tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9924531.post1399658416791303000..comments2007-11-18T16:51:08.493-05:00Ryanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11567686834716579572noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9924531.post-1532058406722407682007-11-18T16:51:00.000-05:002007-11-18T16:51:00.000-05:00The Truth About REVEAL<BR/><BR/>Friends,<BR/><BR/>I’m thrilled to see the high level of interest and energy behind the blogosphere comments about REVEAL. But I’ve read enough postings to think that it might be helpful to provide a few facts on three issues that keep coming up. Trust me. I’m not into “spin control” here. I just want to fill in some gaps.<BR/><BR/>1. It’s Not About Willow<BR/>• REVEAL’s findings are based on thirty churches besides Willow. In all thirty churches, we’ve found the six segments of REVEAL’s spiritual continuum, including the Stalled and Dissatisfied segments. And these churches aren’t all Willow clones. We’ve surveyed traditional Bible churches, mainline denominations, African-American churches and churches representing a wide range of geographies and sizes. Right now we’re fielding the survey to 500 additional churches, including 100 international churches. So, while REVEAL was born out of a Willow research project in 2004, the findings are not exclusive to Willow Creek.<BR/>2. Willow Repents?<BR/>• The first blog started with this question, and the answer is “yes”. But repenting is not a new experience for us. We’ve made a number of major course corrections over the years – like adding a big small group ministry for the thousands of new Christians coming to faith at Willow, and adding a mid-week service for our Christ-followers. We’ve always been a church in motion and REVEAL is just another example of Willow trying to be open to God’s design for this local church.<BR/>3. Is Willow Re-thinking its Seeker Focus?<BR/>• Simple answer – no. My boss would say that Willow is not just seeker-focused. We are seeker-obsessed. The power of REVEAL’s insights for our seeker strategy is the evangelistic strength uncovered in the more mature segments. If we can serve them better, the evangelistic potential is enormous, based on our findings.<BR/><BR/>I hope this was helpful. In any event, I’m enjoying following the dialogue. Keep it up! And let me know if you have any questions you’d like me to address.<BR/><BR/>Greg HawkinsAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9924531.post-62489391118044292782007-10-18T22:11:00.000-05:002007-10-18T22:11:00.000-05:00I heard someone say once, describing some Christian's spiritual depth (or lack of,)by saying they are a "mile wide and an inch deep."<BR/><BR/>What they meant by that is this: Christians can be very busy doing activities, but demonstrating very little spiritual depth.<BR/><BR/>Too much reliance on programs can take the focus away from good old fashioned discipleship (discipling others, quiet time, prayer, Bible study). But then who are we to think that we could improve on a strategy that Jesus Himself put into effect by the Great Commission?Thomas Ballardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13960104654837269676noreply@blogger.com