We Are Better Together

Every June, ministers, leaders, and churches from across the Midwest District gather for District Council. While the schedule includes business sessions, worship services, and leadership development, the greatest value of Council may be something much simpler: connection.

In ministry, it is easy to become isolated. Pastors carry burdens, churches face challenges, and leaders often find themselves pouring into others without taking time to be refreshed themselves. That’s why gathering matters.

The early church understood this principle. Acts 2:46 tells us that believers continued to meet together regularly. Their connection strengthened their faith, encouraged their hearts, and reminded them that they were part of something larger than themselves.

District Council is more than an annual event. It is an opportunity to reconnect with friends, build new relationships, celebrate what God is doing across our district, and be encouraged by the stories of others. It is a reminder that no church stands alone and no minister serves alone.

As we pursue our vision of Healthy Ministers and Churches that Multiply in Every Community, we must remember that health grows in community. Encouragement, accountability, and partnership are often found when we gather together.

A Simple Challenge

As you prepare for District Council, come with intentionality.

• Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know.

• Share a meal with another minister.

• Encourage a pastor who may need it.

• Ask God to show you one new relationship He wants you to build.

As ministers and leaders gather from across the Midwest District, we come together not only to worship, learn, and encourage one another, but also to help shape the future of our district.

Through prayerful conversations, thoughtful decisions, and collective leadership, we have the opportunity to help build and guide the direction of the Midwest District for future generations.

The connections we make and the decisions we steward today can have an impact far beyond this year’s Council.

We look forward to seeing you in Rockford as we worship together, learn together, and participate in the important work of strengthening and guiding the Midwest District.

Together, we are investing in healthy ministers, healthy churches, and a future where the gospel continues to reach every community.

Because healthy ministers and healthy churches are not built in isolation—they are built in community.