"And Who is My Neighbor?"

Mission Trips 2010

2009-12-08T15:56:00.004-06:00

We all love to hear the stories of what God is doing through His people around the World. Maybe this is the year for you to be a part of one of those stories. There is no substitute for experiencing what it is like to follow Jesus in a different culture. It is a challenging and very inspiring experience. In 2010 we will be taking trips to a variety of countries to serve alongside of our partners. These trips will provide great opportunities for you to grow, learn, and share your experience with others from the Peachtree community. I hope that you will join us!

http://www.peachtreepres.org/web/GlobalMissionTrips.aspx

Time to Say Goodbye

2009-08-28T09:43:00.003-05:00

In the past few months, Rebecca and I have clearly felt that our season at Willow Creek was drawing to a close. We had a strong sense that our trip to Malawi in June would somehow mark the finish line for us. However we had no idea where God was leading us. During this process, we repeatedly read Habakkuk 2:1-4 and wondered how it might apply to us as we sought a new vision for the next part of our journey. “At a destined hour it will come with breathless haste. It will not fail. If it delays wait for it, for when it comes there will be no time to linger…”

On the first day back from Malawi, July 2, I was contacted by another church about a role that really fits my sense of calling. Over the ensuing weeks, God has made it clear that he is not just releasing us from Willow, but He is calling us to something new. We will be moving to Atlanta where I will be serving as the Pastor for Mission at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, leading their efforts in local and global mission. We are excited about this opportunity to serve in this role and to be closer to our family. Unfortunately we have to make this transition with breathless haste, because school started in Atlanta on August 10th. I will be transitioning off of staff at Willow on August 28th. While it would be our desire to have a longer transition period, we feel that God has been preparing our family for this move for months, and we feel that this quick transition is in the best interest of our children.

We want to thank you for all of your love and support over these past four years. It has been a great joy to serve with you. We have never served with a more committed group of Christ followers. I know that you will continue to have great impact in your community, because the reality is that you have not so much been following me as following Christ. We look forward to hearing the stories of what God is doing in Barrington and Cary-Grove. If you get tired of shoveling snow this winter, come see us!
http://www.peachtreepres.org/web/

Malawi- Pam Larson

2009-07-24T08:09:00.002-05:00

I would like you to meet Josephine. She is 6 years old and has HIV/AIDS. She lives with her parents in Chitipa. They also have HIV/AIDS. I met Josephine and her family while I was in Africa during a “home visit” with World Relief.
The purpose of our visit was to bring gifts of food, encouragement and a new dress for Josephine. The peach colored dress with the orange flower, shown here, fit her perfectly! As I have reflected on this trip and what my purpose was, I believe it was to bring hope to this little girl through a dress. A dress that brought so much joy despite her circumstances. I am grateful God chose me to make a difference in Josephine’s life.

Malawi - Vic Villaneuva

2009-07-17T21:50:00.005-05:00

Malawi, Africa – a country of contrasts. Vast blue skies and red dirt roads; picture-perfect villages and markets; smiling, curious children – seas of them – waving at you roadside. Then there’s the stuff we read about: the harsh poverty; lack of food, safe water and work; diseases wiping out an entire generation… smiling, curious children who don’t have parents.

I never feel more alive and fully in God’s presence than when I’m in Africa; I think it’s because of these contrasts that assault me throughout my stay. I question, I pray, I feel. It’s hard to articulate the overall experience. It’s easier when you share the stories of the people you meet, one life at a time:

Joseph: He’s 33, the oldest attendee at our Youth Leadership Conference. His pastor lets him live in a small room in the church – in exchange for raising seven orphans, many of them teenagers. He makes containers out of tin and sells them to provide for his “family.” He carries his Bible everywhere and hopes to be a pastor someday.

Edward: He’s 19. Loves to write and wants to be a teacher. Quiet and soft-spoken, he talked non-stop when I asked him about his home life. He lives with a “stepmother.” His father abandoned him when he was two. He told his mother that Edward was a mistake. He kept repeating to me that he was a mistake. Not sure what happened to the mother.

Kennan: Also 19. Dreams of being a musician. Played the drum, sang and danced with abandonment – music was his escape. Some of his fingers are fused together (same with his toes) – defects from birth. He showed them to me and said people have made fun of him his entire life. His father died a few years ago, and his mother is dying… of AIDS. “She will be dead soon,” he whispered. I felt his fear. He’s being raised by an aunt. He can’t go to school because he doesn’t have enough money for the required fees.

Judy: 62 years young (picture of her attached; she’s the one in the middle.) Works as a caregiver for 21 orphaned children 24/7, no pay. “It’s for God,” she said proudly. She showed me the rooms where the kids slept – seven to a room, each the size of a walk-in closet. One twin beaten-up mattress per room. She cried when Pam prayed for her. She beamed when I told her she truly was a soldier of God.

Without a doubt, what leaves a permanent mark in your heart are the people. Despite their circumstance – their hope, kindness and hospitality overflows. Their joy is pure and comfortable. It confuses and humbles me, but grows me too. You really don’t understand community until you experience it in Africa. I leave richer than when I arrived.

Vic Villanueva

Chitipa Pastors Conference- Bill Marsh

2009-07-10T11:05:00.003-05:00

As I watched the pastors sing, in Lambya, on the opening day of the conference, “Where love is, there is God,” I was struck by the power of their belief in a personal supernatural presence, that in the midst of enormous poverty and personal hardship, these pastors nonetheless chose to believe in the goodness of God, the reality of God’s enduring hesed, his steadfast lovingkindness. They were convinced, as Hebrew 11:1 tells us we should be, that faith is indeed the “conviction of things unseen:” even if we do not believe that he does, even if we have no evidence that he can, God still loves, still cares, still continues to unfold his purpose and intentions for every human being.
In addition, I appreciated how hungry the pastors were for theological knowledge. Although what we were able to teach them might fill two or three class sessions in seminary, for them it was manna from heaven, a plethora of information to which they in their geographic and material isolation simply had no access. I was delighted to share everything I could with them, and loved watching them take notes, ask incisive questions, engage in debates, and in every way indicate that they were loving the experience of learning. If only, I often thought, we had more time.
Moreover, I loved the community the pastors shared. Though they had come from many sectors of the region and did not all speak the same language (some spoke Tumbuka, some Lambya), they clearly regarded each other as valued brothers and sisters in Christ. They served each other eagerly, and repeatedly affirmed their mutual belief in the inestimable worth of the living God. I found their commitment refreshing and inspiring: far from the surplus of biblical resources we enjoy, they had established a wonderful salvific simplicity, a beautiful and unadorned vision of hope in the eternal work of Jesus Christ.

Bill

Leaving Something Behind

2009-07-07T10:20:00.004-05:00

One of the pictures from our trip that really moved me was this one. In the photo a man who is living with HIV/AIDS shares his memory book with his family. The sun in coming through the window bringing light to a dark place... One of the things that surprised me was the number of men that came to the Memory Book workshop. I asked some of them why they came and they told me that they wanted to leave something behind for their children. It reminded me that we all want to leave a legacy. There is something in us that craves transcendence. We want to know that we live on in the memories of those that we love and share life with. No matter our culture we all want to believe that our life mattered. I hope that through the work that we did in Malawi these people had a stronger belief that their lives mattered not just to their families but to God.

Always be Prepared to Give an Account of Your Faith- Sibyl Towner

2009-07-07T10:14:00.003-05:00

We had made preparations as a team, the materials were packed.

We were excited to work with the about 100 youth that had been selected by their pastors to come. There were 2 from each village church and the 90 + pastors were at another location for a pastor’s conference.

We had allowed time to meet with our interpreters in Chitipa as well as the World Relief team that we were partnering with in their on the ground long term work and commitment in Malawi.

We were excited. We had in our minds flexibility. We knew that we might have to make changes. No problem. When you are feeling prepared and have all your “stuff” with you flexibility is easily engaged.

What actually happened?

Our flight was canceled causing us to arrive 2 days later in South Africa. We arrived missing 3 bags of luggage. We lost our “flex “time and were on our way to Malawi. We had a 2 hour flight and an 8 hour van ride got us to a motel to eat at 11:00 PM and go to bed and up at 3:15 AM to finish the last leg of the trip to get to the Youth Training camp location by lunchtime, so that we could teach and have soccer and net ball in the afternoon.

