Willow Creek Releases Multiple Year Study of its Ministry

What happens when the model that so many of our churches followed for many years questions what it has done?

Christianity Today's blog has an article entitled, "Willow Creek Repents".

What happened? Willow conducted a multi-year study, trying to determine what programs and activities were actually helping people mature spiritually, and what were not. The results were published in a book, Reveal: Where Are You?, co-authored by Greg Hawkins, executive pastor of Willow Creek. The study found that being program driven didn't equate into spiritual growth for their people. It shocked Bill Hybels, founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois.

Mr. Hybels, speaking at last summer's Leadership Summit, summarized the findings by saying, "Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for." Hybels calls this "the wake up call of my adult life".

So, what causes spiritual growth? The good old basics of prayer, bible study, and relationships.

Who knew? Well, a lot of people knew that, but I think in this case it was something that had to have enough time to gain measurable data before the "old ways" could be seen again as the only ways to grow closer to God. Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. It seems too simple, doesn't it?

Now let's see if those who had issues with the Willow model over the years will have grace and tact during this time, not resorting to "I told you so!".