Equip, Learn, Lead: NIC Lay Academies
Lay Academies provide valuable opportunities for laity to grow as leaders in their churches and communities. Academies are held in each district, a few times a year, offering convenient ac…
Posted: April 23 2025 at 10:24 AM
Author: Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer, NIC Director of Connectional Ministries
As a connectional church, we believe that ministry happens best in relationship with God and with one another. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a brand-new initiative for our upcoming Annual Conference: Lunch-and-Learn.
This opportunity is more than just a meal; it’s a chance to come together, break bread, and engage in meaningful conversations around ministry, mission, and community. Each Lunch-and-Learn session will highlight a specific topic or ministry within our conference, giving participants the opportunity to learn, connect, and grow together.
Our hope is that Lunch-and-Learn becomes a sacred space where relationships are formed across the conference. In a church that values being connectional, we need places where we can truly see and hear one another. Over our boxed lunches, we can celebrate what God is doing in different corners of our conference and imagine what we can do together.
Fellowship has always been a vital part of the life of the church. From the early days of the apostles’ breaking bread together to the potluck tables of today, gathering in fellowship strengthens our bonds, nurtures trust, and reminds us that we are not alone in ministry. These shared moments offer not just food for the body, but nourishment for the soul.
We’re in a season of experimentation. As we lean into new rhythms and ideas, like Lunch-and-Learn, we know there may be a few bumps along the way, especially on the day when approximately 700 participants will receive a box lunch! We appreciate your patience and grace as we navigate logistics, and we are committed to learning, growing, and improving with each step.
Our goal is to create opportunities that foster connection, curiosity, and creativity. Annual Conference has always been a time for holy conferencing, worship, and discernment—but it’s also a time to reconnect with familiar faces, meet new ones, and be inspired by the diverse and faithful ministries taking place across our connection. Lunch-and-Learn builds on that tradition, offering a new way to grow in relationship and in faith—together.
Whether you’re a long-time member at Annual Conference or experiencing it for the first time, we hope you’ll join us at Lunch-and-Learn. Come curious. Come hungry. Come ready to connect. This is your invitation to experience community in a new and meaningful way, and to be reminded that we are, indeed, stronger together.