Bill Hybels

Infobox Writer
name = Bill Hybels


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birthdate = 1952
birthplace = Kalamazoo, Michigan
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occupation = Theologian, Author, Minister
nationality = American
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subject = Leadership, Theology
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William Hybels (born 1952, Kalamazoo, Michigan) is the founding and senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, one of the most attended churches in North America, with an average attendance of 17,115 as of 2003. [Dr. John N. Vaughn, "Church Growth Today"] The church has been listed as the most influential church in America for the last several years in a national poll of pastors. [cite journal| title = Top 50 Most Influential Churches| journal = The Church Report| issue = July 2005| publisher = Christy Media| location = Scottsdale, Arizona| date = 2005-05-27| url = http://www.thechurchreport.com/mag_article.php?mid=36&type=year| accessdate = 2007-01-08 ] [cite journal| title = 50 Most Influential Churches| journal = The Church Report| issue = July 2006| publisher = Christy Media| location = Scottsdale, Arizona| date = 2006-05-26| url = http://www.thechurchreport.com/mag_article.php?pageno=1&mid=671&pname=July&pyear=2006| accessdate = 2007-01-08 ] He is the founder of the Willow Creek Association and creator of the Global Leadership Summit. Hybels is also an author of a number of Christian books, especially on the subject of Christian leadership.

Qualifications

Hybels has a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies from Trinity International University, near Chicago, and an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from TIU's Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, [http://www.willowcreek.org/teaching_pastors.asp Teaching Pastors - Willow Creek Community Church ] ] .

Hybels and Willow Creek Church

In the early 1970s, Hybels was studying at Trinity International University (then called Trinity College) when Gilbert Bilezikian, a lecturer, challenged the class about an Acts 2-based church. Hybels was captivated with the vision and abandoned his business aspirations for ministry.

In 1971, Bill Hybels, youth pastor at Park Ridge's South Park Church, started a youth group with friend Dave Holmbo called "Son City". [ [http://www.ascg.org/journal/11Spg00/Reid.html Journal/ASCG Vol.11, Spg 2000 - Reid ] ] [ [http://www.willowcreek.org/news/retrospective/default.asp News at Willow Creek Community Church ] ] Modern music, dramatic skits and multimedia were combined with Bible studies in relevant language helped the group grow from 25 to 1,200 in just three years.

After 300 youth waited in line to be led to Christ in a service in May 1974, Hybels and other leaders began dreaming of forming a new church. They surveyed the community to find out why people weren't coming to church. Common answers included: "church is boring", "they're always asking for money", or "I don't like being preached down to." These answers shaped the group's approach to the new church. [http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:o9AIboN9tp4J:https://www.prairie.edu/servant/InnerviewBillHybels.pdf+%22I+don%27t+like+being+preached+down+to%22&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us]

In October, 12, 1975 the group held their first service Palatine's Willow Creek Theater. 125 people attended the service. The rent and other costs were paid for with 1,200 baskets of tomatoes, sold door-to-door by 100 teenagers. Hybels spoke on "New beginnings" [ [http://ctlibrary.com/16163 Community Is Their Middle Name - Christianity Today magazine - ChristianityTodayLibrary.com ] ] Within two years the church had grown to 2,000.

Challenges in 1979 led to a recommissioning of the church's vision to be broader and deeper than before. Hybels apologised for the example of his relentless schedule and overemphasis on grace. "We've set up all our leadership structures and goals to grow a full-functioning Acts 2 community, as opposed to just an evangelizing machine that doesn't drive the roots down deep and do all the other things it's supposed to do." ["Rediscovering Church", Bill and Lynne Hybels (Zondervan, 1997)]

In 1981 the church moved to its current location in South Barrington. By 2000, 15,000 were attending weekly services over six weekend services in a convert|352000|sqft|m2|sing=on building. [ [http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/2382.html Willow Creek Community Church ] ] In 2005, the new Worship Center was opened. With a capacity of 7,200, the state-of-the-art auditorium is the largest theater in the United States and the church currently averages 20,000 attendees per week, making it the second largest church in America.

In 1991, concerns about the large church maintaining community led to the adoption of a cell-based approach. The church now has over 2,600 groups focusing on a broad range of needs.

