Toni Lucas, a certified lay minister, experienced her work with the Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force as "an eye-opener for this elderly Caucasian country girl." She adds that for her, it was "a shock it has been to learn that racism is built into the American life. . . . Thank you, Northern Illinois Conference, for the opportunity to learn and grow."
Read MoreGeneral Conference takes thousands of people to help the event run smoothly and do its work. United Methodists from across Northern Illinois participated in General Conference 2020 in many different ways.
Read MoreEarly in the morning of 18 April 2024, 22 members of the Northern Illinois Conference Anti-Racism Task Force, many of whom had participated in last year’s Civil Rights Pilgrimage, boarded a bus or piled into cars to descend on Springfield to speak to state legislators about issues of racial injustice that concern us—with a focus on environmental justice, the school to prison pipeline, and immigration.
Read MoreIn a world often marked by division and uncertainty, even the smallest acts of kindness can bring light and hope. During this past Lenten season, Christ United Methodist Church of Rockford set out to touch their community with simple acts of love.
Read MoreHope United Methodist Church’s century-old building in Chadwick housed life-changing ministry over the years, so the church devoted April 7 to remembering its role in the community and rededicating it. The re-celebration brought together family members of those who celebrated in the initial dedication service of 1924 with many who have contributed to the life of Hope through the years.
Read MoreIn a time of uncertainty about what the future of The United Methodist Church—and most denominations—will look like, Fresh Expressions brings some hopeful direction. You may have heard of “church” taking place in some unusual places in some unusual ways, such as dinner church and pub hymn-sings. These are examples of Fresh Expressions, an intentional, interdenominational creative movement of Christians who bring the gospel to those who would probably never come to a traditional church setting.
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