Intercultural competency—the ability to interact effectively and appropriately with people from different cultural backgrounds—requires understanding, respect, and adapting to cultural differences. | |
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Because Northern Illinois is a diverse conference, the Annual Conference Shepherding Team took intercultural competency training on July 25 at Our Saviour’s UMC in Schaumburg, led by Rev. Dr. Grace Pak.
“As leaders representing the conference, we have to try to know something about the conference’s various cultures,” said one participant. More
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Bishop Asks for Prayer After Tornadoes
Severe storms, including tornadoes, hit Northern Illinois and Wisconsin's Fox Cities region (including Appleton, Menasha, and Neenah) on July 27. An EF3 tornado touched down in the Fox Cities area and cut a roughly 12-mile path of destruction, according to the Associated Press. Bishop Dan Schwerin prays, "Make us generous neighbors, in this day and every day." More
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Women Live Safely at Sammool House
For more than a decade, Sammool House has quietly opened its doors to women escaping domestic violence, financial hardship, or sudden crisis. Since opening in January 2013, the transitional guest house has helped nearly 200 women regain stability while rebuilding their lives. It's a ministry of Sammool Korean UMC in Mt. Prospect. More
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Midwest Methodist Fdtn Offers Grants
The Midwest Methodist Foundation will award up to $5,000 to two churches in each of the five NIC districts to provide seed money for new or expanded programs. Priority will be given to ministries focused on community outreach/service. The application deadline is Sept. 30. Grants will be finalized in mid-December. More
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'My Omaha' Film Screened Sept. 14-20
NIC's Collective Action to Build Community has partnered with sponsors to screen the documentary My Omaha, Sept. 14-20. It traces the search for truth and common ground that has been playing out for decades between Omaha’s African Americans and the larger, dominant white community. Learn more and reserve your place at a showing. More
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Bishops, UMs Respond to ICE Killings
UMs are stepping up efforts to support their immigrant neighbors in the face of a federal crackdown that has taken lives and left grieving families across the US. In less than a week, federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents shot and killed two fathers during traffic stops amid the early morning rush hour. Four bishops have released statements. More
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In Case You Missed It
Position available: Part-time administrative assistant for the Prairie Central District. More
Immigration 101 training: Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon, UMC of Libertyville. Gain a deeper understanding of immigration issues and practical ways to support immigrant communities. More
The Equitable Compensation Committee is extending the deadline to Aug. 14 for its second payout of 2026 funds. More
Love Your Neighbor Events, Sept. 13: Churches may plan to participate in the conference-wide Faithful Action: Love Your Neighbor activities. Attend an information session on July 27 at 10 a.m. online. More
NIC Youth Fall Retreat, Sept. 25-27: Youth can look forward to modern worship, teaching sessions, small-group discussions, devotional time, campfires, and recreation at Camp Timber-Lee in East Troy, Wis. More
School of Leadership Subsidy for Clergy: Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean, co-founder of Ministry Incubators, will lead sessions on innovation in ministry at the School of Leadership, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, at Green Lake Conference Center, Wis. A $100 subsidy toward each NIC clergy member's registration is available. More
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Thriving Congregations Evangelism Cohorts
This eight-week cohort training from the Foundation for Evangelism provides comprehensive, Wesleyan-based instruction and resources for congregations. The program guides you through outlining a relevant evangelism experiment, leveraging the knowledge and skills acquired during the cohort training. On completion, you'll have an opportunity to apply for the foundation's grant cycle to put your evangelism plan into action. More
Lessons for Flourishing from the Small Church
Church leaders are facing huge demographic shifts, leading to smaller denominations, fewer resources, and leaner institutions. Allen T. Stanton uncovers three lessons from small-membership congregations about how to flourish in a shifting landscape. Over the next two decades, mainline churches may be unrecognizable from how we know them today. While we may be tempted to continue fighting the trend of decline through new missional strategies and church health report cards, we should be realistic about what the future holds and how best to position ourselves for the work ahead, he says. Small-membership churches can help us answer those questions. More
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In the remote village of Kibumba, Congo, rainwater tanks installed by the UMC are transforming lives.
