On June 20, the Illinois Conference Youth Department hosted the Canvas: God's Masterpiece Youth Rally at the Central Hispanic Seventh-day Adventist Church in Chicago. Nearly 170 youth, young adults, youth leaders, and church members gathered for a day centered on growing closer to Christ, building friendships, and equipping the next generation to live out their faith.

I have befriended the women at a local shop. The store is a colorful explosion, packed to bursting with pieces from local artisans, antique dishware, cards with profanity and dirty humor, political humor, novelty socks, and knick-knacks that you might not know what to do with, but always make you laugh.

The Illinois Conference is preparing to turn the page on nearly three decades in its current home.