I watched the sun rise and had the joy of hearing Stella’s story and how it came to be that she was working for Willow Creek Community Church in Global as the field director for Malawi.

Excitement is still high and we are rearranging what we will do without the expected resources.

Stella said that the last 100 kilometers would be an adventure and they were, unpaved road and in the mountains. The van was working on 2 gears and we within 25 minutes of our destination and the van stopped dead at a government check point.

More time is elapsing and we are being picked up by a van from World Relief.

We arrive at the camp location. We are using a school that is on holiday. The sounds of children and young people greet us. Now I have 30 minutes before it is time to teach and I have not eaten, used a facility, or met with anybody from World Relief.

Jay said that he has not seen me unglued…but for a moment I was disoriented. The lunch was served…eating was with the right hand and then using the out door facilities.

I simply prayed “Lord let me teach your word with kindness, joy and power.”

We began with singing and I rested in the joy of their words and the smiles on their faces, and the movement of their bodies.

Lord these are young men and women you love, you want good for them, you know their struggles, their grief, and their joy. Help us to join in with World Relief and with this community and give our best and grant us the grace to receive their gifts as well.

I taught not with eloquence, but as one who believed that His word is good for life, love, faith and purity. Their was fresh meaning to the text, “Always be prepared to give a good account of your faith,”

Sibyl

Hope…One Life at a Time

2009-07-03T20:43:00.003-05:00

I was sitting on a mat outside of a one room mud brick home in Chitipa, Malawi – thousands of miles away from my two story, 4 bedroom home in Chicago. The husband and wife both have HIV/Aids, and they have a six-week old daughter.

We had arrived there to do a home visit to encourage them, pray for them, and deliver gifts of sugar, oil and soap. We were asked to take pictures of us giving the gifts to the family.

It felt like a photo-op – white, rich girl gives to poor. I was over-whelmed and uncomfortable with the poverty, sickness, and sadness of all that I had seen. I just wanted to run back to the comforts of my home – far away from all of this.

The next day, we were helping HIV/Aids families make memory books. (I have been scrapbooking since I was seven years old, so I was thrilled when I was asked to be a part of this project!) We brought instant cameras and film to take pictures of the families. We also had scrapbooks, supplies & questions to answer that would help them capture their family history, traditions and desires. I also found out that these books would also help by serving as a “will” that would help them to preserve their land and home after death.

We had about 20 families to show up to do their books. One of those was the women with the six week old baby that I had visited the day before. I had no idea that I would ever see her again. We greeted and hugged each other.

We made progress with each of the family’s books, and then we told them to return the next day with other family members that they would like to have pictures made or to bring photos that they might have at home, so that they could add them to the books.

The next day, my lost luggage arrived, and it contained all the extra scrapbook supplies – including alphabet stickers. All of the participants wanted to put their name in their book using the stickers.

At one point, I walked over to the women with the six week old baby, and she was spelling out her name in stickers : R-A-B-E-C-C-A. How many women in Africa have my name? I can’t imagine very many. I felt like God was saying to me…I know that you are overwhelmed with all you have seen, but I am asking you to bring hope to one person at a time, and I am confirming that by connecting you with someone else that has your name. I don’t think that she will forget me, and I certainly will not forget her.

I (we) can’t individually tackle the global or continental or even country-wide problems of AIDS, poverty, lack of drinking water that exist in our world. But if we all help one person, we can make a difference - one life at a time. To read and see more pictures and video go to http://thestorynextdoor.blogspot.com/

Rebecca Madden

We're Back!

2009-07-03T07:35:00.003-05:00

We arrived back in Chicago on Wednesday after 10 days in Africa. It was an amazing trip. God blessed us in so many ways. We got off to a rather frustrating beginning as our flights were cancelled due to bad weather, and we were two days late arriving in Malawi. To make matters worse, half of our luggage did not arrive…I felt like I spent the first two days at a ticket counter talking on my cell phone.

We arrived in Lilongwe, Malawi and began the long 13 hour drive to Chitipa. This is an adventure in itself and a cultural shock. The roadsides are filled with people especially children struggling to survive in a desperately poor culture. Mud huts with no doors, women & children walking for water and walking for miles to get to the nearest “market” to buy or sell goods. They were using their heads to carry it all – water, rice, firewood and maize.

When we finally arrived in Chitipa, we began serving immediately, because we were already two days late. Sibyl Towner literally stepped off of the bus and into a youth camp gathering where she began to teach! Over the next few days, we led a conference for 90 rural pastors, a youth sports camp for 100 youth and helped 20 families living with AIDS make memory books.

I think we made a significant impact in their lives. I know they impacted ours. Through-out the week, God stretched us and caused us to lean on him as we tried to make sense of life in Malawi and what God would have us do there. Our hearts were broken by the extreme poverty, and our spirits were lifted by their hope. They were deeply moved by our willingness to come there and serve. We were deeply moved by their strength in the face of such hardship. I think that God transformed all of us through the experience. Over the next couple of weeks, I will continue to share specific stories of how God worked in and through us during this trip. Thanks for all of your prayers and support!

Prayers for Serving Team

2009-06-18T10:26:00.006-05:00

As we leave for Malawi tomorrow I just wanted to thank all of you who have supported this trip. It would not be possible without you. I believe that our team will be able to serve our partners well. My hope for this trip is the same as last year. I want us to see Africa through Gods eyes. I would ask that you specifically pray for us in the following areas:

Pray for me and Bill Marsh as we train 100 rural pastors using the book of 2 Timothy.
Pray for Rebecca as she helps 50 families who are losing someone to AIDS make memory books to remember their life together.
Pray for Sibyl Towner and her team as they lead a youth sports camp for 100 teenagers.
Pray for health and safety for us and our families here at home.

I hope to update the blog if possible during the trip and look forward to sharing more details with you after we return July 1.

Blitzbuild Reminder

2009-06-17T11:14:00.002-05:00

I wanted to remind all of you that Blitzbuild begins this weekend in Elgin and runs through next weekend. It is a great way to serve. There are open spots for everything from meals to construction so sign up at this link:http://www.blitzbuild.org/Elgin.shtml

This Weekend

2009-06-01T14:24:00.003-05:00

This weekend a good friend of mine from the UK, Jason Lane visited with us. We met at seminary and have stayed in touch in the years since I graduated. Jason leads an organization that equips young mission-focused leaders across Europe and Eurasia. It is always great to hear about what God is doing in that part of the world. He learned a great deal about little league baseball and softball and we learned some "proper" English... If you are interested in learning more about his organization, Innovista check out their website:http://www.innovista.org/

Summer at the Creek

2009-05-27T14:05:00.002-05:00

We have a terrific opportunity to serve at Willow as a community this summer. Throughout the summer, our communities will have the unique opportunity to fill various roles serving throughout the church, from Promiseland to Seeds, and everything in between. For two weekend services, June 13/14 and July 25/26, our community will partner with other communities in the Northwest quadrant of Willow and be a part of making Summer at the Creek the place to be. Using the link below, please sign up for one serving opportunity on each of those weekends, which means you’ll serve for only two services during the entire summer. Of course, you’re welcome to do more! And if you’re not available on our designated weekends, we encourage you to choose two others that work for your summer schedule.

http://www.willowcreek.org/summer/volunteer/

Prayers for Serving Team

2009-05-14T10:16:00.005-05:00

Our serving team leaves for Malawi on June 19th. I wanted to thank those of you who have supported the team financially. I would also appreciate your prayers for the team as we prepare. We will be leading a pastors conference, youth camp, and making memory books for families living with HIV/AIDS As you can imagine there are a lot of details that need to be completed! I am excited about the team that God has assembled and the opportunity to partner with Westwood Community Church which is located in the Twin-Cities.http://www.westwoodcc.org

Blitzbuild 09

2009-05-12T10:22:00.005-05:00

Compassion Cottages is participating in a local project this summer and we need your help! We are praying that our Barrington Community will come together as Compassion Cottages partners with Elgin Christian Development Corporation June 20 through June 27, 2009. This two-facility project is part of ECDC's holistic ministry designed to rebuild lives and provide hope and opportunity for the under-resourced in west Elgin. This project includes:

Renovation of a six-flat apartment building to be used for transitional housing for qualified families in the ECDC program.

Rehabilitation of the basement, kitchen and bathrooms of a local church which will serve as a Community Center for neighborhood gatherings, community dinners, training classes and ministry work of ECDC.

