As a member of Willow Creek Community Church for 10 years,serving in the Orchestra there as well as leading New Believer groups,this video shattered me.I knew Vonda as a lovely,genuine authentic worship leader,and her story had me weeping.This was a church my husband and children came to faith in,and my husband and I were baptized by Bill Hybels.I even kept a note from him for many years thanking me for getting up in front of the congregation speaking of why I believe and trust in God.The body of Christ is severely damaged by such brokenness, secrets and cover ups.May God give us the courage and integrity to hold our leaders up to Biblical standards.
What's been most sad to me, is ACTUALLY NOT Bill Hybels' sin, cause of course we are all sinners saved by grace. However, what DOES DEEPLY SADDEN ME....has been Bill Hybels' DEAFENING SILENCE!!!! His lack of public repentance!!!! This man had a platform & influence that was world wide!!!! It's NOT about throwing stones, but him humbly repenting!!!!
@@bjones9338Yes but God was using his behaviour as a example of wot not 2 do. The pit falls of coverin up sin n the deep of the selfishness of men's hearts unless examined.
@@bjones9338 But let's NOT dismiss the fact, that a) David repented!!!! (But it still took Nathan to help David to c his sin) And David also suffered harsh consequences!!! Thru out Scripture, there's 1 of many principles threaded thru all of Scripture, "What you sow, you will reap." And also God does hold leaders to a higher standard!!! That's another thru line thru the Bible. I GLEANED SO MUCH from the Leader Summits as a young leader starting a new ministry. I will always be thankful for Willowcreek & Bill Hybels' for that!!! BUT I think what hurts ppl, me included, the 1 thing that Hybels taught, thru the 10 yrs, I attended the Conference & 1 oth conference, he led during the yr, he'd say, "The LOCAL CHURCH is the HOPE of the WORLD!!!" His leadership & influence, I recall, when Willowcreek members were SO not on the women's side, & I get it, he was their, ur Pastor!!! BUT Bill Hybels' influence was GLOBAL!!!! I BELIEVE in grace & forgiveness, BUT for a Xian leader who claimed to LOVE THE CHURCH so much, not just the local church but the whole church as a whole, I have felt more disillusioned, honestly, b/c if Bill Hybels' was true to what he believes, he would NOT remain quiet!!! He'd APOLOGIZE publicly!!!! I've only seen in the last few mths, b/c I was curious I thot maybe Bill Hybels' has now?!?! But this came up & oth things, & it was all old stuff. I saw this clip & decided to listen. I wz an listening to a podcast, where Rick Warren addresses Bill Hybels' kind of in passing. It was the 1st time I heard a Pastor of his peers say something. I say Rick Warren, in large part, b/c Rick Warren or John Maxwell, know him!!! And have been a part of the Mega Church Movement. I hated when I'd hear Bill Hybels' being judged b/c he was a the Lead Pastor of a Mega Church. I don't think it's fair to judge him b/c somehow it was the fault of being a leader of a mega Church. BUT it's disheartening that he hasn't shown accountability or humility, given what I did deep down think Hybels' believed!!!
Thank you Vonda for having the courage to share your story, and for highlighting the very low percentage of false accusations and call to action steps for church leadership.
Thanks for posting this, Julie. I'll share that carrying the pain of child rape for over 50yrs, I found it becoming increasingly lighter after telling the Greek Orthodox priests they are woefully ignorant about the trauma inflicted on innocent children by selfish rapists. My brother is a volunteer at a large GO church in Memphis, I told his priest. I heard all the same ol' 'pray for you' yet I continue to demand they express moral indignation toward my rapist instead of calling me a liar with no evidence to support such a ridiculous claim. Silence has consequences, and with child rapists, the results of the broader community keeping its collective heads in the sand are dyer. Took me almost a year to get one GO priest to say "I believe you" ... oh well, one step at a time, and I am pushing forward regardless of their ignorance. As with Vonda, silence is not an option for me any longer, either. And speaking out eases a heavy burden imposed on every victim. Embarrassment of shame is the rapist's to feel , although he may actually be totally numb to real emotions. Anyway, he can have his dirty secret back, I've carried it far too long. Thanks again.
