Willow Creek has been a leading influence on church culture. 30 years of ministry summed up by an admission of failure in creating mature Christian believers. I think Willow Creek taught us a lot about presentation, programming and professionalism in church. To strive for excellence is still a key component of ministry. What I think Hybels is saying is summed up in this statement.

Some of the stuff that we have put millions of dollars into thinking it would really help our people grow and develop spiritually, when the data actually came back, it wasn’t helping people that much. Other things that we didn’t put that much money into and didn’t put much staff against is stuff our people are crying out for.

Excellent programming came at the expense of discipleship. What we need to get away from teaching conversion and move towards embracing transformation. In the April 2009 issue of Enrich Magazine, David Moran writes an excellent article on discipleship titled, Make the More Like Jesus. He begins his article with the statement. “Our Pentecostal churches are filled with a crowd, not disciples”. He goes on to ask, “Who is the most successful pastor in the PAOC? Is it the one with the largest crowd? No, it is the one who is making the most disciples”