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Now that the United Methodist General Conference has adjourned, you can find some additional, briefer resources for overviews and interpreting the conference to your church:
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United Voices for Children advocates for children, youth, and families through its three affiliated agencies: Rosecrance, Kids Above All, and MYSI. These life-changing ministries led Bishop Dan Schwerin to identify UVC as the 2024 recipient of the Bishop's Appeal.
Learn how your church can contribute
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Lobby Day Brings Past Lessons to Present
On April 18, 22 members of the NIC Anti-Racism Task Force boarded buses to Springfield, IL, to speak with state legislators about issues of racial injustice, environmental justice, the school to prison pipeline, and immigration.
Read more
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As he begins his retirement from appointed ministry in the Northern Illinois Conference, Rev. Martin Lee, retiring NIC director of congregational development, recalls the mentors who gave him hope and encouraged high expectations.
Read more
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JOY Camp Combines Fun & Faith
Young people starting fifth grade through newly graduated high-school students can participate in JOY Camp, June 23-29, a popular camp held annually at Camp Reynoldswood, Dixon, IL. All are welcome, regardless of where they are in their faith journey.
Read more
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In Case You Missed It . . . | |
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NIC is hosting the UMC School of Congregational Development, Aug. 4-7 in Schaumburg. Learn how to start new faith communities of genuine interest to others and how to motivate your congregation to revive its neighborhood ministry. Register here. Demonstrate Northern Illinois hospitality to participants by volunteering to help greet them, help them find rooms at the venue, and more.
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Have You Registered?
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Registration closes on May 29. There will be no on-site registration. Members and guests: Register here. Double-check to be sure your registered.
Have You Reserved Your Hotel Room?
Make your hotel reservations under the NIC special price at the Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center, 1551 N. Thoreau Dr., Schaumburg. Reserve online or call (888) 236-2427.
Fill the Truck with Missions Supplies
The NIC Board of Global Ministries is collecting items for homecare kits and personal dignity kits for Midwest Mission. Obtain items from their list of most-needed items and bring them to the mission truck, which will be parked in the east lot of the convention center. Learn more.
Other action items:
Stay up to date on all things Annual Conference 2024 here.
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UM Agencies Want Your Opinion
United Methodist Publishing House (Abingdon and Cokesbury): Do you wish you knew how to better engage families with children, or better support them in their everyday faith journeys? The UM Publishing House is launching a research project to discover just that, and they want to hear from church leaders. Take this quick, five-question survey about engaging families. You’ll have the opportunity to receive all the insights from their research into what helps parents and caregivers engage in faith formation.
Discipleship Ministries (including The Upper Room) seeks your input about how they can better serve the local and worldwide UMC. They invite you to take their survey so that you can have a voice in how the agency will serve in the years to come. To thank you for your time, after completing the survey you’ll receive a complimentary download of The Meaning of Baptism Leader Guide, which is part of their Belong Series.
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The Korean Association of the UMC announced a bold commitment to adopt and support 140 global missionaries through the UM Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), including the 16 newly commissioned during the May 2 session of the General Conference.
They propose financial support of at least $100 per month, per missionary, for at least three years— financial gifts totaling more than $500,000.
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"We Korean churches owe a lot to American missionaries, who taught us the grace and love of God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” said Rev. Chang Min Lee, pastor of Los Angeles Korean UMC and president of the Korean Association. “Now it is time to return the grace and love of Korean churches' spirituality and passion for mission to the missionaries of The United Methodist Church."
Roland Fernandes, top executive of GBGM and UM Committee on Relief, found the Korean churches' commitment uplifting.
"This is an exciting example of collaborative partnership in mission by a group of churches," Fernandes said. "This sustained commitment provides me with a great sense of hope for the future of our church in mission."
Bishop Hee-soo Jung, the leader of Wisconsin Conference and president of the Board of Global Ministries, praised the Korean association’s decision.
"It is an expression of our long-standing passion for our mission," Bishop Jung said. "This passion will redirect our church into who we are and how we see God’s kin-dom such a critical time. This commitment is the embarking of a new day."
[Pictured: Bishop Ruby-Nell M. Estrella (far right) commissions D. Kim as a missionary during General Conference on May 2. Assisting are Grace Choi and Roland Fernandes. Paul Jeffrey/UMNS photo.]
Read more
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Improving Communication in Ministry
Listening and communicating are crucial skills for keeping churches healthy. Here are some resources to help.
“Horizontal Jesus: How Our Relationships with Others Affect Our Experience with God.” Six-session DVD study with Tony Evans
“I'd Like You More If You Were More Like Me.” Six-session DVD study with John Ortberg
“Keep It Shut: What to Say, How to Say It, and When to Say Nothing at All.” Six-session DVD study with Karen Ehman
Caring for Words in a Culture of Lies, by Marilyn McEntyre
Less Chaos. Less Noise. Effective Communications for an Effective Church, by Kem Meyer
Rethink Communication: A Playbook to Clarify and Communicate Everything in Your Church, by Phil Bowdle
List of selected resources.
Find the online catalog here.
To contact the center, send them an email message.
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