Staff Changes in the Northern Illinois Conference
A handful of staff members are voluntarily leaving their roles. As the conference bids them farewell, it is seeking applicants for the positions now available.
Read MoreStronger Together: Grants Make a Difference
Over the past year, the Northern Illinois Conference has supported local churches through a range of grants designed to nurture innovation, sustain vital rural ministries, and advance justice and compassion. Rev. Fabiola Grandon-Mayer shares how these investments, totaling more than $55,000, are strengthening communities and encouraging faithful experimentation across the conference. Together, our shared giving is helping churches live boldly into God’s mission.
Read MoreCultivating Healthy Congregations
The Prairie Central District Shepherding Team is bringing Rev. Jim Ozier back to Northern Illinois for Culture Shift: Cultivating Healthy Congregations, a one-day experience focused on helping pastors and lay leaders assess, shift, and shape their church culture toward vitality and growth. The event is open to church leaders from any district.
Read MoreWhat It Means to Be a Reconciling Church
The people of Friendship United Methodist Church in Bolingbrook, a Reconciling community, aim to move from saying “all are welcome” to living “all are home.”
Read MoreFirst Korean Marks 102 Years by Hosting Refugees
First Korean UMC in Wheeling celebrated its 102nd anniversary on September 13 by hosting “First Love for God, Best Love for Neighbors: Great Feast for Refugees and Neighbors.” The event welcomed about 120 refugees and more than 170 volunteers for a day of worship, music, food, and fellowship. Volunteers greeted families from refugee centers across Chicago, creating a joyful and welcoming space that embodied the spirit of loving one’s neighbor.
Read MoreEquip, 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 access for participants across the conference. Participants are welcome to take classes in any district, not just their own, giving them flexibility in scheduling and opportunities to connect with others across the conference.
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