Willow Creek Community Church has become well-known as the prototypical megachurch, with modern worship, drama and messages focused toward the unchurched. Willow Creek's four weekend services are "seeker sensitive", with the mid-week "new community" services providing teaching for believers.

Hybels and the Willow Creek Association

In 1992 Hybels launched the Willow Creek Association (WCA) to link like-minded, action-oriented churches with each other and with strategic vision, training, and resources. WCA is driven by a calling to serve Christ-following leaders as they build biblically functioning churches—authentic, Acts 2 communities of faith that reach increasing numbers of lost people and grow them into fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ. This has since grown into a network of over 11,000 churches worldwide.

Hybels has largely avoided association with specific political parties or movements. He did receive some criticism when at a leadership conference hosted by the WCA in 2000, he interviewed Rich DeVos (Amway co-founder) and carried out a 90-minute interview with President Bill Clinton in which he questioned the president on many key issues. When Karen Hughes (former advisor to President George W. Bush) in the following year spoke at the Summit, Hybels said to the attendees jokingly afterwards, "There, we are even." - in a reference to bringing a counterbalance to Clinton's visit.

Willow Creek leadership and Hybels' role

While Hybels serves as senior pastor at Willow, he is not heavily involved in day to day operations. Gene Appel served as lead pastor of the South Barrington Campus from mid-2006 until Easter 2008. [cite web| title = From the Elders of Willow Creek| date = 2008-01-26| url = http://www.willowcreek.org/weekend/Jan262708.html| accessdate = 2008-02-02 ] Appel's role had allowed Hybels the ability to serve a more direct role in the Willow Creek Association, but Hybels will assume the direct role of leading the church once again. Hybels frequently travels abroad, teaching church leaders how to manage and direct their congregations in more effective ways. He maintains a regular teaching schedule at Willow Creek, however had until now focused less on Willow Creek, and more on the global church movement. Hybels believes that "the local church is the hope of the world", and that is evident in his work around the globe.

Leadership summit

Hybels started the Global Leadership Summit in 1995 as an annual training event for church, ministry and other leaders to sharpen their skills. Each year this two and a half day conference features experts in the arena of leadership in lecture and interview formats, plus worship singing and dramatic skits. Past speakers have included Bono (former Time Magazine Co-Man of the Year and U2 lead singer), Ken Blanchard ("One Minute Manager"), Marcus Buckingham ("StrengthFinders"), Jim Collins ("Good to Great" and "Built to Last"), and Mike Singletary (NFL Hall of Fame linebacker for the Chicago Bears). The event is broadcast live from the Willow Creek campus in suburban Chicago to 100+ video sites across America, plus later via delay for another 70 international sites. 80,000 attendees were part of the 2006 Leadership Summit. The 2007 event featured live and taped sessions with Colin Powell, Carly Fiorina, Floyd Flake, Marcus Buckingham, John Ortberg, Michael E. Porter (Harvard), Richard Curtis (film producer) and Former President Jimmy Carter.

Family

Hybels married his wife Lynne in May 1974, and has two adult children (Shauna and Todd) and one grandchild. Lynne Hybels has been involved in Willow Creek's ministry partnerships in Latin America and currently serves as an advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa. She is the author of "Nice Girls Don't Change the World" [http://lynnehybels.com/bio.asp] .

Bill and Lynne live in Barrington Hills, Illinois.

Criticism

In 2000, Hybels was criticized by some conservative pastors for inviting and interviewing President Bill Clinton at his summer leadership conference at Willow Creek. [cite news|author=Lacey, Marc|title=Repentant Clinton Reviews His Presidency|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9B06EFDB143FF932A2575BC0A9669C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=all|publisher="New York Times"|date=2000-01-21|accessdate=2008-01-21]