What's really shocking is how often that abusers are given a platform to continue, even after admitting (in a self serving fashion - "I made a mistake" not "I'm a sexual predator") and everyone flocks around to say it's ok they're forgiven, as if that deletes the massive hurt they inflicted on so many and the shame they brought to their church... It's almost like people forget how offensive it is that a respected, trusted leader who is supposed to be an ambassador for God has done these things :(
I remember one day I was standing alone in our church kitchen. Our pastor started to walk in and he stopped in the doorway and asked me if I was alone. When I said I was he abruptly turned and left. I thought he was crazy but now I understand why. Leaders need to be held to a very high standard.
When I first became a believer in Christ back in 2016, I began attending willow creek and a youth leader at impact kept making fun of my facial features and hurled racial slurs at me. Paulo Plaza, a leader at impact, liked a girl and he thought that girl liked me so I suppose he was jealous. When he finally realized that girl never liked me, he stopped hurling racial insults at me. This indicates that he was being very covetous. Clearly, the leadership at willow creek is comprised of covetous people. Looking back, I wrongfully judged a church based on the actions of one leader, yet it turns out more of their leaders are covetous as well. Although my experience at this church was nowhere near as bad as the women abused, we should not be afraid to speak out against abuse of any kind. Covetous people need to be removed from positions of power because evidently, they abuse them.
I am so sorry you went through this. I have experienced something similar in a church by someone was a manipulator and put on a really good show. It was all about his image. When this person was let go because of what me and others witnessed about them, the tables were turned on me and I was seen as the problem. Narcissistic types thrive in this type of environment. The more people wake up to this type of behavior, the less damage they can do.
I am so sorry that this lady experienced what she did. All you people who keep saying well why didn’t this person come forward with allegations, why did they wait? Look at the cost this woman has had to pay because of what one sick man did and all the people around him who did their best to protect him and make it as hard as possible for victims to hold him accountable. Thank you brave lady, God knows how you have sacrificed for the body, for the bride.
I was there the night the church met to defend Bill. I found his explanation full of holes. When the congregation stood to give him a standing ovation, my husband and I sat in our seats as did others. What makes me sad is Hybels has never publicly admitted what he did. The church went from calling his accusers liars to saying they now believed them. Willow has never fully addressed the issues about Bill's actions to the congregation. They never held him accountable. After two years, my husband and I decided to leave Willow and are now at another church. The new pastor seems determined to renew Willow to its former hey day. I caught him plagiarizing from other sermons three times That was enough for me to decide Willow still doesn't get it.
it is not plagiarizing to re-use a powerful message. SMH. Imagine how entitled you have to feel to make that statement. you sided with the victims to the point you thought that the other 9,000 members of your church "were not worth it" and you ran. be honest. yes, Bill has fault and should be held accountable, but you ran. end of story. keep running each time they make you mad why forgive, forgiving and bearing your cross is for fools.
@@thomascampbell5633 each has to choose, but I wonder if our mentality and propensity to run affects four families, marriages and friendships? To me it seems we run too much and will not humble ourselves, forgive others or learn to suffer and carry our cross. I do not think running is the answer, you and others do, but there may be truth to both arguments. I have a feeling that the majority of the time, the vast majority what I am saying is true. Do you have the courage to admit that at all or will you just turn your eye and pretend that families are not broken and churches destroyed because people run and will not humble themselves and learn to forgive and bear with patience and humility. Look those words up and think about what the speakers meant.