Choose one day or several days. Sign up as a small group, house group, neighborhood, family, church outreach team, or service organization team. Or come on your own and meet new people who have the same heart for making a difference as you. Volunteer roles include construction teams (skilled, semi-skilled and non-skilled volunteers needed), setup/cleanup, hospitality, support crew and prayer walk teams. You can sign up for one or multiple days. To sign up, go to www.blitzbuild.org and click on the Sign Me Up! for the first project listed - "Elgin - Elgin Christian Development Corporation". Choose your day(s) and your preferred type of serving. This is a great serving opportunity for families with children 7 or older. However, please note children must be 16 or older and accompanied by a parent to work on a construction team.

Lee Strobel Breakfast

2009-05-12T10:16:00.004-05:00

On Saturday, May 16, from 8am –10am, Willow will open the doors early for a special Catalyst Breakfast with Lee Strobel. Lee, author and former teaching pastor at Willow will discuss simple steps we can take day-by-day to engage with others about our faith. “Many Christians who feel they’re living dry, boring, predictable lives are actually missing one of the key ingredients of their faith—seizing opportunities to talk with friends, neighbors, and others about Jesus in a natural non-threatening way,” says Lee. “My hope is people will re-discover that reaching out to people is so exciting, so appealing, and so do-able that everyone is going to want to participate.” The Catalyst Breakfast with Lee Strobel includes a copy of his latest book, The Unexpected Adventure, co-authored with Mark Mittelberg, former director of evangelism at Willow Creek. The Unexpected Adventure is a high-energy, six-week devotional in which the authors Mark recount true stories from their own lives and draw out principles for how people can reach out to others.

220,000 Meals!

2009-04-21T14:51:00.003-05:00

I wanted to thank all of you who participated this weekend in our Feed My Starving Children event at Countryside School in Barrington. During just 7 shifts we packed over 220,000 meals. That is enough food to feed 605 children in Zimbabwe for an entire year. As you have heard me say, I desire for Barrington to not just be a community of affluence but a community of compassion. You certainly demonstrated that this weekend. I am looking forward to seeing how God will touch lives in the coming weeks of Celebration of Hope. Thanks again for all of your support!

Feed My Starving Children

2009-03-17T13:41:00.003-05:00

During Celebration of Hope 09: Hunger and Thirst, we are seeking 18,000 volunteers to pack 4 million meals for Feed My Starving Children--enough to feed 16,000 children in Zimbabwe for an entire school year. Our community will be serving again this year at Countryside Elementary School on April 18th and 19th.

Volunteering is easy, and anyone age 5 or older can help (children under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian). Simply click on the link below to view serving times, and sign up. Don't miss this great family serving opportunity!
http://www.willowcreek.org/coh/home/

Malawi Serving Trip

2009-02-15T09:42:00.003-06:00

We have been working to establish a relationship between the Barrington Community and Willow Creek's partners in Malawi. Last year we took an initial step by providing bikes for 50 pastors there. This year we want to take the next step in that relationship by taking a serving team to Malawi this summer. The trip will occur from June 18th-30th. Our primary focus will be pastors and youth. We will be engaged in several different areas of service such as training home based care workers, local pastors, children's workers and serving at a youth camp. It would be a great opportunity to use your gifts to change lives in Malawi. I believe that it would also be a life changing experience for you as well. I hope that you will pray about joining us. If you are interested in being a part of the team please fill out the application at this link:

https://www.willowcreek.org/kairos/event/eventregister.aspx?EventID=CAJ-MAL-BARRINGTON-6-09

If you have questions or want to discuss the details please contact me.

Mark your calendars!

2009-02-15T09:36:00.003-06:00

We will be packing meals again this year for Feed My Starving Children as part of Celebration of Hope. Our location will be Countryside Elementary School on the weekend of April 18th and 19th. This is a great opportunity to serve as a family. Signup will begin in March.

Spiritual Life Survey

2009-02-11T10:14:00.001-06:00

The REVEAL study began at Willow in 2004. Since then more than 200,000 people in over 800 churches have participated in the survey. The results have revolutionized the way many churches—including Willow—think about ministry and how to help people move closer to God.

The survey touches on a wide range of thought-provoking issues, so please allow 35-45 minutes to complete. Many have found that it prompts them to think about their spiritual journey in a way they never have before. This survey is an important tool for us as we seek to help you take the next steps on your journey. Please take the time to take the survey at this link:

www.willowcreek.org/survey

Women's Event Feb. 27th

2009-02-04T13:36:00.002-06:00

Please join us for the Barrington Area Women's Event - GIRLS NIGHT OUT!

Grab a friend and come join us for a great night out without the kids. We will be having an evening full of laughter, fellowship, and fun. We will be meeting in the Blue Sky Room (downstairs by the waterfall) at the South Barrington Campus.The cost of the event is free but we will be collecting shoes for women in Rwanda so if you are so inclined, please bring a new or gently used pair of shoes to donate for a great cause.please be so kind as to RSVP by Feb 23rd so we can plan accordingly.Please contact Laurie Proctor if you have any questions. lproctor@nwlinc.com or (847) 277-7970

Groups for a Season Signup is Open

2009-02-04T13:19:00.002-06:00

Looking to meet new people and build authentic relationships?
Want to deepen your understanding of the Bible?
Interested in discerning your next step in your journey toward Christ-centeredness?
Want to sample a meaningful small group experience?

Then perhaps Groups for a Season is the perfect next step for you! Groups for a Season uses a simple yet challenging curriculum that will help each group member take a next step, no matter where they are on their spiritual journey. No previous Bible knowledge required—yet even the most seasoned Christ follower will be challenged to grow deeper in their faith. There are currently 4 open women's groups, 2 open couple's groups, and 4 open men's groups in our area. Sign up today:http://www.willowcreek.org/MiniSite/story.asp?storyid=15

Devon's Transition

2009-02-04T13:18:00.001-06:00

What a joy it has been to exist in community with you all over the last year and a half! Together we have served locally and globally to meet physical needs and share the love of Christ, and I call it a privilege to walk beside many of you through this season of life.

At the end of February, I am transitioning off the Community Life team and taking a step to carry on the vision of what I experienced with you all in South Barrington. Through Axis, a small team and I are launching a Missional Community in a Chicago neighborhood. We will have the opportunity to take the Church to people who are unlikely to find themselves inside a church.

With this opportunity, I will be able to spread compassion right where I’m living, implement the tools and experiences gained from our neighborhood experience, as well as serve the Axis community in a leadership development role for the remainder of my Internship.

My time in Barrington with Jay, and with you all, has been invaluable. I walk into this next season with mixed emotions. Sad to step away, yet excited and confident in what is ahead. Thank you for welcoming me into your lives and for all you have given.

If you would like to stay up-to-date in the developments of our community, I would love to continue sharing the journey! Email: dnoonan@willowcreek.org May God continue to bless you and your family as you share the light of the Kingdom!

Devon Noonan

Area School Needs You

2009-02-04T13:15:00.002-06:00

We have an opportunity to partner with the 5th Grade teachers and students of an area school in the following ways:

· Volunteer in a classroom on a regular basis as a reading coach (1 – 2 hours/week), with a special focus on speaking English with students for whom Spanish is their first language
· Assist with parties and other classroom activities as needed
· Share a gift/talent/hobby/interest (e.g. art, music, cooking), talk about your profession, share travel experiences, or anything else that might support and enrich the curriculum
· Be available to support the teachers as needed (e.g. shopping)
· Provide resources to meet needs as they arise (e.g. warm outerwear for students, clothes, gift cards, etc. for family in fire)
· Participate in grade level, family friendly activities (e.g. bulb planting)

We are in the process of compiling a list of volunteers with specifics about availability and areas of interest from which the 5th Grade teachers can draw. No special training or skills are required. Opportunities are available immediately.

If you are interested in getting involved, please contact Kim Cogswell at
kmc24 @juno.com or 847-382-1901.

