Then God said, “Let the land sprout with vegetation—every sort of seed-bearing plant, and trees that grow seed-bearing fruit. These seeds will then produce the kinds of plants and trees from which they came.” And that is what happened. The land produced vegetation—all sorts of seed-bearing plants, and trees with seed-bearing fruit. Their seeds produced plants and trees of the same kind. And God saw that it was good. Genesis 1:11-12 Know Before You Go Devotion By Rev. Susan Roehs I have not been to the Green Lake area of Wisconsin, but I’ve seen pictures online. It appears it will be a beautiful setting. We will spend a few days surrounded by nature, including the plants, animals, water, and birds. All the things God created for us. When I gaze at the world around me, I am always in awe of the beauty God created for us to experience. God could have created a black-and-white world. He could have made the plants and animals utilitarian, without beautiful, colorful feathers, soft fur, blooming trees and flowers, leaves in multiple shades of green, red, and yellow. He certainly didn’t create this beauty because we deserved it; we’ve failed him many times, which he knew would happen. And yet, he decided to surround us with beauty. And as you admire the beauty around us now, can you imagine what is waiting for us in heaven? Here, beauty is marred by sin. Plants rot, animals die, and frost turns gorgeous leaves black. There is no perfection in what we encounter in nature. When I took up photography and focused on nature, I would always look for the perfect specimen. But in time, I discovered that beauty is not just in the perfect flower but also in nature’s imperfections. The flower just a little past its prime, the tree that isn’t symmetrical, the gunmetal gray sky. And the same is true of people. The variety of appearances we find in humanity gives us many views of beauty. Some of us are past our prime; some are just beginning their life’s journey; some come from poverty; some come from the city. God took the same variety he used in nature and applied it to his creation of people. And then he said, “It is very good.” I hope that during our week in Wisconsin, you will allow your life to slow long enough to notice the beauty of nature around you. Look for the beauty God put there, just for you. Observe the people around you and find the beauty God slipped into their creation. Look in the mirror and notice the features God created in you that make you unique. Almighty God, You amaze us with Your creations. We are so grateful that You placed us in a beautiful environment full of color and texture. You have provided more than we deserve. I know that what we witness today will pale in comparison to what we will see in heaven. As we gaze at the beauty around us, we are reminded of Your great and perfect love for us. Help us to love You and others as You love us. In Your holy Name, amen.
Meet the expert speakers and explore the transformative breakout sessions planned for the Great Lakes Annual Conference. Join us for ministry training and connection.
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
Join us on April 8 from 6:30 to 8:30 PM Central Time at Faithbridge Church for a special evening gathering for laity hosted by Global Methodist Church Bishop Mark Webb and Great Lakes Annual Conference Superintendent Scott Pattison. This gathering is centered on the theme "Being the Church – Living our Identity & Purpose" and is designed to encourage and equip laity as we live out our calling together. The evening is designed for laity, as clergy will already be gathered at Faithbridge that day for the Activate Clergy Conference and will hear from Bishop Webb. Come ready to connect with others, engage with meaningful teaching, and be inspired in your walk of faith. Attendance is free, but advance registration is requested to help with planning. Register online at REGISTER NOW . Faithbridge Church 10402 Northwestern Ave, Franksville, WI 53126 Wednesday, April 8, 2026 6:30-8:30 pm CT
On March 6, 2026, confirmed tornadoes hit communities served by Global Methodist churches in Edwardsburg and Union City, Michigan. The Great Lakes Annual Conference is collecting funds to be sent directly to these churches to assist with response efforts. Use the link below to donate or send a check made out to: Great Lakes Annual Conference 3100 W Stones Crossing Rd. Greenwood, IN 46143 Note: please add “Michigan Tornado Relief” in the memo. While much work still lies ahead, our churches in Edwardsburg and Union City are already actively engaged in the initial phase of Disaster Response Ministry. As donations come into the conference, the Disaster Response Ministry has been able to provide gift cards to impacted individuals and families to help meet essential needs on a case-by-case basis. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve as the hands and feet of Jesus during this challenging time. More updates will follow, as future rebuilding efforts will create opportunities for project teams to offer additional support.
