They Finally Get It! Or Do They?

Some of the biggest news in the generation of church growth has gone largely unreported, because the admission of Bill Hybels and Willow Creek falls short of repentance and they want you to buy the book. That's right, during their 2007 Leadership Summit, the Willow Creek Community revealed a new book that contained the shocking results of yet another internal survey. What they found was that their church-growth methodology and seeker sensitive movement is faulty. It simply is not working in terms of leading people to a true relationship with Christ or helping people grow spiritually. Here is what Hybels says:
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.
That God for their admission of what most of us already understand, a non-biblical model for doing church will never produce spiritual fruit. It may and often does produce large congregations, but it will not serve the purposes for which God instituted the church. The sad part is that this admission falls short of repentance, which is what Hybels should be doing because his admittedly faulty methodology has led thousands of churches astray. However, not only is there no repentance. there is no real change in methodology.
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 services, how to do the spiritual practices much more aggressively on their own.
A mistake? Sounds like a return to biblical discipleship, but perhaps the most shocking thing of all in this revelation coming out of Willow Creek is in a summary statement by Greg Hawkins, the Executive Pastor of Willow Creek:
Our dream is that we fundamentally change the way we do church. That we take out a clean sheet of paper and we rethink all of our old assumptions. Replace it with new insights. Insights that are informed by research and rooted in Scripture. Our dream is really to discover what God is doing and how he’s asking us to transform this planet.
Isn’t that what we were told when this whole seeker-sensitive thing started? The church growth gurus again want to throw away their old assumptions and “take out a clean sheet of paper” and, presumably, come up with a new paradigm for ministry.
Please note that “rooted in Scripture” still follows “rethink,” “new insights” and “informed research.” Someone, it appears, still might not get it. Unless there is a return to a biblical view of the Church and biblical discipleship principles, a new faulty scheme will replace the existing one and another generation will follow along. Why will they not simply ask, "what does the Bible say about the nature, role and character of the Church?" Why do they not come out and publicly repent before all of the churches they have led astray that they are false teachers. I do not have those answers. All I know is they have made a new book available so that we can all learn from their mistakes and I expect they will release another one when they are ready to reveal their next burst of creative genius.
What may be encouraging in all of this coming from the highest ranks of the Willow Creek Association is that they are coming to realize that their existing “model” does not help people grow into mature followers of Jesus Christ. Given the massive influence this organization has on the American church today, let us pray that God would be pleased to put structures in place at Willow Creek that foster not mere numeric growth, but growth in grace.
To hear some clips of the Hybels confession: http://www.wayofthemasterradio.com/podcast/2007/11/01/november-01-2007-hour-1

Legacy Letter

Thanksgiving On the Home Front By Rayanne Ward

The other day Elijah and I went to Wal-Mart together. As we came into the store, Elijah exclaimed, “Momma, look! Why do they have a Christmas tree, there’s the Halloween stuff. We haven't even had Halloween yet, that’s just crazy.” It’s amazing how smart and intuitive a four year boy can be. Elijah was right; it is crazy that stores are already decorating for the Christmas Holidays. What struck me is that Thanksgiving Day seems to be a holiday that is diminishing in the commercialism of Christmas. I remember places being decorated with turkeys, pilgrims, and cornucopias. Everyone talked about the things for which they were thankful. Nowadays, we just give a nod to Thanksgiving and fly straight to Christmas.
There is nothing wrong with celebrating Christmas as Trinity so aptly put it last year, “We can celebrate Jesus everyday,” but we should not neglect our giving of thanks.
In this newsletter, Reid and I want to take and opportunity to express our gratitude and thankfulness as we reflect on all that God has done this past year. In all of our circumstances and daily lives God has revealed himself to us and has richly blessed us.
God is our great provider. There is not enough space to list all that God provided this past year physically, spiritually, and emotionally. God has daily met all of our needs. We are grateful to you for being a part of that faithful provision. God used your financial gifts and prayers to meet the needs of Legacy Leadership Ministry. We are thankful for you and offer thanksgiving to God for you. We are also grateful for all of the ministry opportunities that God provided last year.
God is our great protector. Reid returned home safely after each ministry trip. Thank you to those who faithfully prayed for his safety and for God’s faithful protection. Zachariah wanted to come early but God protected him and he didn’t come too early. Born at 36 weeks, he was small but healthy.
God is our great healer. God took care of Trinity as she had surgery to remove a small benign tumor from her cheek. I healed quickly from an emergency C-section to deliver Zachariah.
God faithfully guides our footsteps and gives wisdom in making decisions. As we began praying in February for wisdom about the direction of Legacy Leadership Ministry and for our family, God faithfully directed Reid to a new part-time position on staff at Bush Memorial Baptist Church. It is amazing to look back and see how God orchestrated the whole process. This new position allows Reid to apply the principles and truths that he teaches through Legacy events in the context of a local body of believers. It is an great way to serve our local congregation as well as serve as an example and model to other congregations.
God is gracious as he reveals himself to us and allows us to fellowship with Him. We are so thankful for His salvation and His faithfulness to our family. Please stop and take a moment to thank God for all that he has done and to see Him and his attributes in all that he has done in your life this past year. We are able to see and know God through the things he does in our lives. I believe you will stand in awe of our Great King as your reflect and offer thanksgiving and praise.

One foundational principle that Legacy Leadership Ministry teaches is the biblical truth found though out the Bible and specifically given in Deuteronomy 6:6-25 that parents are to disciple and teach their children about God and the things of God. It is humbling to know that God has entrusted and blessed us with three beautiful children. He has given us the mandate to teach and train them. It is amazing to see God at work in their hearts each day. Please pray that God would give us the wisdom and grace we need to daily teach and train our children. As we teach others about how to lead and invest in the lives of their children, please pray that we would be faithful to do the same at home.