Focus Rewind

2009-01-15T15:45:00.003-06:00

On Saturday, January 10th Community Life leaders gathered to kickoff the new year. We discussed the vision and structure of group life at Willow. I wanted to share the content of the gathering with all of you who were not there. I think that if you will watch the clips labeled "Week 1 and Week 2" you will have a clearer picture of where we have been and where we are going. Let me know if you have any questions or feedback.

http://www.willowcreek.org/spiritualformation/groupleader.asp

January 31 Men's Gathering

2009-01-15T15:36:00.003-06:00

I wanted to let you know about an upcoming event for men that will feature Joe Ehrmann who is a pastor, founder of Building Men & Women for Others and a former All-Pro with the Baltimore Colts. He was the subject of a New York Times best selling book entitled: Season of Life and featured in Parade Magazine as The Most Important Coach in America.
He will be speaking on What it Means to be a Man.

Men's Breakfast
Willow Creek Community Church
Saturday, January 31st
8-10 AM
Cost - $10 (covers light breakfast and speaker)
Registration - http://www.willowcreek.org/mens/breakfasts.asp

Stock the Storehouse and Barrington Giving Day

2008-12-15T19:06:00.008-06:00

I want to thank you for all of your generosity this weekend. We collected over 1400 items for the World Vision Storehouse! This will make this Christmas brighter for many children in the Chicago area. We also collected and distributed 278 blankets and a large amount of food for Barrington Giving Day. These are great examples of how our we can work with local partners to impact our community.

International Justice Mission

2008-12-15T08:09:00.004-06:00

I know that many of you were challenged this weekend by the message given by Gary Haugen of International Justice Mission. In January my niece, Julia Charles, will be joining IJM as an intern in India. We are very proud of Julia for her decision to delay law school and be a part of what God is doing to bring justice in India. She is in the process of raising support and preparing to leave just after Christmas. Bill Hybels challenged us yesterday to consider supporting IJM. If you would like to do this by specifically supporting Julia's work in India just click in the link below and make a note in the comments section that the donation is for Julia Charles. Also I would appreciate your prayers for her in the coming months.
http://www.ijm.org/give

Royal Family Kids Camp

2008-12-04T15:05:00.002-06:00

If you are looking for a great opportunity to serve foster kids this summer (June 7-12) please join the Royal Family Kids Camp team for the 2009 launch on Wednesday, January 14 at 8:30 p,m. after New Community in Room F176 A-B (under the gym in Promiseland area). Please plan to attend, bring your friends who might make great volunteers, and enjoy 45 minutes envisioning ,camp pictures and stories, refreshments, and the opportunity to greet your 2007/2008 friends and teammates. If you want more information email Bart at
rfkc_lakecook.il@sbcglobal.net

Christmas Service Serving

2008-12-01T12:42:00.003-06:00

Guest Ministry needs to our help to fill over 1,400 volunteer positions for the twelve Christmas services. AND What a great way to serve at Christmas! Serve as a family (children over 6 years), serve with your Neighborhood group or on your own. Please visit the above link and sign up today.

How I will Vote

2008-11-04T09:10:00.004-06:00

Like a lot of the political ads that we have been seeing the title of this article misled you! I am actually not going to tell you who I am voting for today. What I will tell you is how I will vote. I plan to vote for the candidates that will influence our world in a way that most closely resembles the kingdom of God. When I close the curtain today and vote I will do so with a mix of emotions that includes thanksgiving, hope, and frustration. I am thankful to be able to vote for whoever I want without fear of intimidation. That is something that we take for granted but much of the world does not. I am hopeful that the next President will have success in tackling some extremely difficult problems in our country and the world at large. However there is always a sense of frustration with the political process and the candidate’s positions on particular issues. Even when we feel good about a candidate there is a sense that there should be more…

So I will vote as I always do with a sense of guarded optimism that we can make our world better through the political process. However this is balanced with the reality that the ultimate answers to the problems of our world are not found in political process. They are found in the gospel being lived out by God’s people. We can make our broken world a better place no matter the results of this election. We ultimately have to put our faith in God and not the next President. We must agree with the early believers that Jesus is Lord and not Caesar. I hope that you will join me in praying for our next President and looking for ways that we can live out the gospel in our community.

Harvesting Spiritual Friendships

2008-10-27T12:30:00.003-05:00

It was a wonderful evening with 95 women from the Barrington Area attending the Fall Dinner held at the Makray Memorial Golf Club. The tables were dressed with linens and beautiful fall decorations. And the mood was set by the lovely music from Cathy Wloch playing the piano. Laurie Proctor opened the evening with a warm welcome, an introduction to the purpose for this event, “Women encouraging women to become fully devoted, Christ-centered women” and a prayer of thanksgiving. Each woman was welcomed by a table host who facilitated some fun activities for the women to get to know one another during the delicious meal. Then, Mindy Caliquire shared her story of discovering and deepening her spiritual friendships and how to have those meaningful friendships. She spoke of how we are the body of Christ and the supporting ligaments are these meaningful connections. Consider what God might want to say to you through another person or vice versa. We need to move below the surface with one another. So, what might be some ways we can do this? First, understand your personality and get to know their personality. Be curious. We all have a story and have areas of commonality. Be a safe haven with no condemnation like God is for us. For example, we all have areas of struggle or things to “let go”; where we can share and pray about these with a trusted friend. Doris Romans concluded the evening with a closing prayer and next steps for women to participate in a 4 week study group on Spiritual Friendships. Almost 50% of the women signed-up to join one of the 5 study groups. It is very exciting to feel the hand of God upon a group of women gathered in His name. Imagine what might happen in our neighborhood through the body of Christ if a significant number of God honoring women were deeply connected. Not only would we see a scattering of the “light” of God throughout our neighborhood, we would see a “bonfire” when we come together. Other women are sure to sense something special and feel welcomed to “join in”. From a quick survey conducted that evening, it is evident that this is a desire in the hearts of the women. If you missed the event for any reason we are sorry to have missed you and encourage you to contact our area pastor, Jay Madden. And be sure to read the monthly updates for any future activities where you can “join in”.
(written by Jan Frankini)

How about 50 Bikes in 30 Days!

2008-10-27T12:21:00.002-05:00

Last month I challenged you to provide 30 Bikes for pastors in Malawi in the 30 days that ended October 14th. During that time we collected enough support to purchase 50 bikes! The pastors will be receiving the bikes next month during a pastors training event. It will be such a huge blessing to these men who bring hope to people in a very difficult environment. As soon as I have pictures and updates I will pass them along to you. If you missed this opportunity and would still like to help there will be additional opportunities as we prepare for a serving trip to Malawi in 2009.

Special Group Life Training Nov 5th

2008-10-20T08:22:00.002-05:00

Do you have an interest in leading a group or do you want to brush up on your skills? Get your group off to a great start and clarify your role as a leader! Learn to launch a group, design meetings, create a caring environment and use resources to guide people toward growth. Great for all leaders of adult groups.

Content
Part 1: Getting My New Group Going – What are we doing and what’s my role?

Part 2: Connecting and Caring – How do we create a relational, caring group?

Part 3: Meetings that Matter – How do I design an effective and meaningful meeting?

Part 4: Curriculum, Resources and Support – What tools are available and who will help me?

PLACE= Blue Sky 1
DATE = November 5
TIME= 7-9pm

Influence in Turbulent Times

2008-10-09T09:22:00.004-05:00

Bill Hybels has been teaching a series called Influence. I have been thinking about how we use our influence during the current economic and political environment. I often hear people say "that's just business" or "that's just politics." This is a quick way to rationalize our ethical choices. It is the kind of comment that you hear often as the markets plunge and the election approaches. However it is incongruent with kingdom ethics. Christ calls us to bring his values into our most difficult realities. Remember the Lords prayer? "Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." An example of someone who had Influence during an economic crisis was the story of Malden Mills and the action taken by its owner Aaron Feuerstein. The factory burned in 1995. Instead of laying off the workforce, Feuerstein paid all 3000 employees until the factory reopened. It is a sharp contrast to most of what we read about some current CEOs. The reality is that sometimes our Influence comes from our willingness to be different and pay a short term economic or political price. I challenge you to think about how you can follow Jesus in such a way that your actions will be a light during these dark economic times. I think that if we do that our lives will have the eternal influence that God intends.

What do you do?

