You are invited to participate in Native American events through the Annual Conference with your local church. This year’s Speaker Series “Race, America, and the Church” includes voices from indigenous Americans. Looking for a webinar on Native American history? The national Methodist Federation for Social Action (MFSA) is presenting a three-part series on “The Document of Discovery.”
Read MoreSeveral years ago, Bishop Eduardo Khegay, Resident Bishop of the Eurasia Episcopal Area, and the Moscow UMC Seminary President invited me to help train new church planters. I met a wide assortment of pastors and church leaders from around the entire region, including the Ukrainian District Superintendent, Rev. Oleg Starodubets, who also serves Kyrgystan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan. He is a man with a passion for growing Christ's church, and my prayers are with him and his family at this time.
Read MoreAs we begin a forty-day journey into Lent on Ash Wednesday, Bishop John L. Hopkins gives us four key instructions for the journey.
Read MoreIn 1747 John Wesley published "Primitive Physic" or "An Easy and Natural Method of Curing Most Diseases." It was first published anonymously and only thirteen years later did he place his name on it. In this book, Wesley gives sound medical advice to the everyday person. He offers treatment for everything from the bite of a viper or rattlesnake to scurvy and kidney stones.
Read MoreAttending the local Chamber of Commerce's annual awards banquet last August, the Rev. Megan Smick, who leads Oregon UMC in the Prairie South District, received a big surprise for her small church. "I was flabbergasted!" said Smick, who had no idea she would be presented with the 2021 Civic Leadership Award for Oregon UMC that evening.
Read MoreThe Northern Illinois Conference is thankful to its many churches for their faithful apportionment giving and celebrates those who paid in full, despite challenging times. In 2021, 198 churches paid 100% of their calculated apportionments compared to 159 in 2020. Forty churches paid over 100% and nearly 50 went the second mile as Mission Links churches. The Conference also celebrates the 42 churches that have consistently paid 100% for ten years.
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