Bill Hybel’s Willow Creek Church, the poster-child for program-driven, seeker-sensitive megachurches has apparently come to the realization that it’s not working.
Having spent thirty years creating and promoting a multi-million dollar organization driven by programs and measuring participation, and convincing other church leaders to do the same, you can see why Hybels called this research “the wake up call” of his adult life.
Hybels confesses: We made a mistake. What we should have done when people crossed the line of faith and become Christians, we should have started telling people and teaching people that they have to take responsibility to become “self feeders.” We should have gotten people, taught people, how to read their bible between service, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.
In other words, spiritual growth doesn’t happen best by becoming dependent on elaborate church programs but through the age old spiritual practices of prayer, bible reading, and relationships. And, ironically, these basic disciplines do not require multi-million dollar facilities and hundreds of staff to manage.
Amen. Kudos to Willow Creek for being able to admit they were wrong. God grant them the courage to follow through on their convictions. And may as many churches and church leaders adopt their example of humility as did its’ philosophy of ministry.
Bob
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
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Bob Pratico
Fides Quaerens Intellectum
(my Sojourn blog)
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Hybels video at
Hybels video at http://revealnow.com/story.asp?storyid=49 was gripping. Lord, help us be biblical and effective in making disciples who worship Christ and walk in His ways.
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__________________________David Thew
Sojourn Founding Pastor
David Thew
Sojourn Pastor
Thewblog
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