Love of Neighbor Drives Elgin: First UMC's Recovery from Roof Loss
As storms raced across much of the Midwest late on March 14, 2025, strong winds tore half the roof off of the 101-year-old building of First United Methodist Church, Elgin.
Read MoreUM Missionaries see lives changed in Asia and Africa
United Methodist Global Ministries missionaries Rev. Jonathan McCurley (Japan) and Rev. Dexter Ceballos (Mongolia) visited local congregations in February, sharing powerful stories of transformation in Asia and Africa. Rev. McCurley serves as a chaplain at the Asian Rural Institute, which trains grassroots leaders in sustainable agriculture and community development. Rev. Ceballos, as country director for the Mongolia Mission Initiative, supports leadership development, social ministries, and theological education to strengthen the growing United Methodist Church in Mongolia.
Read MoreIn Sympathy: Ronald W. Purser
Rev. Ronald W. Purser, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, passed away on Monday, February 24, 2025.
Read MoreIn Sympathy: Robert "Bob" Lacock
Robert "Bob" Lacock, spouse of Rev. Dr. Michelle Oberwise Lacock, a retired member of the Northern Illinois Conference, Friday, February 28, 2025.
Read MoreMarch 2025 Benefits Insights
Key Benefits Insights for March: HealthFlex Blueprint for Wellness Event at Annual Conference, upcoming Compass Retirement Plan training, Well-Being Incentives, and a fun Italian Stuffed Cabbage roll recipe.
Read MoreContinue Martin Luther King Jr.’s—and God’s—Agenda, Urges Rev. Danita R. Anderson
At the Northern Illinois Conference’s 2025 Martin Luther King Jr. observance, keynote speaker Rev. Danita Anderson urged United Methodists to embrace “God’s agenda” of love and justice, emphasizing the ongoing work of building the Beloved Community. She challenged attendees to resist racial injustice and ensure a place at God’s table for all, sharing personal experiences of discrimination to highlight the urgency of action. Anderson’s message served as a powerful reminder that true community requires dismantling divisions and standing in solidarity with the marginalized.
Read More