Migrants come to Nogales--a city that spans the U.S./Mexico border--from all over Central and South America, fleeing from dangerous life situations. Seven lay and three clergy people from the Northern Illinois Conference traveled to that city from March 20 to 24 to observe the hardships and courage of those who take risks for new lives.

The NIC Discipleship Task Force needs your talents! It has open leadership roles in a few areas of ministry, for either laity or clergy: the NIC Prayer Network, NIC Prayer Team, and newly developing positions in DNA (Disciple Nurturing Aptitude, which concerns nutrition, mental health, and physical health, partnering with Advocate’s Faith and Health Companion program). Please contact Rev. Caleb Hong for more information.

New petitions to next year's General Conference requesting changes to The Book of Discipline must be received by mail, email, or via the official online petition submission form by 11:59 p.m. CDT, Sept. 6, 2023. Petitions that were submitted for the 2020 General Conference are still valid for consideration next year. The online form has a link to instructions, including how to email or fax petitions.

Read the latest on General Conference 2024.

Newcomers to your church will very likely find out about you online. Make sure they get the right information the first time with the UMC’s revamped Find-a-Church directory. This great tool has been redesigned to include fully searchable attributes such as worship styles, service languages offered (including ASL), mapping options, and more. Step-by-step instruction videos make updating easy.

Learn more.

Apply for Grants from UMC Church & Society

The United Methodist Board of Church and Society awards grants to UMC congregations and related groups through the Ethnic Local Church, Human Relations Day, and Peace with Justice programs. To apply for grants, applicants must complete forms on the GBCS online system. Only complete online applications with all required documents, submitted by 5 p.m. EST, July 24, will be considered. Read more.

"Hearing that my home church was closing, I was filled with sadness," says Rev. Alfred T. Day III, retired general secretary of the UMC Commission on Archives and History. "But as I reflected on how the congregation had nurtured me, I recognized a 'God moment.' The church’s legacy lives on in its living stones– those whose lives it shaped." Perhaps you've also had this experience. Read Rev. Day's reflections.

Free Resources for Committing to #BeUMC

The United Methodist Publishing House is offering free online resources to help United Methodists rediscover their Wesleyan roots as they reaffirm their commitment to #BeUMC. View the resources.

Forty euros and a plastic bag. That’s how Nikita Samsonenko’s journey began, bringing him from Ukraine to Adrian College, Michigan, and a new life. It all started earlier, of course, when his family spent weeks hiding out in their basement in the midst of Russia’s devastating attacks on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Rev. Elbert Dulworth, a member of the Adrian College Board of Trustees, told the college President Jeffrey Docking that he would like to see if they could bring a refugee student to Adrian. Now, after his first year at the college, Nikita told the Adrian community, “I’m very thankful to The United Methodist Church, the donors, Cindy Beaubian [President Docking's assistant], and President Docking for this opportunity. I will do my best to make my country, my family, and all of you proud of me.” [Photo from Rev. Elbert Dulworth/michiganumc.org]

United Media Resource Center has books by Adam Hamilton that are useful for personal or group study. Here are a few recommendations:

Find the online catalog here. To contact the center, send a message to umrc@igrc.org. 

Quick Links 

Please note: Unsubscribing from this eNews list will remove you from all notices from the Northern Illinois Conference, including messages from the bishop, appointment announcements, and sympathy notices.