In seasons of challenge and in seasons of blessing, He has guided His church and sustained His work throughout our territory.
As we conclude this term and look toward a new quinquennium, our focus is both simple and sacred: To Know Christ and to Make Him Known.
This conviction is rooted deeply in Scripture. The apostle Paul declared in 1 Corinthians 2:2, “For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” Later, in Philippians 3:10, he expressed the longing of his heart: “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.”
These passages capture the essence of Christian life and mission. To know Christ is more than possessing knowledge about Him. It is to experience His love, mercy and grace; to reflect His character; and to live in the transforming power of His Spirit. To make Him known is more than speaking His name. It is to reveal His love through faithful witness and daily life. A church may be active and filled with worthy initiatives, yet still drift from its center. When Christ truly remains central, every ministry, every decision, and every priority finds its proper place.
Ellen G. White articulated this eternal focus with clarity: “The science of salvation is the science of all sciences … the science that will be the study of the redeemed throughout endless ages.” The Desire of Ages, page 107, 1898.
Everything the Lake Union undertakes flows from this divine calling. Evangelism, education, health care, administration and pastoral ministry are unified expressions of one sacred mission: leading men and women into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ.
During this reporting period, God has moved in powerful and unifying ways across Illinois, Indiana, Lake Region, Michigan and Wisconsin. Through the Pentecost 2025 initiative, our churches and schools joined a North America-wide movement of prayer, proclamation and Spirit-led outreach. Congregations and schools lifted up Christ with renewed conviction, inviting their communities to repentance, hope and new life in Him.
Mission has also been strengthened through intentional stewardship. The Lake Union allocated $6,166,092, for the years 2021–2025, in evangelism funding distributed among its five conferences to support frontline gospel outreach. An additional total of $133,500 was designated for youth evangelism initiatives in 2022 and 2024, ensuring sustained engagement of young people in evangelism and community outreach. Significant resources were also invested in organizing and equipping participants for the Youth Evangelism Congress, training youth and young adults for evangelistic leadership. These investments reflect a deliberate commitment to preparing the next generation to carry forward the mission of the church.
In support of Christian education, $5,652,900 in educational appropriation was returned to the conferences between 2021 and 2025. These funds strengthened our schools and supported the spiritual formation of students who represent both the present and the future of the church within the Lake Union territory. Beyond financial stewardship, the Union committed one million dollars in scholarships to Andrews University to support undergraduate theology and education programs. This investment seeks to prepare pastors, teachers and leaders who will serve faithfully in our churches and institutions for years to come.
Throughout these years, our schools have continued forming minds and hearts. Our churches have remained centers of worship. Pastors and lay leaders have served faithfully. Quietly and steadily, the Holy Spirit has drawn people to Jesus. Looking ahead, much work remains, and many opportunities for revival and growth lie before us. Yet the calling remains clear. The greatest danger facing any church is not opposition from the world, but distraction from Christ. Programs may expand. Structures may grow. But when Christ is not central, the church loses its power.
The Lake Union therefore recommits itself to knowing Christ more deeply through prayer, Scripture and spiritual renewal. At the same time, we recommit to making Him known through evangelism, education, health ministry and compassionate service. The Lake Union exists not for itself, but so that the people of this territory may know that there is a Savior who loves them, forgives them, heals them, and is coming again.
The same Jesus who has guided His church through these years will continue to lead in the years ahead. With gratitude for His faithfulness and confidence in His promises, we move forward determined to know Christ and to make Him known until He comes.
Elden Ramirez is president of the Lake Union Conference.
Sherrie Davis – administrative assistant