Bill Hybels responds

Click and listen to what Bill Hybels has to say about where Willowcreek Community Church is headed. Love to hear your thoughts. Email them to cpinion@lifequest.tv subject: Bill Hybels Response

Check it out HERE

Here's what Tony Morgan at tonymorganlive.com observed. After months of perceived misrepresentations of the recent changes at WIllow Creek Community Church, Bill Hybels, the founding and senior pastor, has decided to let people hear the truth about his position on the future of Willow’s ministry and his ongoing commitment to the seeker church movement.

Earlier this week, Hybels sat with Jim Mellado, the president of the Willow Creek Association, and recorded a seven-minute interview addressing questions that have surfaced in recent months in both the blogosphere and in print. The video of that interview is available on the WCA website.

Specifically, Hybels addressed a recent article in Christianity Today entitled Willow Creek’s Huge Shift. Hybels characterized it as “an unfortunate article that was written without a proper understanding of what we’re actually doing these days.” He also referenced an Out of Ur Blog post from last October entitled Willow Creek Repents. Hybels reacted to the post by stating:

“I don’t think when you make a strategic adjustment it qualifies under the term ‘repent.’ I think every evangelical knows that’s kind of a loaded-up term, and I think someone wanted to get some action on a blog.”
In preparation for the release of the video through my site this morning, I had the opportunity to view the video in its entirety yesterday. Honestly, my reaction was I’m glad Hybels has finally decided enough is enough. Should he have addressed this sooner? Possibly. Has Willow made mistakes along the way? In the interview, Hybels admits they have. Is Hybels or Willow shifting away from the seeker model? They’ve never indicated that to be their intent. In fact, Hybels used the interview to make it clear:

“We have had the same one-sentence mission statement for 32 years. We’re trying to turn irreligious people into fully-devoted followers of Christ. We have never been more committed to either side of that mission statement.”
It’s refreshing to see Hybels take the gloves off. When you view the video, you’ll see that he’s in a bit of a feisty mood. He wears that well. Deep down, that passion likely comes out of his ongoing commitment to reach seekers. At the end of the interview, Mellado asked the question, “Is a leader of the seeker church movement abandoning seeker ministry?” Hybels replied:

“There’s no real worry about that ever happening… I’ve wanted everyone in my life to experience grace, saving grace the way I experienced it on a hillside in Wisconsin when I was 17 years old… I think the older I get, the more aware I am that I only have from this day until my final day to get the Word of Christ out to as many people as possible.”
My sources at Willow tell me there will be more videos like this one in the coming days. It’ll be interesting to see how Hybels and the Willow team engage the conversation and debate that this video will certainly generate.

That’s the big news in church-world this morning. You heard it here first. Check out the video and tell all your friends.