Plans Are Shaping Up for 2025 Annual Conference
The Northern Illinois Conference’s 186th session, themed “Grace is Sufficient,” will take place June 9-11. Bishop Dan Schwerin, inspired by the transformative power of grace, e…
Location: Chicago NW and Southern Districts
****CANCELLED****
United Methodist Discipleship Ministries is restricting all travel for their employees from now until May 1 in light of COVID-19, which prohibits our two presenters from leading the March 24-26 Follow-Up Discipleship Systems Trainings across the Conference.
Regrettably, we need to cancel the six scheduled workshops. The NIC Office of Congregational Development is looking at rescheduling the in-person trainings this fall and an alternative way to present the material in March. Look for more details coming soon. We are sorry for any inconvenience. For questions about refunds, please contact Laura Lopez at llopez@umcnic.org.
March 24, 25, and 26
Follow-Up Discipleship Systems Training
Tuesday, March 24, 9 a.m. to 12 noon
Chicago Northwestern District
Northbrook UMC, 1190 Western Ave, Northbrook, IL 60062
Tuesday, March 24, 2 to 5 p.m.
Chicago Southern District
Oak Lawn: First UMC, 10000 Central Ave, Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(100th Street & Central Avenue)
Learn how to become more intentional about making disciples in your ministry setting. Each training event includes two inspirational and informative workshops. While this training is an excellent followup to the Intentional Discipleship Systems Training offered fall 2019, participation in last year's training is not a prerequisite.
Cost: $10. Registration closes March 23 at noon.
This event will occur six times in six different NIC locations from March 24 through 26. Attend with a group from your district or simply register for the date and location that works best for your schedule.
Workshop: Exploring the “How” in the Formation of Mature Disciples
Discipleship is grounded in baptism. In baptism we experience both our acceptance as a child of God and call to lifelong discipleship. What role does the church have in forming disciples? How does worship contribute to disciple making? How can small groups contribute to forming of disciples? How might engaging your community impact our church’s activities and growth as disciples? Find out answers to these and other questions designed to help churches take next steps in discipleship formation. Speaker: Rev. Ken Sloan, Rev. Dr. Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship and Connectional Ministries, Discipleship Ministries.
Workshop: Exploring The “How” of Growing Generous Disciples
We know that generosity is a key ingredient in what make a maturing disciple of Jesus Christ. Yet in too many churches the focus of stewardship work is overwhelmingly centered on “how do we pay the bills?” Funding your church’s mission and ministry is vitally important, so how do we do that while still keeping our attention on raising up generous disciples? How do we lead people from skills and practices that have met the needs of the churches but ignored the needs of our members to experience the joy of generosity? How do we make generosity a part of disciple-making focus in when our donors are not content to simply give but want to see impact and transformation of lives? Speaker Rev. Dr. M. Scott Hughes, Executive Director of Congregational Vitality and Intentional Discipleship, Discipleship Ministries.