Rediscovering Church

by Lynne Hybels, Bill Hybels, Lynne Hybels

Rediscovering Church is the candid story of Willow Creek Community Church's phenomenal growth, from 100 members meeting in a Palatine, Illinois, movie theater to its present Sunday morning attendance of 15,000. Bill Hybels and his wife, Lynne, tell about Willow Creek's beginnings, its struggles, the philosophy behind its success, and the strategies that have made it a model for church growth. The first half of the book, written by Lynne Hybels, explores the early years of Willow Creek and the personal accounts behind one of this century's most remarkable church stories. It offers an honest look at the ways God has used both the strengths and weaknesses of His people, creating a church of believers who have had tremendous impact for Christ in their community. In the second half of Rediscovering Church, Bill Hybels helps you apply the strengths of Willow Creek's ministry philosophy to your own congregation's mission. From mission statements to developing leadership, making sound financial decisions, and handling growth, Bill stresses that God wants to build His church to be an effective and committed community of faith that reaches out to a hurting world, to be the body of Christ in real and tangible ways. Rediscovering Church draws on the experiences of Willow Creek to show how one fellowship crystallized its mission and methodology, its vision and values. The Willow Creek story provides an example that churches and individuals alike can turn to for inspiration, encouragement, and a means of uncovering the pattern for their own unique mission and ministry.

Genres: Church, Christian, Religion, Ecclesiology, Leadership

Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

About the author

Since 1975, when Lynne & Bill Hybels started Willow Creek Community Church, Lynne has been an active volunteer at the church. For the last twenty years she has engaged in ministry partnerships in under-resourced communities in Latin America and Africa, and has advocated for Comprehensive Immigration Reform on behalf of the hundreds of undocumented immigrants who call Willow Creek their church home.

Since 2009 Lynne has been actively trying to learn what it means to follow Jesus into places of conflict. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, where the deadliest conflict since WWII still rages, she has partnered with local churches that are caring for women who have been brutally raped, and are initiating grassroots peacemaking efforts in their villages. In Israel-Palestine she hosts groups of American Christians who want to learn from Jews, Muslims and Christians—Israelis and Palestinians—who are working for dignity, security and freedom for all the people in the Holy Land. Lynne also raises awareness and funds to empower followers of Jesus in the Middle East who are serving Syrian refugees and displaced Iraqis.

Lynne and Bill have two grown children, Shauna and Todd, one son-in-law, Aaron Niequist, and two grandsons, Henry and Mac, who run the family.

Reviews

[Phil]

(primary source research)

[Kevin Tucker · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is basically a biography of Bill Hybels and the creation of Willow Creek Community Church. It is quite a story and it is told in an easy to read, friendly style. It is amazing to read this story and understand better the beginnings and some of the motivations of Bill Hybels.

[Lorraine · Rating 3 out of 5]

A biography of Bill Hybels and the struggles they wen through in the beginning years of Willow Creek Church. An interesting read.

[Walt Walkowski · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book proves that anything good that has come out of Willow Creek has been the work of God, and certainly not that of Bill and Lynne...