The following awards were given during the 2022 Northern Illinois Annual Conference.

One Matters Discipleship Ministries Award


The One Matters Discipleship Award was created by the Discipleship Ministries (GBOD) in 2015 with the purpose of lifting up churches who have in recent years moved from 0 baptisms and 0 professions of faith into positive numbers as they redirected their focus toward intentional discipleship. In addition to the One Matters Discipleship plaque, each church will receive $1,000 to encourage the continuation of their work in discipleship. The Northern Illinois Conference is one of the most diverse conferences in The United Methodist Church, so instead of recognizing one congregation, we have the opportunity to offer five awards, with the help of the Office of Connectional Ministries. Most importantly, as we celebrate these churches and hear their stories, we are invited to ask “What are they doing differently that is helping them to turn things around by God’s grace?” And when we discern an answer to that question, we can ask ourselves, “What can we do to make a difference?” Each person matters to God!

PRESENTED TO:

• Lake North: West Ridge Community United Methodist Church in Chicago
• Lake South: Grace United Methodist Church in Blue Island
• Prairie Central: Our Saviour's United Methodist Church in Schaumburg
• Prairie North: Cedarville United Methodist Church
• Prairie South: East Jordan United Methodist Church

 
For narratives, visit umcnic.org/onematters.

Questions about One Matters? Please contact Rev. J. Martin Lee, Director of Congregational Development and Redevelopment, at mlee@umcnic.org or 312.346.9766, ext. 708.

2021 Mission Links Awards

The Philip Otterbein Award: “Highest Total Mission Link Giving” United Methodist Church of Libertyville: $34,000

The John Wesley Award: “Highest Mission Link Giving per Member” Triumph United Methodist Church: 55%

2021 Mission Link Churches
2020 Rainbow Covenant Awards

Golden Cross Awards

The NIC Council for Older Adult Ministries recognized Raiza Sitchon of Wesley Willows in Rockford, Megan Frame of Oak Crest Retirement in DeKalb, and Sharon Oidem of Bethany Methodist in Glenview with a monetary award from the Golden Cross Offering.

The award is given to workers in NIC-related senior care centers for exemplary performance.

The centers nominate their deserving workers to the OAM council. The awards were held in a luncheon to welcome representatives of the senior care centers on the last day of the annual conference in Schaumburg, Illinois.  The Golden Cross Offering is one of the conference-wide offerings and is administered by the OAM.Council.

United Voices for Children 2022 Award Information

It’s time to nominate individuals or groups who exemplify service and advocacy efforts on behalf of children, youth and/or families throughout the Northern Illinois Conference. United Voices for Children is excited to receive your nominations due by July 31. Each year, UVC gives these special awards to honor extraordinary volunteer service or advocacy efforts on behalf of children, youth and/or families throughout the Northern Illinois Conference. Any United Methodist member or congregation in Northern Illinois can nominate individuals both laity and clergy to receive one of these awards. Receiving such an award is an affirmation of service and advocacy that impacts children.

To learn more about the three distinguished awards – Bishop Jesse. R. DeWitt, Katherine B. Greene, and Rev. Margaret Ann Williams – please go to unitedvoicesforchildren.org/programs/awards for descriptions, nomination forms and event information. These awards will be given virtually during the Raising Our Voices Through Resources; A Bridge for the Gap event on Tuesday, Sept 13 at 11:00 am.