UMM PRESIDENT CRAIG MC GREGOR SAYS WELCOME – Read Annual Report for 2024

Welcome to the Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Men. I hope you find our website helpful and informative. If you have questions about Men’s Ministry in the United Methodist Church, feel free to email me at (craigscottmcgregor@gmail.com).

Criag McGregor

NICUMM Conference President

(630) 346-2239

ANNUAL REPORT 2024

Northern Illinois Conference United Methodist Men (NICUMM)

President: Craig Mc Gregor

  The year 2024 had the NICUMM continuing to recover from the COVID shutdowns within our new districts organization while reaching out in ministry and mission to help others to know and grow in Christ. At the NICUMM Lenten annual meeting hosted by Prairie South District , Mark Dehority shared  future plans for the NACP/GCUMM (he is the new president of the NACP). He stated we are in the servant/leader/disciple-making business! He talked about revival and some of the things we are doing in the UMM.  District President Jim Simmons and Bishop Dan Schwerin led the election and installation of officers for the next quadrennium. The slate of nominees was in the bulletin and was also handed out. There were no nominations from the floor, and the nominations were passed unanimously. The duly elected officers for the NICUMM Executive Committee were Craig Mc Gregor, President; Dave Hilton, Vice President; David Holland, Conference Secretary; Eugene Williams, Conference Treasurer; Herb John, Conference Prayer Advocate; and Jim Loeppert, Conference Scouting Coordinator. The non-elected officers for the NICUMM Executive Committee are  John Maxson, Prairie Central District President; Jim Simmons, Lake South District President; Bob Garvens, Prairie North District President; and Jim Nelson, Member At Large.

  Our Spiritual Congress and our mission efforts continue to be focal points for our men.  The topic of Spiritual Congress 2024 was “A Thousand Roads – Every Man’s Journey of Faith”.  Our keynote speaker was Jim Boesch, our GCUMM Staff Leadership Trainer and public speaker.  The other keynote speaker was Jeff Isaac, CEO of Pathway to Adventure Boys Scouts of America (BSA). Other noted speakers for the weekend included Mark Dehority (NACP President), Rev. Char Hoffmann, Ken Hudgins, Rev. Brian Gilbert (Lake South DS), Jim Leoppert, George Groves (NCJUMM President), and Steve Nailor (UMMF President) . The primary focus of the weekend event was to experience self-testimonials and to develop your own testimonial. Dan Holmes provided us with special music on Saturday evening. The Jean Bush Award was presented to Eugene Williams and the John Wesley Award was presented to Dave Holland.

  Over the last few years, GCUMM/NACP has launched a new brand and website at UnitedMensMinistry.com. These new programs were presented at NICUMM conference, district and local unit meetings, as they were part of the NICUMM display at the annual conference. Many men are now starting to use the “United” app in place of the Live Bold app for their individual spiritual journey. In late 2023, the Live Bold app was phased out.

Conference and District activities are reaching men for Christ. Here are some of our 2024 highlights for the conference activities as well as for the activities that were common to all districts:

  • The Conference and District UMM are having in-person meetings as well as some ZOOM and livestreamed meetings.
  • Created the new 2024-2028 plan of work for the NICUMM, with major  changes to the previous (2018-2021) working plan.
  • Held the 63rd Spiritual Congress at Williams Bay, WI in September.
  • At our December NICUMM Executive meeting, it was decided that in 2026 the NICUMM and the Boy Scouts of America would have a joint NIC Scouts Circuit Rider event in the Midwest for the first time.  
  • Men’s Ministry Specialist (MMS): NICUMM have four men certified as an MMS. 
  • EMS/Legacy Builders & Charters were a major emphasis to invite men to become involved in Men’s Ministry, especially those with elapsed memberships.
  • Meals for Millions/Society of St. Andrew (SOSA) continues as our major Mission Program, and the NIC was recognized again as the 2024 Top Conference for donations to SOSA.
  • Scouting Ministries Programs and reaching out to younger men and women. The United Methodist Men supports, with National Memorandums of Understanding, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the United States of America, and Big Brothers /  Big Sisters.  As the BSA was working toward a settlement of its bankruptcy case, our Conference Scouting Coordinator, Jim Loeppert, worked to develop a new relationship with Scouting and other youth serving organizations, one that could still involve our churches in serving the youth and young adults in our communities.  We developed a Small, Single-Purpose, Community Corporation (SSPCC) as a Not-For-Profit (NFP)  corporation.  This corporation would charter 3 to 10 units from various churches and sign Facilities Use Agreements for meeting space and storage with the individual church.
  • The Conference Scouting Coordinator worked with the conference insurance broker to submit the BSA Youth Protection Training program to the Conference Liability Insurance Carrier, Philadelphia, for evaluation.   The result is that our Conference and our Churches can consider Adult Members of BSA as Youth Protection Trained and that there should be no need to require additional Safe Sanctuary or Safe Gatherings training.
  • The Scouting Coordinator met with Bishop Dan Schwerin twice during the year to discuss Scouting in our churches. At the Bishop’s request the Scouting Coordinator has formed an Ad hoc Committee to provide resources to those churches and individuals requesting help in discerning the amount that they should pledge to the Conference for the BSA Survivors Fund.
  • The Conference Prayer Advocate is working with the District Presidents to establish district Prayer Advocates in the effort to build a team to establish Prayer Advocates in churches. We have reached the point of realizing that helping men learn to pray and to seek to become a disciple of Jesus, is every man’s responsibility and not the province of a special few. The Mighty Men of Prayer small group study is being pursued by men in the conference.
  • At Spiritual Congress 2024, Eugene Williams, NIC UMM Treasurer and Conference Co-Lay Leader, received the Jean Bush Award for leadership in local men’s ministry. His family members were present for the awards ceremony.
  • At Spiritual Congress 2024, Dave Holland, NIC UMM Secretary received the John Wesley Award for leadership in conference wide men’s ministry.  His family members were present for the awards ceremony.

Lake South District Report: President, Jim Simmons, as of 1/6/25

       The District UMM Executive Committee is as follows:

 President, Jim Simmons: Vice-President, Verner Geddes; Financial Secretary, Tommy Taylor; Treasurer, Bernard Brantley; Recording Secretary, Juan McKinney; Sergent-at-Arms, John Burrel; Parliamentarian, Vernon (Scoop) Turner; Prayer Advocate, Charles Smith; Scouting Coordinator, Vacant; Hunger Advocate, Vacant.  

  • A Wednesday evening Bible Study Program was provided for the District from January thru May and continues from September thru the third week of December.
  • A District Celebration Dinner Event was held on June 8th to honor three men and one woman for their service to their churches and communities in the district.  Included was a celebration of 32 years for the Bible Study Program to the men of the district.
  • 9 District meetings including the Celebration event were held in 2024.
  • 11 churches have active United Methodist Men Chartered Units in the district with an additional 7 churches with nonactive charters.  This was a reduction of one active unit from last year’s report.
  • 52 Men have active EMS memberships in the district with an additional 10 Men with nonactive EMS memberships.  This was a reduction of two memberships from last year’s report.
  • 7 Men represented the district at the Northern Illinois Conference UMM Annual meeting and Communion Service at DeKalb UMC in March.
  • 8 Men represented the district at the Northern Illinois Conference UMM Spiritual Congress at Williams Bay, WI in September.
  • A special event was held in October with a Potato Drop sponsored by the New Lenox Men.

Prairie Central District Report: President, John Maxson, as of 11/13/24

The District has 6 chartered churches and 27 EMS members. This year saw changes to the Prairie Central District with an election of new officers and a greater emphasis on special programs to bring men together, introduce non-members to United Methodist Men, promote men’s ministries, and create good camaraderie.  For more information about this report and the events, please contact John Maxson (312-933-3239).

