HEARTLAND -
http://www.heartland.cc/makingripples/HistoryofHeartlandVideo/tabid/89/Default.aspx
http://www.heartland.cc/Portals/0/media/simple/index.html
4100 people. 3 acres of carpet. Property of new church? SHOPPING MALL.
I never thought I would ever be participating and living life with a huge church. Heartland is what I called huge.
But it's been the most incredible place of 'transformational teaching' I've encountered yet. The messages are simple, practical and deep. That's the philosophy of Bill Hybels: teaching from the Word of God where anyone regardless of their spiritual journey can benefit from it. Heartland has officially partnered with Willow Creek Community Church. The church grew from 1998 with 22 people to now 4100. That's small compared to Willow's 20,000+, but Heartland expects the number to double in a year.
The biggest thing I noted from Heartland: the church is ALIVE, because the people are being transformed. It's certainly not alive because of mere emotion but God is stirring the people. You can't help but sense the 'buzz'.
I think people who frown upon evangelical Christianity have a rightful reason: too smug, too judgemental, too stiff, too religious and sometimes too unforgiving. We Christians have become stale and lost a sense of transparency in our lives.
Michele and I went to the Wednesday bible study at Willow and we saw the worship leader stopped after worship to discuss the health issues of his daughter in relating to a upcoming worship song he was leading to.
He was choking back the tears as he described how at times he doesn't want to be up there worshipping because his heart was just breaking over his daughter, but he knows life is bigger than just him. This guy literally sang with tears rolling down his eyes. It was true transparency. Afterwards Bill Hybels, in a very touching moment got up and asked everyone at Willow to stretch out their hand in unity to pray for this couple. It was a very poignant moment...seeing a sea of hands reaching out to pray for this couple. I heard many people weeping among thte 5000 in attendance at the bible study.
The church is truly alive and well.