Looking for the "Magic Key"

I remember my first visit to Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago with Pastor Bill Hybels.

In my first church experience, I served as the Youth Pastor and Christian Education Coordinator for a church of 600.  This visit was to solicit new ideas in order to better engage the community and the church based on the church model provided by Pastor Hybels and his staff.

Understanding that my visit took place in 1986, which I believe was either the first or second year of conferences that have become so increasingly popular, there were only 20 pastors in the room for this three day event.  I do not think that anyone in the room was looking for a magic key for successful ministry. 

What a change from those humble beginnings.  I was part of a church family in the early 90's that really bought into the "magic key" concept and only what was part of Willow Creek was allowed to take place in the church.  We did not grow, we grew tired, we doubted, we did raise a lot of money for reducing debt, we did give opportunity to everyone to participate in ministry that they were excellent in, we did love Jesus...but we did not grow and that pushed the church over the edge and that fine line that exists with "magic key" concepts was crossed over.

I am always amazed at the testimonies that so many different church models have presented over the last decade.  They have sought the will of God for their church family and their community and God has given them the blueprint for success.  We can gain insights, strength, perseverance in prayer, and faith in God to reach into our lives and then out to our community - we choose the adventure of following Jesus, we have hopeful moments, we are encouraged in the possibilities, not simply taking retreads of how we do church.