Glenview UMC and Nearby Fire Departments Donate Vehicles for Guatemala
Glenview UMC partnered with nearby fire departments to donate fire trucks and ambulances to Midwest Mission, which sent them to towns in Guatemala.
Read MoreUM Missionaries see lives changed in Asia and Africa
United Methodist Global Ministries missionaries Rev. Jonathan McCurley (Japan) and Rev. Dexter Ceballos (Mongolia) visited local congregations in February, sharing powerful stories of transformation in Asia and Africa. Rev. McCurley serves as a chaplain at the Asian Rural Institute, which trains grassroots leaders in sustainable agriculture and community development. Rev. Ceballos, as country director for the Mongolia Mission Initiative, supports leadership development, social ministries, and theological education to strengthen the growing United Methodist Church in Mongolia.
Read MoreContinue Martin Luther King Jr.’s—and God’s—Agenda, Urges Rev. Danita R. Anderson
At the Northern Illinois Conference’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. observance, keynote speaker Rev. Danita Anderson urged United Methodists to embrace “God’s agenda” of love and justice, emphasizing the ongoing work of building the Beloved Community. She challenged attendees to resist racial injustice and ensure a place at God’s table for all, sharing personal experiences of discrimination to highlight the urgency of action. Anderson’s message served as a powerful reminder that true community requires dismantling divisions and standing in solidarity with the marginalized.
Read MoreMission Links Change the World
The Northern Illinois Conference and the Conference Global Board of Ministries celebrate the churches that went the extra mile as 100% Mission Links supporters. In 2024, NIC churches contributed over $440,000 in second-mile giving and more than $70,000 in Special Sunday offerings, supporting mission projects worldwide. Through Mission Links, churches empower communities by funding missionaries, disaster relief, education, health services, and more, demonstrating the United Methodist commitment to transformative ministry.
Read MorePlanting Seeds of Change: Empowering Communities Through Gardens and Sustainability
The Northern Illinois Conference’s HEAL Well initiative addresses food insecurity and environmental sustainability by uniting faith communities and local partners in urban gardening and tree planting. With a mission to foster trust and care for God’s creation, HEAL Well engages volunteers, including high school students, to maintain community gardens and expand green spaces in northern Illinois. The initiative collaborates with various organizations to build relationships, educate communities, and create lasting environmental and social impact.
Read MoreStronger Together: Diversity Enriches Us, Unity Strengthens Us
Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer reflects on the Northern Illinois Conference’s commitment to diversity and unity, emphasizing that differences are gifts that enrich and strengthen the church. In a time of societal division and challenges for immigrant communities, she calls on United Methodists to be peacemakers, bridge-builders, and voices for love and justice. By embracing diversity and striving for unity, the church can create a more inclusive and compassionate community that reflects God’s image.
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