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With financial support from the UM Committee on Relief, 24 rainwater collection tanks were installed, giving about 600 households access to clean water.
The tanks are connected to rooftops to capture water during the rainy season and store it for later use.
"With these tanks, we want to reduce the long walks to fetch water, protect children’s health, and give women more time for their children’s education and their economic activities,” said Jean Tshomba, coordinator of UMCOR’s Disaster Management Office in Eastern Congo. More
Photo: Jean Tshomba turns on the tap of a new rainwater cistern in Kibumba as Dr. Damas Lushima (wearing a blue hat), team members, and a girl from the village look on. Photo by Jolie Shabani, UM News
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Around the Conference
Mission u One-Day, Aug. 8, at Euclid Avenue UMC in Oak Park. Content will be offered in Spanish and English, and for youth and children.
Immigration 101 training: Aug. 8, 9 a.m. to noon, UMC of Libertyville. Gain a deeper understanding of immigration issues and practical ways to support immigrant communities.
United Voices for Children Fifth Sunday Appeal, Aug. 30
UM Men Spiritual Congress, Sept. 11-13, Conference Point Center, Williams Bay, Wis.
Conference-Wide Faithful Action: Love Your Neighbor Day, Sept. 13. NIC churches will step out of their sanctuaries to march, pray, and sing in a large-scale show of support for our immigrant brothers and sisters.
My Omaha screenings, Sept. 14-20. This documentary traces the search for truth and common ground that has been playing out for decades between Omaha’s African Americans and the larger, dominant white community. Organized by NIC's Collective Action to Build Community. More
NIC Youth Retreat, Sept. 25-27, Camp Timber-lee, East Troy, Wis. For sixth through twelfth graders.
Safe Sanctuaries® Training, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to noon, online
NIC Disability Education Summit, Sept. 26, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Bethany of Fox Valley UMC, Aurora. Accessible worship, workshops, and panel discussion. Free event with optional $10 lunch. Hosted by the NIC Committee on Accessibility.
School of Leadership, Sept. 29-Oct. 1, Green Lake, Wis. Learn from Rev. Dr. Kenda Creasy Dean about innovation in ministry. NIC clergy are eligible for a $100 registration subsidy.
Around the Connection
United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Sunday: observe in July or August.
SCD 2026, "Rise Up: Love, Serve, and Lead," Aug. 2-5, Columbus, Ohio. Gain practical tools, processes, and frameworks for discipleship formation; hear hands-on insights from episcopal leaders, ministry cultivators, and practitioners across the worldwide UM connection; and get to know ministry leaders, share experiences, and build lasting relationships.
AI & Church Summit, Aug. 24-27, online. Hosted by Discipleship Ministries and UM Communications, this year's summit is planned by representatives from multiple mainline denominations and will focus on “Human Agency in the Age of AI.” It will examine preserving human dignity, moral responsibility, faithful discernment, and meaningful human participation in a world increasingly shaped by automated systems.
Hispanic School of Ministry, Sept. 11-13, Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.
United Voices for Children's Raising Our Voices Advocacy and Awards event, Sept. 24, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Grace UMC, Rockford. Focus will be on youth mental health and anti-bullying.
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Explore UMRC Resources #6
The United Media Resource Center has many kinds of resources for group and individual study. Here are two DVDs and two books of interest:
“Five Means of Grace: Experience God’s Love the Wesleyan Way:" six-session DVD study
“In the Footsteps of the Savior: Following Jesus Through the Holy Land:" six-session DVD study
Building a Ministry for Homebound and Nursing-Home Residents, by Marie White Webb
Extraordinary Grace: How the Unlikely Lineage of Jesus Reveals God’s Amazing Love, by Gary Chapman and Chris Fabry
The United Media Resource Center has books, DVDs, and more to lend to your church's Christian education, faith formation, and book club ministries for children, youth, and adults. Borrow a resource of your own interest as well. Check their online catalog.
List of resources
Online catalog
Contact the center
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