2008-10-09T08:41:00.004-05:00

Since I get this is a question that I get on a regular basis I thought that I would answer it here. My role as Area Pastor is divided into three parts. The first is Biblical Community. I am responsible for encouraging and supporting biblical community throughout the Barrington area. These communities are currently defined as the 7 types of groups - Explorer, Foundation, Table, Small Group, Serving Group & Accountability . The second part of my role is Pastoral Care. I am responsible for providing care within our community. This includes ceremonies such as weddings, funerals, child dedications, crisis care situations. This does not always mean that I personally provide care, but in many cases I seek to equip you to provide the care (Eph 4:18). The last area is Compassion and Justice. I seek to lead our community to be more compassionate and just toward the least of these. This might be as simple as caring for a neighbor or as complex as providing meals for children in Zimbabwe. So this is what I do. However it is my belief that it should be what we ALL do if we are seeking to follow Jesus. We should all be passionate about community, care, and compassion and live that out in the context where God has called us.

Mom's in Touch

2008-10-08T15:36:00.003-05:00

One of the most significant things that a parent can do for their children is prayer. If you are the mother of a Barrington High School Student and would like to join other moms in prayer contact: Joanne Kirchoff, joannekirchoff@aol.com to get the time and dates.

Two more Barrington Elevate Leaders Needed

2008-10-08T08:51:00.002-05:00

Thanks to those who have volunteered to lead groups in Elevate. However we are still looking for a 6th grade BOYS SG leader (on Saturday night!)and a 7th grade BOYS SG leader (at the 11:15 service). If you would be open to discussing this role please contact Jason
jraitz@willowcreek.org

30 Bikes in 30 Days

2008-10-03T11:02:00.004-05:00

When I was in Malawi this spring, I met with a group of pastors from rural churches. Some of these men walked for a day to meet with us! Most of them did not even have bibles in their native language. As part of the event we were able to provide them with bibles which will have a significant impact on their work. It is hard for most of us to imagine serving a congregation with very little resources. We started talking about how we could serve these church leaders. One simple way would be to provide them with a bicycle. This would greatly improve their ability to care for their community. We hope that in the next 30 days our community can provide 30 bicycles for pastors in this remote area of Malawi. The cost is less than $100 per bicycle. It would be a great way for your group or family to be involved in supporting the gospel in Malawi. If you would like to participate in this effort, please email me. mailto:jmadden@willowcreek.org

Harvesting Spiritual Friendships

2008-10-03T10:58:00.000-05:00

We have something special planned this fall for the Willow Women from the Barrington Area. So, mark your calendars for a great evening with dinner on Friday, October 17, 2008, “Harvesting Spiritual Friendships” with speaker Mindy Caliguire. Discover how to develop and deepen your spiritual friendships. Experience a wonderful evening together with other women from our area and have an opportunity for fellowship and learn about next steps.

Click Here to register!

Community Life this Fall

2008-10-03T10:51:00.002-05:00

I don’t know about you, but summer went by entirely too fast for me! We are excited about what is happening this fall at Willow. Bill is teaching an eight week series called Influence. We think that it will be a significant time in the life of our church.
I want to let you in on something new that will be happening after the Weekend services this fall. We will be hosting Atrium Gatherings after each service beginning the weekend of Sept. 13-14. After each service, people will have the opportunity to drop by the atrium to connect with their Area Pastor and meet other people from their area. We will be serving free coffee and donuts. The basic idea is to provide an easy way for people to connect like the Fellowship Hall in a smaller church. I hope to see you there.
Fall is also the time when many people think about launching or joining a group. At Willow we are focusing on 7 types of Groups which we believe will provide opportunities for anyone no matter where they are on the journey:

Explorer Groups: in a safe environment, people explore Christianity, ask tough questions, and engage in spiritual discussions.

Foundation Groups: Believers become established in the core truths and practices of Christianity through study and discussion

Tables: Christian and non-Christian neighbors of all ages share a meal, develop friendships, and engage in meaningful conversations at these informal neighborhood gatherings.

Small Groups: Through meeting and studying together, people develop deeper relationships with one another and with God. (Note: Willow Creek’s children’s and student ministries also offer small groups, from ages two through Grade 12).

Serving Groups: Using their interests, gifts, and talents, people work in community to accomplish a task that helps the church run smoothly and meets the needs of its people.

Support Groups: People offer support and encouragement to one another through difficult seasons of life.
Accountability Groups: Through spiritual friendships and mentoring relationships, people commit to deeper intimacy with God and others.

If you are interested in starting or joining a group, please let me know and we can discuss next steps. jmadden@willowcreek.org

Thanks Mary

2008-07-07T16:38:00.004-05:00

A couple of years ago I was asked who on the Willow staff I would choose as a teammate in Barrington. I immediately answered Mary Ulick. If asked that same question today I would give the same answer. Since joining our team Mary has really raised the level of care in Barrington. She has touched many lives through her acts of service and been a great asset to our team. However Mary feels that God is leading her toward a new adventure. She will be leaving Willow this month for Scottsdale, Arizona after 19 years. The church that she will be joining has an ambitious vision to serve their community through experiences like Monday Night Life. They felt that Mary is the best person to lead this effort based on her years of experience at Willow. I can’t disagree. Although I am sad that she is leaving I honor her willingness to follow God’s leading. I am thankful for her time with us and look forward to seeing what God does through her on the next part of her journey. I know you will all join me in wishing her the best and planning to visit her in the winter!

Pass Christian

2008-07-07T16:24:00.004-05:00

On June 29th I returned from Pass Christian Mississippi where I participated in the Blitzbuild with Compassion Cottages. I thought that I was arriving late enough in the week that most of the work would be complete but I was mistaken... Actually I was glad to be able to help out if only for a couple of days. It was great to work with the Compassion Cottage volunteers from Barrington and some new friends that we met from San Antonio. While there has been a great deal of progress on the Gulf Coast there is much left to be done. It is hard to believe that people are still living in FEMA trailers after all of this time. We are hoping that we can continue to inspire other groups to get involved in this community to finish the work that needs to be done.

African Journal Going Home

2008-05-15T06:24:00.002-05:00

It has been an amazing journey but it is time to go home. It is going to take some time to sort out this experience. My prayer when I started this trip was to see Africa through Gods eyes. If that has happened I know that Gods heart is broken about the suffering in this part of the world. I will never forget the faces of children that are dying of preventable diseases, people who walk miles for dirty water, child led households and the hope that the local church is providing. In 1 Corinthians 12:26 Paul wrote that "If one member suffers, all suffer together, if one member is honored, all rejoice together." I know I can't solve the problems that I have witnessed. They are beyond me. However I am sure that God led me to Africa for a reason beyond my personal growth. I am praying that in the coming months we can discover together what God is calling our community to do in this part of the Kingdom.

African Journal Day 9

2008-05-15T06:02:00.003-05:00

Today was a difficult day. We were already emotionally and physically worn out from the trip. We visited three more projects today in South Africa. The second pastor that we visited was Hosiah Diamini. He asked us to accompany him to visit a 10 year old boy named Kevin who is dying of AIDS in a local hospital. In all honesty this was not an experience that I wanted to have. I had to force myself to walk inside. We spent a few minutes with Kevin and his mother and prayed for them. It was very difficult to look into the face of another young innocent victim of this disease. As I looked around the ward there were many other children there in the same situation. Many of them alone... After the hospital visit we were emotionally finished. You just reach a point and then sort of shut down. We then visited another child led household. We met with an 18 year old boy who is living with his 14 year old brother. Their mother died a week earlier and they have no money for her funeral. In Africa the funeral is an important event and quite expensive for the family. The pastor had brought him some shoes to replace the ones that he was wearing with holes in the toe. We offered to help pay for the funeral for the family. It was another in a long line of sad situations that occur every day in South Africa.

African Journal Day 8

2008-05-15T05:45:00.003-05:00

This was another travel day. We took our charter planes back to Lilongwe and then flew commercially back to South Africa. I am very glad that we had this chance to visit Malawi. It is a very poor country with enormous problems. However I felt a degree of optimism about the situation in Chitipa. There is a strong since of community that unlike South Africa has not been disrupted by Apartheid. The land has a great deal of agricultural potential. There is a strong group of leaders in Chitipa that we are supporting in partnership with World Relief. I really believe that we can make a difference in this area in the long run. The problems will not be solved in a couple of years. It will take a long term sustained approach. That is the beauty of the local church, it is part of the fabric of the community. When the church is working in the community in a holistic way it can serve in a way that no other entity can. In most cases in our culture the church has been reduced to helping people with their spiritual life. All other needs are handled on our own or by our government. This is not the case in the third world. The church is at the center of hope for what would otherwise be a hopeless situation. Most of all I will remember the people of Malawi. Before I went to Africa someone warned me that it is a dangerous trip. When I asked why he said that it is dangerous because "you will never be able to get those kids out of your mind." I now know what he meant.