Publications

Books which he has authored or made a contribution to include:
* "Authenticity: Being Honest with God and Others" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265887
* "Becoming a Contagious Christian" (and Mark Mittelberg) (Zondervan, 1996) - ISBN 9780310210085
* "Character: Reclaiming Six Endangered Qualities" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310266020
* "Commitment: Developing Deeper Devotion to Christ" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265959
* "Community: Building Relationships Within God's Family" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265916
* "Courageous Faith Through the Year" (and Keri Wyatt Kent) (InterVarsity Press, 2004) - ISBN 9780830832941
* "Courageous Leadership" (Zondervan, 2002) - ISBN 9780310248231
* "Descending Into Greatness" (Zondervan, 1994) - ISBN 9780310544715
* "Engraved on Your Heart: Living the Ten Commandments Day by Day" (Cook Communications, 2000) - ISBN 0781433967
* "Essential Christianity: Practical Steps for Spiritual Growth" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310266044
* "Finding God in the Storms of Life" (Inter-varsity Press, 2002) - ISBN 9780830865468
* "Fit to be Tied: Making Marriage Last a Lifetime" (and Lynne Hybels) (Zondervan, 1993) - ISBN 9780310533719
* "Fruit of the Spirit: Living the Supernatural Life" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265962
* "Getting a Grip: Finding Balance in Your Daily Life" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310266051
* "Holy Discontent: Fueling the Fire That Ignites Personal Vision" (Zondervan, 2007) - ISBN 9780310272281
* "Honest to God? Becoming an Authentic Christian" (Zondervan, 1992) - ISBN 9780310521815
* "How to Hear God" (InterVarsity Press, 1999) - ISBN 0830865594)
* "James: Live Wisely" (Zondervan, 1999) - ISBN 9780310227670
* "Jesus: Seeing Him More Clearly" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265979
* "Just Walk Across the Room: Simple Steps Pointing People to Faith" (Zondervan, 2006) - ISBN 9780310266693
* "Lessons on Love: Building Deeper Relationships" (and Kevin Harney) Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265932
* "Living in God's Power: Finding God's Strength for Life's Challenges" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) ISBN 0310266068
* "Love in Action: Experiencing the Joy of Serving" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310266075
* "Making Life Work: Putting God's Wisdom Into Action" (Inter-varsity Press, 1998) - ISBN 9780830817887
* "Marriage: Building Real Intimacy" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265894
* "Meeting God: Psalms for the Highs and Lows of Life" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265993
* "New Identity: Discovering Who You Are in Christ" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265940
* "Parenting: How to Raise Spiritually Healthy Kids" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265900
* "1 Peter: Stand Strong" (Zondervan, 1999) - ISBN 9780310227731
* "Philippians: Run the Race." (Zondervan, 1999) - ISBN 9780310233145
* "Prayer: Opening Your Heart to God" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310266006
* "Reaching Out: Sharing God's Love Naturally" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310265924
* "Rediscovering Church: The Story and Vision of Willow Creek Community Church" (and Lynne Hybels) (Zondervan, 1997) - ISBN 9780310219279
* "Revelation: Experience God's Power" (Zondervan, 2001) - ISBN 0310228824)
* "Romans: Find Freedom" (Zondervan, 1999) - ISBN 9780310227656
* "Sermon on the Mount 1: Connect with God" (Zondervan, 2001) - ISBN 0310228832)
* "Sermon on the Mount 2: Connect with Others" (Zondervan, 2001) - ISBN 0310228840)
* "Significance: Understanding God's Purpose for Your Life" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310266033
* "The Pastor's Guide to Personal Spiritual Formation" (and Reginald Johnson, Neil B. Wiseman) (Beacon Hill Press, 2004) - ISBN 083412209X)
* "The Real Deal: Discover the Rewards of Authentic Relationships" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 0310266017
* "The Real You" (Zondervan, 1996) - ISBN 9780310206828
* "The Volunteer Revolution" (Zondervan, 2004) - ISBN 9780310252382
* "Too Busy Not to Pray" (InterVarsity Press, 1994) - ISBN 9780830820047
* "Transformation: Letting God Change You from the Inside Out" (and Kevin Harney) (Zondervan, 2005) - ISBN 9780310265986
* "Transparency" (Zondervan, 1997) - ISBN 9780310217152
* "Who You Are When No One's Looking" (InterVarsity Press, 1995) - ISBN 9780830820030

References

See also

* Willow Creek Community Church
* Willow Creek Association
* Rick Warren