Help shape what’s next! We’re calling on both clergy and laity to take part in our Strategic Plan Survey, built around five key areas that guide our shared work: Cultural Formation, Discipleship Formation, Leadership Formation, Local Church Formation, and Missional Formation. Each section reflects the heart of what’s already happening and where God may be leading us next. This is your opportunity to speak into the future of our conference. Your voice will directly help equip the Strategy Team as they continue building, refining, and moving this work forward. The more voices we hear, the stronger and more aligned our mission becomes. The survey is open through May 15 , so don’t miss your chance to be part of it! As a bonus, we’ll be giving away two $50 gift cards ! The winners will be chosen at random, with one gift card going to a clergy participant and one to a lay participant, plus a little friendly bragging rights. Let’s build what’s next, together.
Are you looking to strengthen your church’s prayer life, share the Gospel more intentionally, build meaningful connections in your community, and be a source of hope? The Great Lakes Annual Conference is pleased to continue its partnership with Church Answers through The Hope Initiative —a powerful 30-day prayer journey designed to equip your congregation to share the message of Jesus Christ with confidence and boldness. Through this initiative, your church will engage your community in authentic ways—connecting with people where they live, work, and spend their time—all while remaining grounded in prayer and Scripture. Along the way, you’ll have access to a variety of videos, templates, and practical tools to support and guide your efforts. We’re offering this powerful experience at a significantly reduced cost of just $25 per church for any Global Methodist Church in the Great Lakes Annual Conference region. To learn more about how The Hope Initiative can energize your congregation, pastors can reach out to info@greatlakesgmc.org . The Hope Initiative will help pastors and church members: ✔ Develop a renewed passion and confidence for evangelism ✔ Deepen their understanding of the biblical foundation for Gospel ministry ✔ Connect more effectively with their community ✔ Engage in consistent training through a proven, repeatable process ✔ Feel equipped, encouraged, and inspired We look forward to seeing how God will move through your church in this season! You can also learn more about The Hope Initiative and other Church Answers resources HERE .
As we continue forward in 2026, the Great Lakes Annual Conference Nominations Team invites you to prayerfully consider how you might share your gifts, talents, and time in service. We are seeking individuals to serve across our various teams and committees whether you have expressed interest in the past or are feeling called to step in for the very first time. A Fresh Invitation to Serve If you completed a Willingness to Serve form last year, we encourage you to submit a new form for 2026. As our conference continues to grow, so do the needs and opportunities for service. Your interests, availability, or sense of calling may have shifted, and an updated form helps the Nominations Team thoughtfully discern where each person can best serve. Nominate Someone Else We also invite you to prayerfully consider others who may be a great fit for conference leadership. Is there someone in your church or network whose gifts could strengthen our shared ministry? Sometimes people need a simple invitation or encouragement to step forward, and you can be part of that by submitting their name for consideration. How the Process Works The Nominations Team carefully reviews each submission and engages in a prayerful process of discernment to shape our ministry teams. Our goal is to build teams that reflect a variety of perspectives, experiences, and locations, while aligning individuals’ gifts with meaningful opportunities to serve. Next Steps To express your interest or to nominate someone else, please complete the Conference Team Nomination form at the link below. The form provides space to share areas of interest and skills that can support the work of our conference. We believe that when each person offers their unique gifts, our shared ministry becomes stronger and more impactful. Thank you for considering how you might serve, or how you might encourage someone else to step into their calling within the Great Lakes Annual Conference. "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." - 1 Peter 4:10