African Journal Day 7

2008-05-15T05:16:00.005-05:00

Today we traveled to a remote village to speak to a group of pastors. These pastors walked long distances through the mountains to attend this gathering. I had been asked to share a word of encouragement with them. I shared from Romans 1:12-13 where Paul says that he has looked forward to visiting Rome so that they could be "mutually encouraged by each others faith." That is how I viewed this experience. We encouraged them through our support and they encouraged us by the work that they are doing in such difficult circumstances. We gave them all bibles in their native language. Most of them did not even have their own bible. It is hard for us to imagine Christianity without a bible. However the reality is that people followed Jesus for centuries without access to a bible. We discovered that one of the ways that we could help these pastors would be to buy them bicycles. They travel great distances to lead their congregations and a bicycle would greatly improve their work. I am going to explore this as a way that our community can support them. One of the realities of Africa is that you can make a difference in peoples lives through things that we take for granted such as bibles and bicycles. Being with these pastors was an unforgetable experience. Even though our contexts could not be more different we are united by the same Spirit and the same mission.

African Journal Day 6

2008-05-14T14:24:00.006-05:00

This was our first full day in Malawi. It is a beautiful country with rolling hills dotted by small villages. We drove about 15k to a village that is part of the Child Survival Project that we are supporting. We are greeted by a group singing hymns. We began what will become a ritual at each visit. We are introduced to the community, the pastor, village head man and any other local dignitaries. We then go inside the thatched roof church to see the kids that are a part of the program. We then have the opportunity to share some toys that we brought with us. We also give sweatshirts to some orphans that are a part of this group. We even see a young boy wearing a Chicago Bears shirt. Like most Bears fans he looks a little sad! In the afternoon we visit with a lady that was born in 1912! She is living in a village with her son who has 5 wives and 54 children... It is amazing to think that her lifestyle has probably changed very little in her 96 years. We then visit a borehole project that has been financed by Willow Creek. The lack of clean water is a huge problem in this area. Women walk for miles to get water for their families. The water is unclean and leads to many diseases such as Dysentery, Diarrhea, Cholera and Bilharzias. The borehole project is a great benefit to the health of the community. We meet many local people who are very appreciative. As we are visiting the borehole I see a young boy drinking water from the top of a bucket. It seems to capture the importance of this project.

African Journal Day 5

2008-05-14T14:03:00.002-05:00

Today was mostly a travel day. We flew from South Africa to Malawi and then quickly caught our single engine charter flight to Chitipa. There are no lights on the airstrip so we had to make it there before dark. As we were making our final approach the song that began playing on my Ipod was "He Reigns" The first verse says " Its the song of the redeemed rising from the African plain." It was if God was saying I know exactly where you are and what you are about to see. We buzzed the runway once to get the livestock and people away before landing. Our reception was amazing. We were surrounded by hundreds of people mostly children. It was a picture of the sheer magnitude of the need in Africa and that they are looking to us for hope. Every time we are met by these large groups of kids it brings a lump to my throat. We drove through the dirt roads of Chitipa as the sun set and saw four men pushing a cart carrying a woman toward the local hospital. We have left the hotels of urban South Africa for the mosquito nets and dirt roads of rural Malawi. Tomorrow we will begin to visit the villages that we are supporting along with our partner in Malawi, World Relief.

African Journal Day 4

2008-05-13T18:56:00.003-05:00

Today was Sunday and we visited the Norwegian Settlers Church in Marburg, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The church is led by Trevor Downham. You may remember Trevor from his interview with Lynne Hybels last year at Willow. Trevor is a dynamic leader. We discussed many of the enormous problems that face the people of his community. He said that while these problems seem daunting from a business perspective they are an opportunity for the church. "This is the reason that we exist." When we face what seem to be hopeless situations it is the gospel that provides our only hope. As the problems increase in society so does the relevance of the church if it is doing ministry from a holistic perspective. After attending the Sunday service we went next door and visited Genesis which the the churches hospice facility for those dying of AIDS. The people at Genesis provide such good care and a sense of hope for the patients that many improve to the point that they are actually able to go home for a time.

After leaving Genesis we visited Rehoboth an orphanage for HIV positive children. It is a beautiful facility that provides great care for these children that have in many cases been abandoned. It was a stark contrast to the children that we met the day before. This orphanage was a bright light in the dark world of HIV positive children in South Africa. However three days of seeing the effects of AIDS on these innocent children is taking its emotional toll. It is hard to sleep at night. I can't seem to turn off what I have seen...

African Journal Day 3

2008-05-13T18:24:00.003-05:00

Today we visited Covenant Fellowship, a Willow partner near Richards Bay in South Africa. The Senior Pastor is Collins Diomo. Collins was an impressive leader. He has a quiet confidence and humble spirit. He said that his church holds about 7 funerals a week because of AIDS. The church provides a comprehensive support program for those suffering from the disease in their area. The critical element of the program is the caregiver. These volunteers travel to homes in their area and provide in home care for people in need. We visited the home of one of the caregivers who is now bedridden because of the AIDS virus. She inspired us with her faith in God despite her circumstances. We then visited a child led household which is an all too common occurrence in South Africa. In most cases the parents have died and left the children alone. The home was a a one room shack that housed 6 children. The head of the house was an 18 year old sister who was not a home. The children ranged in age from 11 to an infant. As we drove down the road to the house a man in a nearby yard was helping a young child drink from a beer bottle... The children that we met are very vulnerable to abuse in this type of community. It was really heart breaking to realize that this scenario is repeated hundreds of times in this part of Africa.

African Journal Day 2

2008-05-12T20:15:00.003-05:00

After arriving in Durban which is situated on the Indian ocean, we visited the Christian Life Center which is located in Welbedacht, Durban's largest low cost housing development. As we drive up to the church, we are greeted by 250 orphans who are singing for us as a welcome. I had the feeling that I could easily become emotionally overwhelmed. These little faces quickly bring the statistics of yesterday into sharp focus. They have come to the center to receive lunch. We help pass out the meals to these children most of whom have lost their parents to AIDS. Many are infected themselves. We then sit down with Judy to hear her story. She tells us that she is HIV positive and was infected by her husband who has already died. She is the mother of 6 children, 3 of whom are HIV positive. Can you imagine the grief of knowing that you not only have the disease but have infected your children? We then travel to a nearby house to see the living conditions of orphans in the area. There are 11 orphans living in a filthy house with a couple of elderly grandmothers. This is a common situation. The children are sleeping on the dirty floor. We then go back to the Christian Life Center to see how they are caring for the orphans that are living with them. One of them is a 8 year old boy named Patrick (see photo) that I am able to spend some time with. He reminds me of my 9 year old son. It breaks my heart that he does not have the opportunities that my son has...

African Journal Day 1

2008-05-12T19:55:00.003-05:00

We arrived in South Africa after a 15 hour flight from Washington D.C. We received a briefing by Gerry Couchman on the current situation in the country. Gerry and his wife, Janine, lead the WCA in South Africa and serve as our hosts. Gerry shared some sobering facts. The unemployment rate is 41%. There are 6 murders, 67 attempted murders, 151 rapes, 34 carjackings, and 230 stolen cars PER DAY. There are 6.5 millions people infected with the AIDS virus and 1000 die of the disease daily. There are 2.5 million orphans. It is a country of great contrasts. On day 2, we will fly to Durban and begin our first hand look at the people that are represented in these statistics.

Catalytic adjective (kāt'l-ĭt'ĭk)

2008-04-23T21:14:00.002-05:00

Catalytic adjective (kāt'l-ĭt'ĭk) Something that provokes or speeds significant change.

This is a word that is being used a lot these days at Willow Creek. We are using it in describing the relationships, experiences, and environments that help us to move along on our journey to becoming more like Christ. On a journey you are going somewhere and not just remaining static. Our journey toward Christ should for the most part be an ever changing experience. When we are not moving we often say that we are “stuck.” As someone who has been stuck before I know that it is not a pleasant part of the journey. The way to begin to move again is for something catalytic to occur. Sometimes we need to make that happen by engaging a new relationship or experience. In other times God intervenes and provides a catalytic experience. I hope that we will all be looking for opportunities to move along on our journey toward a Christ Centered life.

