to serve those in need. I have met some great leaders in the process. Financial stewardship is one way I can support leaders and ministries at both the local church and conference level. It is my first step to give thanks for the blessings in my life.
For me, the verses that best reconcile the concepts of faith and works are James 2:21-22 (NIV): “Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.”
I also believe that when the final judgment comes for each of us and we stand before God and God refers to “the least of these my children,” we will see real people there that we have known or encountered in our lives. I pray that they will thank each of us for what we have done on their behalf.
Sacrificial giving is a big ask, yet I am asking us to consider giving sacrificially this year. It is a step of faith into something we may not have done before in a time like we have never experienced. But then Jesus knows all about big asks, and he promises to be with us and sustain us.
May God raise up our dry bones of faith, complete them with the flesh of faithful and sacrificial works of mercy and justice, and fill us with the breath of the Holy Spirit to love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously.
I thank you in advance for your faithful stewardship and wish you a joyous holiday season.