Take a look back at key moments in the celebration of the Lake Region Conference 80th anniversary.
September 1944 — The Lake Region Conference is officially formed during a specially called meeting at Shiloh Church in Chicago
Jan. 1, 1945 — The conference becomes the first regional conference organized with 2,320 members and begins official operations in Indianapolis in the parsonage of the Capitol City church.
1945 — Conference office moves to 619 Woodlawn Park Ave, Chicago
June 1948 — The first annual camp meeting is held at Camp Wagner, vital for spiritual renewal and community bonding among members across the region.
60s and 70s — The Temperance Department conducts five-day Stop Smoking and other lifestyle care programs for the communities.
1960 — Conference office moves to 8517 South State St, Chicago
July 1973 — C.D. Brooks conducts an evangelistic tent meeting and 243 people are baptized at the close of the eight-week series. Straford Memorial is organized as a result. The church is named Straford after its first pastor, Harry Straford, died.
1975 — Lake Region has the distinction of being the first regional conference to have an organized Spanish work connected to it, when a group of Hispanic laymen approach the conference asking them to accept their church, Spanish West/Logan Square into the fellowship.
1980 — Lake Region Conference membership exceeds 10,000
1992 — Membership exceeds 20,000
1999 — First female pastor, Judy Crawford, is hired. She previously was a Bible worker and had a successful evangelic series where 78 people were baptized. This launched the Tabernacle of Hope Church in Indianapolis, which she pastored until her sudden passing in 2005.
2011 — Membership exceeds 30,000
June 2015 — In a significant moment at Lake Region’s camp meeting, Lake Union Conference officers publicly apologize for past racial injustices and lack of support for African American members. This apology is part of a broader effort to acknowledge the historical struggles of minority congregations and to promote healing, reconciliation and unity within the Church.
2018 — Conference office moves to current location, 19860 La Grange Rd, Mokena, Illinois
2020 — During the pandemic, the Youth Department pilots an online academy utilizing Adventurer awards and Pathfinder honors, which draws over 15,000 participants.
2021 — Through conference departments and the Conscience and Justice Council, nearly 60 virtual programs are held exploring relevant and timely topics such as COVID-19, mental health, police shootings, regional conferences, education, suicide, census, voter education and human rights.
Lake Union Herald staff