Annual Meeting with Election of New Officers

  • On March 9, 2024, The District Annual Meeting with the election of new officers occurred  at the Geneva United Methodist Church in Geneva.  New leaders include John Maxson, President; Greg Hall, Vice President; Rich Angel, Treasurer;  Paul Eggert, Secretary; and Leonard Jones, Prayer Advocate.  John Maxson, Rich Angel, and Past President Jim Nelson met with bank officials to transfer the district bank account.

Tour of the Bellarmine Retreat House

  • On May 11, 2024, the Prairie Central District organized and directed a tour of the Bellarmine Retreat House, a Jesuit meeting place for all faiths that features an historic house and stable (converted for use as meeting rooms and chapels) in the countryside west of Barrington, Illinois. The facility, with interesting architecture, abundant art, and religious symbols, hosts faith development classes and prayer meetings. A group of fifteen people participated.

Presentation by Jesse Jackson, Jr.

  • On November 9, 2024, the Prairie Central District organized and directed a presentation by Jesse Jackson, Jr. at Grace United Methodist Church in Joliet, Illinois.  The program, titled “The Finger of God,” traces Mr. Jackson’s premise that God influenced the founding fathers to create a country in accordance with God’s will that is inevitably moving toward God’s ideals of justice and liberty, which he defined as “equality for all.”  The extremely well-presented and thought-provoking program was attended by 32 people.

             District Advent Service

  • On December 7, 2024, the Prairie Central District Vice President Greg Hall organized and, in cooperation with Pastor Melissa Meyers, presented the District Advent Service. The day opened with breakfast offered by church volunteers, followed by a short UMM meeting conducted by John Maxson and an Advent Service celebrating the Christian tradition.

 Prairie North District: President, Bob Garvens, as of 12/18/24

      The District UMM Executive Committee is as follows:

President, Bob Garvens; Vice President, Dave Hilton; Secretary, Dave       Holland; Treasurer, Michael Simmons; Scouting Advocate, Roman Salamon; Hunger Advocate, Vacant; Prayer Advocate, Vacant.

  • On March 9, the Prairie North District had its Spring Communion and worship service hosted by Pecatonica UMC, with approximately 40 persons attending. Our guest Speaker was Prairie South DS Rev. Brian Gilbert. During this session, they held the Election of Officers.
  • On March 23, 2024, several of the District men attended the NICUMM annual meeting hosted by Dekalb UMC.
  • On Sept. 13-15, some of the District men attended Spiritual Congress in Conference Point, Williams Bay WI .
  • On November 9, Belvidere First UMC hosted the District Fall Communion Service. The guest speaker was Rev Jim Bell. There were 40 persons in attendance. The offering raised $5,250.00 for the Society of St Andrew Meals for Millions (MFM) program.
  • The Prairie North District will be sending a total of $5,250.00 this year to the MFM program. The District was down this year in its giving because of the discontinuation of the annual Harmony for Hunger Concert.
  • The District has 6 Chartered churches and 10 EMS members.

Lake North District: President, Open

Prairie South District: President, Open

  • Rev Brian Gilbert, DS served Holy Communion and gave a message at Spiritual Congress 2024. The message was well received.  
  • The district has 6 Chartered churches and 4 EMS members.
  • Continued to provide hunger relief through various pantries and gleaning sweet corn, and countless garden vegetables.

Closing Remarks:  With the shutdown of our churches in March of 2020, most of our Men’s events that were based on meetings, fellowship and/or group missions were put on hold at our local churches. During this time many church charters and EMS memberships lapsed.  Men have dropped away from the UMM organizations and our churches. In 2022 and 2023, our churches got back to normal, however many of our UMM units lost momentum, leadership, and members. For 2023 we worked to reestablish, renew, and/or replace our men’s ministries with the use of the new Men’s Ministry products. For 2024 the official disaffiliation of churches from the main body of United Methodist Church has caused men to be concerned about the future of United Methodist Men. In response, the churches and UMM groups are working on ways to revitalize and to create new possibilities and new hope for new ministries that truly reach out to the local communities.

For the NICUMM

Craig Mc Gregor

Conference UMM President