Feed My Starving Children

2008-04-23T21:12:00.000-05:00

When Jesus unrolled the scroll in the synagogue in Nazareth he could have chosen any passage that he wanted to read. However he read the words of the prophet Isaiah: The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor… (Luke 4:17-19) Bringing the kingdom of God to the poor was always at the heart of the mission of Jesus. This weekend you carried on that work. In just two days you packed over 185,000 meals for starving children in Zimbabwe. Because of your efforts 508 poor children will be able to eat for the next year! These are children from a different culture that we will never meet but we can be assured that God cares for them and demonstrated it through your efforts. I was so encouraged by how many of you invited your friends and neighbors that do not attend Willow to be a part of this experience. My dream is for Barrington to become a community that is known for its compassion and not just its wealth. Your efforts this weekend were a significant step in this journey

Ubuntu

2008-04-17T11:11:00.002-05:00

I am preparing for my trip to Africa by reading a few books. In my reading I have come across the word Ubuntu. It means that each individuals humanity is expressed through his relationship with others. It flows from a Xhosa proverb that says "People are people through other people." This represents the African cultural focus on communty. This seems to stand in sharp contrast to our western focus on the individual. As I read this proverb I thought that the African way of life more closley resembles Gods intention for his people than the western way. It sounds a lot like the Acts 2 church "All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need." Acts 2:44-45. My hope is that our community would express the spirit of Ubuntu as we love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.

A Couple of Questions

2008-03-17T20:42:00.001-05:00

I am sure that many of you were here last weekend and heard Bill’s message, Relate. It is our desire to encourage everyone to engage in community in a way that will be most catalytic for your growth. That could mean a number of things including a Table, Small Group or Spiritual Friendship. For some of you it may be more than one of these. In my case I am a part of a Table in my neighborhood. It provides me a great opportunity to build relationships with other neighbors. However I also have a spiritual friendship where I meet once a week with another guy to share our lives and have accountability. I believe that this spiritual friendship is the most catalytic type of community for me personally at this time. However, God is not only interested in our personal transformation but is also interested in the transformation of our neighbor’s lives. I would encourage you to ask yourself two questions: What type of relationships would be most catalytic for your personal transformation and what types of relationships would be most catalytic for the transformation of your community?

How do we think about War and Peace

2008-02-06T08:31:00.001-06:00

Last weekend Bill Hybels delievered a message titled "Will Wars Ever Cease?" In this message Bill challenged all of us to think theologically about the important issue of war and peace. This is a difficult subject for many of us while we are engaged in a war in Iraq and in an election year. In many cases we divide our thinking on issues into secular and spiritual. We use a different set of ethics in issues such as war and economics than we do in our private lives. This type of dualistic thinking is convienient but unfortunatlnatly denies the gospel. The gospel teaches us that Jesus is Lord of everything. I would encourage you to begin your thinking about this issue with the belief that Jesus is Lord and that his kingdom will be a place of peace and justice. If we do this I think we can reach God honoring positions on this issue. However I do not necesarily believe we will all reach the same conclusions. Following Jesus in this world places us in a place of constant tension. A great example of this tension was the struggle of Dietrich Bonhoeffer on this issue. Bonhoeffer was opposed to violence and war. However in the end he became involved in the plot to kill Hitler. How could a pacifist be involved in an assasination plot? Bonhoeffer came to the conclusion that he could not love his neighbor as long as Hitler was in power. I encourage you to lay your secular ideas at the foot of the cross as you think prayerfully and theologically about this issue.

A season of change...

2008-01-28T15:54:00.000-06:00

This winter is indeed a season of change with the news that Gene Appel and Randy Frazee will be leaving Willow Creek in the coming months. Change is difficult and unsettling. When facing a time like this, we should ask ourselves a couple of important questions. The first is what is God trying to teach me through this experience? In all the challenging circumstances of our lives, God is working in and through us to recreate us in his image. This usually involves difficult circumstances. It is at times like these that we need draw close to God and recognize the opportunity to grow through the experience. When there is a transition in church leadership, we need to take the time to grieve the loss of what has been and to hope for what is to come. We need to come together as a community to move through this season in a way that will be honoring to God and our church. The second thing that we should do is ask what role God wants us to play during this time. I believe that it is especially at times like these that the “priesthood of believers” should shine. This is your church, and I would ask everyone to bring your best in the coming months. Willow has always risen to the challenge, and I know that this time will be no different. The vision is too great and the stakes are too high to do otherwise. I believe that if we do this and follow the leading of God we will look back on this season as a time of not just change, but of growth. I pray that we will discover together that …all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose (Rom.8:28).

Incarnation

2007-12-13T14:34:00.000-06:00

“And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a fathers only son, full of grace and truth (John 1:14).” The Incarnation is the amazing fact that God came to save us by living among us. In this season we celebrate the birth of Jesus and the presence of God among us. Jesus came and lived in the world so that he could change the world. This provides the basis for our desire to be the presence of Christ in our neighborhoods. We are seeking to bring the love of Christ into our communities by following the example of that Christ set for us. We want to bring change to our community by being present in our community. During the course of this year you have done this in so many ways. These have ranged from large scale compassion projects to simply taking the time to listen to a neighbor who is struggling with the pressures of life. The love that you have expressed to those in your community and around the world has made a difference in many lives this year. I can’t wait to see how we will come together to exhibit the presence of Christ in Barrington in 2008.

A Day of Thanksgiving

2007-11-21T10:40:00.000-06:00

Even though Thanksgiving is Thursday I am actually thinking back to this past weekend and what happened at our Weekend Services. We had the opportunity to see 296 people baptised in our three services. 167 of them got up out of their seats and were baptised based on Gene's invitation and the prompting of the Holy Spirit! There is nothing quite like being a part of a moment when God is so clearly moving in people's lives and changing eternal destinies. It was great reminder of God's activity in our midst. I am thankful to be able to be a part of what God is doing among us and to be able to share that journey with you. Happy Thanksgiving.

Fuel Thought

2007-10-24T18:51:00.000-05:00

Like many of you I have been re-reading the Exodus story. It is a great picture of God's love for his people. It is an amazing story of how God rescued his people and brought about their salvation. We are blessed to be people of the New Exodus. We are God's people who have been saved through the work of Jesus. As I was reading in Exodus 12:3-4 about the peoples preparation for the Passover the Lord gave these instructions to the people "Tell the whole community of Israel that on the tenth day of this month each man is to take a lamb for his family, one for each household. If any household is too small for a whole lamb, they must share one with their nearest neighbor, having taken into account the number of people there are. You are to determine the amount of lamb needed in accordance with what each person will eat." It is a reminder that even in Egypt God was preparing his people to care about their neighbor. He was preparing them to be a community and not just a collection of individuals. I hope that we can live out that vision to be a community that that is defined by our love for God and love for our neighbor.

Unified by Our Mission

2007-10-16T12:03:00.001-05:00

Our Area Pastor team has recently been reading through the book of Nehemiah and discussing it in relation to our work in Neighborhood Life. In Nehemiah 4:19, the author writes that “The work is extensive and spread out and we are widely separated from each other along the wall.” They are then reminded that even though they are widely dispersed they can support each other, and they can count on God’s faithfulness. It is the same way in the neighborhoods of Barrington. We have 31 Tables in addition to many individuals who are seeking to be the presence of Christ in our communities. We are unified by this mission. I hope that as you seek to follow Jesus in your everyday life you will be encouraged that you are not alone, but that you are a significant part of a larger story that God is writing in our community