Housing at Green Lake Conference Center for this year’s Annual Conference has officially reached capacity, and we are so grateful for the incredible response! If you were unable to secure on-site accommodations, don’t worry! We’ve gathered a list of nearby off-site housing options to help make your planning as smooth as possible. Below, you’ll find a wide variety of off-site housing options including some larger hotel chains in regional cities. In addition, consider using Google, Airbnb, or Vrbo for bed and breakfast and other local lodging options near Green Lake, Wisconsin. Please note that the options below are provided for your information only. The Great Lakes Annual Conference is not specifically partnering or recommending any of the options listed. Green Lake (6 miles): McConnell Inn Heidel House Hotel & Conference Center Ripon (12 miles) : Cobblestone Suites Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels Mapes Hotel Berlin (14 miles): Super 8 by Wyndham Oshkosh (30 miles): Cobblestone Suites Oshkosh Baymont Inn and Suites Oshkosh Comfort Suites Oshkosh West Wingate by Wyndham Oshkosh Hilton Garden Inn Oshkosh Fond du Lac (30 miles): Hampton Inn Fond du Lac Days Inn by Wyndham Fond du Lac Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Fond du Lac Holiday Inn Express and Suites Fond du Lac Comfort Inn Fond du Lac Radisson Hotel and Conference Center Fond du Lac
Scouting ministry is one way the Global Methodist Church (GM Church) walks alongside children, youth, and families as they grow in character, leadership, faith, and service. Through partnerships with scouting-type organizations, churches help create spaces where young people can experience adventure, build meaningful relationships with caring adults, and explore how faith connects with everyday life. Scouting ministry welcomes families from the community and offers opportunities for both youth and adults to grow spiritually while serving together. Many congregations partner with scouting-type organizations as part of their ministry with children and youth. Here are a few of the organizations they may work with: Scouting America (formerly the Boy Scouts of America) offers programs for children and youths from kindergarten through young adulthood: Cubs; Scouts; Venturers. Girl Scouts of the USA provides programs for girls from kindergarten through high school: Daisies; Brownies; Juniors; Cadettes; Seniors. American Heritage Girls provides programs for girls from kindergarten through high school: Pathfinders; Tenderhearts; Explorers; Pioneers; Patriots. Trail Life provides programs for boys from kindergarten through high school: The Woodlands Trail; Navigators; Adventurers. These organizations emphasize personal growth through outdoor adventure, achievement recognition, uniforms, adult role models, and more. These organizations share a common heritage in the youth movements of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In England, this was shaped by Muscular Christianity; in the United States, by Theodore Roosevelt’s idea of The Strenuous Life ; and in Germany, by the Wandervogel movement. The GM Church works with children, youth, and families involved in these programs to support their adventures. Congregations of the GM Church may sponsor units of these and similar organizations (e.g., 4-H, Camp Fire), and these units are part of our congregations’ portfolio of ministries. This means that all members and volunteers connected to these units, whether or not they belong to our church, are part of our ministry. GM Church congregations in other countries are connected to different scouting associations. As partners in ministry, we support their work with youth in their local contexts. Additionally, we subscribe to PRAY Publishing programs, which provide five short-term studies for children and youth: Jesus & Me (K–1st Grade); God & Me (2nd–3rd Grade); God & Family (4th–5th Grade); God & Church (middle school); God & Life (high school/young adult). These church-based recognition programs are available to all children and youth of the congregation; students do not need to be registered in a scouting-type organization. PRAY also recognizes adults who minister through scouting volunteering with the God & Service Award. Each organization has its own special days of observance, but churches may choose how to observe and recognize ministries. The GM Church encourages lifting up the accomplishments of youth involved in these programs and recognizing volunteers for their ministry. The Great Lakes Annual Conference offers a recognition program for adults who minister through any scouting-type organization. The Witness Award requires the candidate to have both a scouting mentor and a church mentor. The Great Lakes Conference School of Lay Ministry also offers a Specialty Course in Scouting Ministry. Our mission is to make disciples of Jesus Christ, and scouting-type programs serve as a means toward that end. The GLAC Discipleship Team is responsible for resourcing scouting as ministry in our area. If you would like more information, reach out to Art Collins, Discipleship Team Leader, who can be reached at art.collins@greatlakesgmc.org .
It has been nine months since the Great Lakes Annual Conference elected its delegates, alternates, and reserves for General Conference — the highest governing body of the Global Methodist Church. When it meets, delegates from around the world will represent more than 7,000 churches, including the Great Lakes Annual Conference. Although General Conference does not meet until August 30, the delegation has already begun its work on several decisions regarding the episcopacy. Bishop Nominations Each delegation could nominate up to one candidate from within its conference and one from outside. The Great Lakes delegation nominated Scott Pattison (Great Lakes) and Gabriella Kopas (Central Europe). Area Episcopacy Committee Representatives Each delegation elected one clergy and one lay member to serve on the Area Episcopacy Committee. The Great Lakes delegation elected Jen Wilson (clergy) and Mike Womack (lay). This committee will begin meeting in June to determine episcopal areas, assess what the Great Lakes Conference needs in a bishop, interview nominees, and make recommendations to the delegation. Episcopal Area Partnerships Delegations were asked to rank up to ten annual conferences as potential partners in sharing a bishop. The Great Lakes list, in order: Allegheny West, Oasis, Upper Midwest, MidSouth, Heartland, Ethiopia Nazrawiyan, Western Europe, Central Europe, North Georgia, and Virginia. The Global Episcopacy Committee and Area Episcopacy Committee will use these rankings to form episcopal areas of six to eight conferences, each led by a single bishop. Commissions, Councils, and Committees In January, the delegation invited your input to help identify potential members for various Global Methodist Church bodies. Those suggestions are under review, and the delegation plans to finalize its recommendations at its next meeting. Looking Ahead Because this is a brand-new process, these decisions have required significant discussion and prayerful consideration. All four were due March 15, and the delegation is grateful to report that it expects to meet that deadline. General Conference will meet August 30–September 5 in Johannesburg, South Africa . Four hundred twenty-two delegates will gather to confirm structural decisions, elect bishops, and elect members to the church's commissions, councils, and committees, among other legislative responsibilities. More information about the episcopal election process is available at beautyofholiness2026.org/preliminary-documents. Much challenging work remains ahead, and the delegation deeply covets your prayers. Your Great Lakes Delegation (in order of election) Clergy Delegates (9): Scott Pattison [Chair]; Samuel Padgett; Beth Ann Cook; Sarah Wanck; Chris Ritter; Chris Gadlage [Secretary]; Jeff Buck; Michael T. Sawicki; Megan Alamo Clergy Alternates (2): Stan Pegram; RC Muhlbaier Clergy Reserves (7): Matt Hook; Curtis Banker; Arun Paul; Jason Rice; Nate Cravillion; Jeanne Winter; Clifford Schroeder Lay Delegates (9): Mike Womack [Vice Chair]; Melissa Padgett; Joy Hook; Jill Davis; Daniel Buck; Ellen Harbin; Bridget Douglas; Kathleen Engelman; Lily Johnson Lay Alternates (2): John Cooper; Janice Hansen Lay Reserves (7): Patricia Sawicki; Steve Hill; Kevin Macy; Thomas Finley; David Dunn; David Doty; Kirsten Mains