Hmmm...

As one of the leaders in the seeker-sensitive movement, Willow Creek church has done a study within the last year about their ministry and its effectiveness. Below is a 13-minute video clip that explains a bit of one pastor's struggle and conclusions drawn from that struggle: https://argomail.uwf.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://revealnow.com/story.asp?storyid=48 Since that study was done, Willow Creek is now trying to market their research study methods to other churches. That is quite interesting to me because a lot of churches nationwide looked to their church(es) for a method for ministry and found that they were taking a seeker-sensitive approach. Willow Creek has now paid an estimated $3 M to "discover" what many people have been telling them for years (that ministry their way wasn't drawing people to cultivate a deeper, more intimate relationship with Jesus, but merely entertaining the SUPPOSED seeker). Now, Willow Creek is marketing their research study and tools to churches across the nation. This may be a bit harsh, but don't they realize that THEY indoctrinated tons of leaders from churches with the "seeker-sensitive" virus and now that they have realized that does not work, they are providing "the cure" by selling a research software system to correct the problem that THEY caused? Ugh. Is Willow Creek just looking for another way to make money? Do they care about correcting the things that were found wrong with their methods via research study? Also, there are many problems involved with their study because it is not very objective. Respondents are giving details about their own spiritual journey and reporting where they are spiritually: explorer, seeker, committed to church, Jesus is the center of everything. Who can know their own heart? A more effective method for attaining such information would have been through observational research and not through a survey. That is merely my own opinion after having studied communication research during the course of attaining my Bachelor's degree. I am sorry for the rant. I love the body of Christ and it angers me when people in leadership are primarily concerned with methods about running a church. It is not a business! Without the Father, it WILL not grow. Church is about Him, not us. The seeker can come, but unless God drags us to Himself, we will not naturally come to Him. It is not in our nature to love God and enjoy Him-- HE must ignite us and make us alive, lest we remain in our sinful state forever. It all begins and ends with Him. When church is approached as a good business deal, it is tainted and risks becoming a thriving empire instead of a connection point for lasting community among believers.