(If you have come for the March 13 Calvary Connection article, it's the next article down!)This is old news, but somehow I have just ran across it...
Bill Hybels, pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, and one of the most influential men over the last 30 years (due to the number of "Willow Creek spin-offs" started in communities all over America) has come to a conclusion... "Programs do not help people grow spiritually". Really.
Now, I am not WC-basher, nor do I have the right to judge another man's work (Rom 14:4). Yet as I look at the things that come out of WC and it's spawns, it strikes me that the emphasis is always on "how can we retain our people, and grow". Fine objectives for a business. But should they be the objectives in the church? (it is interesting what Time magazine wrote about him...read here)
Apparently WC has discovered, after 30 years and millions of dollars, that their programs might grow a church, but they do not help people grow into a closer relationship with God. Programs do not help people move to true spiritual maturity.
Not to sound like a broken record, but that is exactly what Calvary Chapel has held to for the past 30 years. We believe that the Word of God, ignited by the Holy Spirit of God, is what moves people from being "spiritual babes" to "mature saints". We encourage our people to spend time each and every day with God, reading His word, conversing with Him in prayer and meditation.
My friend, new can be really cool. But new is not always 'better'. Truth, I recon, is best!
What will be the outcome of WC's revelation? Only time will tell. I do believe that the public pronouncement and the decision to change shows that WC's leadership are not shallow hucksters trying to 'make big church', but that they really do want to do what's best for the Kingdom of God, and the people of God.
I doubt Bill will ask my opinion, but in case he were to inadvertently stumble across my blog, my advice would be...
Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables. But you be watchful in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry. 2 Tim 4:2-5 NKJV
Read the Christianity Today article here...
Pastor Clay
1 comment:
I have been a volunteer Service Director for Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC) for several years and have been involved with many of the ministries there. I have also been attending for 17 years and am tied closely with many of the leaders and staff at the church. I do want to make it clear that I am not speaking for Bill Hybels or the Sr leadership of the church but simply as a member and active participant and volunteer leader within the church.
I appreciate your kind words toward the end of your blog regarding the Willow Creek leadership. It seems so many are quick to fire off accusations and to make judgments without really understanding what is going on inside this body of believers.
Yes, the leadership of WCCC has realized that the desired course of the church has deviated a bit from the intended course. Bill Hybles himself has apologized to the congregation. For a long time, as you may already know, Bill has dedicated himself to helping the church around the world by traveling to mostly those countries where the church is struggling to grow and where the church leaders are discouraged. His goal was to help, engourage, and reignite their fire and to provide them with some innovative ideas and support for growing their influence and impact to their communities and countries. God has used him greatly to help in this effort around the world. During this time Bill had to take his hands off from the direct leadership of WCC during this time. Recently, it has become clear to him that a correction must be made and new focus must be provided to the home church to bring it back in line as it should be. Now understand that the corrections are not doctronal corrections. Willow has been and is still doctornially solid. The corrections are more toward the ways in which the church supports each individual believer as they mature in the faith. Also, there will be a renewed emphesis on encouraging community as a whole church in addition to small groups. Be assured that WCCC has not given up on working with the believers on spiritual growth, just the contrary. They are working to become more effective at providing the nutrition, instruction, and basic building blocks for each seeker and believer to progress forward to toward a relationship with Christ and into a deep and mature faith that is ever growing. The idea is to teach the people to feed themselves using the tools God has provided us such as basic Bible study, memorization, prayer, accountability, service to God, and Christian community.
As a husband and father of 3 boys, I know it is difficult to keep everything on track and moving in the right direction with my family. I can’t imagine the challenges of leading a ministry the size of WCCC. My prayer is that God will continue to lead our pastor and his staff, that they will continue to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit, and that God will give them endurance, wisdom, and encouragement as they work to do His will the best way they are able.
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