Been researching with some curiosity the new direction that Willow Creek is taking in their model to grow people into fully devoted followers of Christ. Seems that they are finding that the seeker sensitive model is geared toward...well seekers and not mature Christians. This of course after a three year extensive study. What interests me the most is their stance on taking a new direction. Are they saying, we were in error, or we are just learning and growing like everyone else. Seems the executive pastor doesn't have a clear position on his stance. Check out his two very different responses a blog in The Christian Leadership Journal
Here is Greg Hawkins response on His own Reveal Blog
October 26, 2007
The Truth About REVEAL
Friends,
I’m thrilled to see the high level of interest and energy behind the blogosphere comments about REVEAL. But I’ve read enough postings to think that it might be helpful to provide a few facts on three issues that keep coming up. Trust me. I’m not into “spin control” here. I just want to fill in some gaps.
1. It’s Not About Willow
REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
The Leadership Journal blog started with this question, and the answer is NO. Repenting, in my mind, deals with confessing sin. There is absolutely no sin involved in this deal. Just good, old fashion learning. What you are seeing is a set of leaders coming to grips with some new facts and deciding to do something about it. This is nothing new for us here at Willow. We are passionately committed to learning. Redeeming this broken world through the love and power of Jesus Christ is just too important for us not to be in a constant state of learning. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
Simple answer – NO. Hybels would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
Notice his change in response to question one in Out of UR The very Christian leadership journal he refers to above
1. It’s Not About Willow
• REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.
2. Willow Repents?
• The first blog started with this question, and the answer is “yes”. But repenting is not a new experience for us. We’ve made a number of major course corrections over the years – like adding a big small group ministry for the thousands of new Christians coming to faith at Willow, and adding a mid-week service for our Christ-followers. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.
3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?
• Simple answer – no. My boss would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.
I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.
Greg Hawkins
So, which is it Greg, Does Willow repent, Yes or No? If you are not claiming to put a spin on things, why do you reply with two different answers.
Monday, November 19, 2007
Monday, October 15, 2007
Finding Rest
Last week I turned in my resignation for my job in children's ministry at my church. I had gone back and forth for a few months on the issue, prayed over it, consulted with Tod... and in the end found peace in my final decision. My difficulty with the decision lies in part with the my stubborn desire to stick with my plan. Mine..the one I envisioned, took steps toward achieving..created and believed in. I wanted to do what I set out to do, and circumstances...life.... God(?) got in the way and said..It can't be what you want it to be. And I argued, yes it can... And I heard back...No...It can't.. And I countered but it has to..And I heard back..No it doesn't. and I pleaded ..give me one more chance..and I heard...Stop wasting time.
My job was, on paper, a 13-15 hour a week job. My counseling ministry, in which I have always been beckoned to, even as an adolescent would only take at most..what 10 hours.. that left plenty of time for being a mom, a wife..a friend. I can do it all! I am woman hear me roar..
But somehow I got tired. I didn't have it in me to do anything at all very well. Sloppy homemaking...procrastination on my calling.. frustration and resentment for all my roles began to build and I felt depleted. and ineffective and yet busy. It's a horrible feeling to know you are busy being ineffective in this world. And the only place I had ever gone to find answers was no where to be found. That still and quite place. It can't be found, it must be created. And so I selfishly stole back moments and quited my spirit. And in the places where I stopped throwing pebbles and murking up the water. in the place where I sat still and the ripples themselves began to still, I could see more clearly what my calling truly is. And I knew not only what I had to give up but that what I had given up..the still and quite place had been essential to my very being.
The Bible tells us that the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In that sense it seems as though the Sabbath were given to us as a gift for a number of reasons.. to increase our trust in God, to reflect our covenant with Him, to mirror His image..on the seventh day He rested..to give hope of a place of rest yet to come..and I think also to break from our work, to be quite and replenish our strength for the work ahead and to find a sense of joy in the work that has been done.
There is none of that when we barrel on full steam ahead without understanding the necessity of rest itself. And rest is not selfish but it is commanded by God who rested from His work on the seventh day. Rested I am sure to enjoy the satisfaction and completion of it.
So I found myself neglecting the Sabbath in my life. Not finding pockets of rest. And rest for me is where God speaks most clearly.. When the ripples in the water caused by all of my stirring, settle down, I find Him. I find me and I know it is the only way I can find the resources I need to be of any use to anybody else in this world. Being a mom and having the immense responsibility of preparing children for life and for eternity, for finding ways of pointing them toward God Himself, encouraging their gifts and helping them identify weak points, keeping them balanced, healthy and prayed over is a huge task..
Add to that the desire to gently probe into the deep hurts of wounded people to bring healing and hope through counseling and I think I got my work cut out for me. If finding that resting place where God counsels me in not a huge part of my life then I am only setting myself up for big time failure.
I had to let go of my church work..God's work.. and that is hard to do. Nothing feels more important than having God as your boss. But you know, He's the boss of everything. He is still my boss and will be my boss if I ever make it to a bed in a nursing home one day. For all work is His work and all work is to His glory and resting is a part of the plan for those who are willing to see the work that they do as being done to His glory.
My job was, on paper, a 13-15 hour a week job. My counseling ministry, in which I have always been beckoned to, even as an adolescent would only take at most..what 10 hours.. that left plenty of time for being a mom, a wife..a friend. I can do it all! I am woman hear me roar..
But somehow I got tired. I didn't have it in me to do anything at all very well. Sloppy homemaking...procrastination on my calling.. frustration and resentment for all my roles began to build and I felt depleted. and ineffective and yet busy. It's a horrible feeling to know you are busy being ineffective in this world. And the only place I had ever gone to find answers was no where to be found. That still and quite place. It can't be found, it must be created. And so I selfishly stole back moments and quited my spirit. And in the places where I stopped throwing pebbles and murking up the water. in the place where I sat still and the ripples themselves began to still, I could see more clearly what my calling truly is. And I knew not only what I had to give up but that what I had given up..the still and quite place had been essential to my very being.
The Bible tells us that the Sabbath is made for man and not man for the Sabbath. In that sense it seems as though the Sabbath were given to us as a gift for a number of reasons.. to increase our trust in God, to reflect our covenant with Him, to mirror His image..on the seventh day He rested..to give hope of a place of rest yet to come..and I think also to break from our work, to be quite and replenish our strength for the work ahead and to find a sense of joy in the work that has been done.
There is none of that when we barrel on full steam ahead without understanding the necessity of rest itself. And rest is not selfish but it is commanded by God who rested from His work on the seventh day. Rested I am sure to enjoy the satisfaction and completion of it.
So I found myself neglecting the Sabbath in my life. Not finding pockets of rest. And rest for me is where God speaks most clearly.. When the ripples in the water caused by all of my stirring, settle down, I find Him. I find me and I know it is the only way I can find the resources I need to be of any use to anybody else in this world. Being a mom and having the immense responsibility of preparing children for life and for eternity, for finding ways of pointing them toward God Himself, encouraging their gifts and helping them identify weak points, keeping them balanced, healthy and prayed over is a huge task..
Add to that the desire to gently probe into the deep hurts of wounded people to bring healing and hope through counseling and I think I got my work cut out for me. If finding that resting place where God counsels me in not a huge part of my life then I am only setting myself up for big time failure.
I had to let go of my church work..God's work.. and that is hard to do. Nothing feels more important than having God as your boss. But you know, He's the boss of everything. He is still my boss and will be my boss if I ever make it to a bed in a nursing home one day. For all work is His work and all work is to His glory and resting is a part of the plan for those who are willing to see the work that they do as being done to His glory.
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