Making a Big Difference

2007-10-16T12:00:00.000-05:00

Teenager Katie Veatch first become interested in Compassion Cottages through her parents. She admired the project as a “good concept for helping out people who don’t have any houses.” Then she took on some responsibility for raising awareness and funds herself through the sale of handmade beaded bracelets with a tiny cottage charm attached. Her idea for the project stemmed from the AIDS awareness bracelets she saw at Willow earlier this year.
With help from residents at the Green Castle Senior Home, Katie was able to create over 100 bracelets, which were available at the Compassion Cottage booth in the Barrington Sidewalk sale. The colorful glass bead bracelets have been put up for sale at different events and so far the jewelry has generated over $500 for Compassion Cottages.
Compassion Cottages is a project that originated in Barrington. The objective is to build homes for people who are still living in FEMA trailers or are without a home because of Katrina. However, Compassion Cottages does not wish to simply make homes, but establish a community in Pass Christian, Mississippi. The neighborhood will have a Volunteer Center that will serve as a place where residents can receive holistic counseling services and care.
Compassion Cottages has truly become a family project for the Veatchs. The father, Paul, helped to build the sample cottage that was turned into a float and won 2nd place in the Barrington Fourth of July parade. The mother, Nancy, got her start when she volunteered to head the marketing team for the float. Katie helped further by handing out hard-hats during the parade. Their daughter Susan got involved by helping to make bracelets and painting the cottage their signature color, “Compassion Coral”.
The cottage from the parade will travel to different churches on the way down to Pass Christian, Mississippi. Besides the first cottage, the initial build will be the Volunteer Center where people can stay while they help in the community. Compassion Cottages desires to have long term relationships with the people living in the homes they build.
Katie hopes the bracelets continue to sell and by speaking to the youth group at Saint Anne’s in Barrington she’ll encourage more teenagers to get involved in the project. The bracelets Katie made are packaged with an encouraging verse from 1 Peter 4:10, “Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.” Even a small amount of talent invested can make a big difference! As Paul Veatch says, “You get more out of it than you put into it.” You can find out more about Compassion Cottages through their website: www.compassioncottages.org

Interrupted by God

2007-10-01T13:57:00.000-05:00

"We must be ready to allow ourselves to be interrupted by God, who will thwart our plans and frustrate our ways time and again, even daily by sending people across our path with their demands and requests. We can then pass them by, preoccupied with our more important daily tasks, just as the priest perhaps reading the Bible passed by the man who had fallen among robbers (Luke 10:31). When we do that we pass by the visible sign of the cross raised in our lives to show us that God's way, and not our own is what counts..." Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I was reading this today and it reminded me of the times that I have been irritated by someone or something that distracted me from my plans. I wonder how often I have missed what God counts as important in my haste to accomplish what I deemed important. I pray God will give us all the ability to see His interruptions as invitations to really live the life of Christ.

What hinders you?

2007-09-11T09:05:00.001-05:00

What most hinders you from being the presence of Jesus in your community? I think if I am to be honest about what hinders me, it is busyness. I spend most of my time trying to equip others to live this life and then have little time to actually live it myself. My guess is that this is the case for many of you as well. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Take a Risk and Pray

2007-08-31T09:11:00.000-05:00

As we move toward fall and the start of another season of Neighborhood Life I want to ask you to take a risk and pray this simple prayer for the next 30 days:
God, what are you calling me to do to be the presence of Jesus
in my neighborhood?
I believe that God has placed us as his people in our communities for a reason. He has a part for us to play in the story that he is telling in our lives and the lives of those that live around us. Fredrick Buechner wrote that “the place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world’s deep hunger meet.” I want to challenge you to ask God to show you your unique role in your community and I want to ask you to listen to his voice and follow where he leads. I believe that if we join together in this prayer as a community we will sense God’s presence in our lives and in our community in a powerful way. I look forward to hearing how God leads you.

On Living Life

2007-08-30T22:34:00.000-05:00

More and more, the desire grows in me simply to walk around, greet people, enter their homes, sit on their doorsteps, play ball, throw water, and be known as someone who wants to live with them. It is a privilege to have the time to practice this simple ministry of presence. Still, it is not as simple as it seems. My own desire to be useful, to do something significant, or to be part of some impressive project is so strong that soon my time is taken up by meetings, conferences, study groups, and workshops that prevent me from walking the streets. It is difficult not to have plans, not to organize people around an urgent cause, and not to feel that you are working directly for social progress. But I wonder more and more if the first thing shouldn't be to know people by name, to eat and drink with them, to listen to their stories and tell your own, and to let them know with words, handshakes, and hugs that you do not simply like them, but truly love them. - Henri Nouwen

What if?

2007-08-30T21:11:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wondered what could happen if the churches in Barrington came together to advance the kingdom? What if we worked together not as members of a particular church or denomination, but as neighbors united by our faith in Christ and our desire to make a difference in our world? This year a group of neighbors from several Barrington churches constructed a float for the July 4th parade. This float will be the prototype for a home that will be built in Barrington and sent to a new community in Pass Christian, Mississippi . This community is being built to make a difference in the lives of victims of Hurricane Katrina. If you would like upcoming details about how you can be a part of this project visit the project website: http://www.compassioncottages.org/

Justice Journey

2007-08-30T21:02:00.000-05:00

This summer I had an experience called the Justice Journey. I traveled to the southern part of the United States and visited a number of places that were significant to the struggle for civil rights. As I think back on the experience I am reminded of these words spoken by a black woman who experienced the injustice of prejudice. She said, “I need you to feel things with me and not just explain them to me.”
Before we left for the Justice Journey this July, we prepared by reading John Perkins’ book Let Justice Roll Down. Perkins joined up with the group in Nashville and shared his story with us. From Tennessee to Alabama the group visited different sights important to civil rights and equality. The group walked together across the Edmond Pettus Bridge where many were killed in what was supposed to be only a march for voting rights. They visited the tomb of Martin Luther King Jr. and prayed for racial reconciliation.
One experience that was especially poignant for me was when the group stopped in Birmingham to visit the 16th Street Baptist Church where the 4 little girls were killed in the bombing of 1963. Everyone had just seen the documentary on the subject that morning and were standing right where it took place. The painfulness around the fact that innocent children had died was extremely moving.
The group took communion at the church and then walked across 16th Street to the Kelly Ingram Park where peaceful protests had turned violent. I walked along a park path flanked by sculptures of attacking police dogs and saw images of powerful fire hoses turned onto people. In the awareness of that moment, I was able to feel something of what it would be like to be involved in that kind of injustice.
“The saddest part of the trip was that the church at large didn’t say ‘You can’t claim to follow Christ and treat people like that.’” If the church had framed a conversation it could have been different and maybe the church could have lead the country through the reconciliation process, instead of just claiming that it was a political issue.” Which may lead us to ask: “Are there issues of justice in our community that we’re taking a pass on?”
Somehow it is more comfortable for us to stay focused on the intellectual side, to try and rationalize or explain things, but when you know someone’s story, you have a higher capacity to love them.

Open Eyes and Open Hearts

2007-08-29T09:14:00.000-05:00

Brenna Cogswell loves to talk about her recent trip to South Africa. She says the trip has “opened her eyes”. Her experiences, especially in caring for young African children, have given her a deeper understanding and compassion for the people there.
Brenna and her fellow volunteers from Willow’s Student Impact had a short trip packed with meaningful interactions. The students saw first hand the poverty of a squatter camp. They witnessed the shanty filled settlement community packed with people. The S.I. students talked with teenage volunteers at the Lynne Hybels center who give others valuable education on HIV/AIDS. Brenna held babies at an orphanage, she says sweetly, “until they fell asleep in my arms.”
The S.I. students cleaned, scraped floors, moved piles of dirt, and painted an elementary school. After the work was complete, they helped the school celebrate an open house by listening to the kids sing and serving food to 4500 people. They also assisted at the House of Hope, a home for AIDS orphans, and compared culture notes with the students they stayed with at a college for pastors in training.
It may seem Barrington, Illinois has little connection with South Africa, but it turns out the college students that Brenna and the others stayed with had music and movies in common. There was some disconnect with the cultural (and geographical) understandings when the college students asked Brenna if she lived next door to any of the pop music icons they both listened to. The mistakes just added to the fun. Neither set of students was too successful in language learning attempts. The S.I. students failed to teach the college students American slang, while the college students tried to teach them Afrikaans.
Brenna had little trouble conversing with the people there; one of the official languages of South Africa is English. Beyond the language, she was at ease making connections with the people and above all the children. Brenna found them to be loving and compassionate. The kids were eager to play, hug and just be with her. Brenna was struck by the fact that these sweet children lived in such sad conditions, yet they were filled with joy.
“Here you worry about if you shoes match your jeans,” she says, but there the people “have so little, but have more joy and have a better understanding of life at such a young age.” Brenna will be leaving Barrington soon to attend college. As she considers a school, top on her list is study abroad opportunities in South Africa. Brenna hopes to make more connections with Africa soon, “I feel like my heart is being pulled.” She says, “I already know that’s not the last time I’ll be there.”