When this came to light I was a supporter of bill... I had been attending since mid eighties took a break in 90’s ( found a church closer to my home) but came back in 00’s cause it just felt like home ... I vividly remember a message where bill had told the congregation in a service where he would never put himself in a one on one with a woman... he said he would always have a third party present to act as chaperone for both parties... I’m an extremely political person and me too movement was gaining in popularity, I thought it was more out to harm reputations of churches and spiritual leaders... When this got out I defended the accusations against bill , after all he told us he would never be in a situation with a woman present alone so I completely supported him ... but I sat in church and was present for a church family meeting and afterwards I was dubious of bill ... When he got his chance to speak things didn’t add up in my mind and he showed no emotion whatsoever in my opinion... but what bothered me was the elders had knowledge of this years before and we never knew of any of it ... what sealed the deal for me and I became a believer of the women was when it was disclosed about Michigan and he was going to meet with the publisher of his books and she drove there to meet him , he was on his boat and alone ... and they were going to have dinner and I think he asked her to pick a bottle of wine up on the way to picking him up ...I could not believe he as intelligent as he was would be so STUPID!!! But far and away the worst thing that the church suffered at least in my opinion is we had a young unbelievable pastor named Steve carter and he left the church... he was the most prolific teacher and related to every single person who he met ... he had a passion that was so genuine and generous and he had just been made for teaching pastor position... and when the real truth came to light he had been scheduled to teach on Sunday morning at 9 am and Matt lundgren came on stage and said that carter was in back sick with stomach flu and he would do message instead ...Steve was sick of the lies and couldn’t stand to be in the church for even one more day ... he left THEY LIED !!! and he was gone !!! and I believe that was the worst part of this whole situation... we lost the best teacher we ever had ...!!!... Me too hit us big time...
I am so impressed with her courage! This is a shocking story about the insidious way the devil destroys believers and the church through abuse by clergy. I am a pastor myself and I am now aware of the trust church leaders receive. This is sacred. We need to call out sin and stop protecting pastors who abuse their position.
It is a very good thing that the epidemic of sexual harassment and abuse in the church is being exposed. At the same time, we need to understand that emotional and spiritual abuse is rampant, too, and also needs to be exposed. Not all abuse is physical in nature.
For most of my life, I have purposely had men who will affirm and also call me if they see something in me that is not good. They are close enough to me, and all of us are so transparent that we know when someone shows any slight deviation from God's will.
I would have left the church over the 1999 issue. Not sure what Scripture would lead me to another conclusion. I would not have remained on staff to allow myself to be subjected to further abuse.
Ok, so why are women so determined to stay in this situation? I don’t get it, seeing as how this isnt 1900 anymore. Are we so delusional that we don’t think if it happened to one person it would happen to others? And yet, they’re still going along and doing their jobs at the church? ONE such violation makes null and void that man’s integrity and his entire ministry. Get out immediately! And where are all the husbands and fathers that should be giving these guys black eyes?! We, as the body of Christ should not put up with this crap for years and then yell foul after the game is over! The wicked are fearful but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Proverbs 28:1
Have you ever been groomed? This evil man had been doing this for years. He knew how to do it and do it well. He gained trust. He owned people. She was shocked & stunned & I am sure frozen at what was happening. She is a strong person to do what she did and what she continues to do. Also, hind sight is always 20/20
If that happened to me would have left the church. Why would she stay in that ministry with him? Bizarre. As Christian we are called to expose these people.
Because that's the message that is drilled into the heads and spirits of evangelical women - forgive, forgive, forgive. And greatly reinforced when the elders and deacons just ignore their behavior.
Thank you for bravely telling us what happened & for outlining much needed tactics in preventing or dealing with sexual abuse or any sinful activity affecting a congregation. While all those tactics are important, one very needed step nearly everyone, not all, but most have forgotten, especially WCCC, is repentance. Without repentance, true reconciliation cannot occur. Reconciliation is not the same as forgiveness. The Bible offers numerous examples of what repentance & reconciliation looks like. Joseph & his bros. is a great example. He didn't seek reconciliation with his bros. until he learned whether they had repented of their actions against him. Once Joseph determined they had repented, only then did he seek reconciliation with them. WCCC, including Hybels has much to repent of. Hybels ego is a problem, which may prevent him from ever repenting. We must pray that he allows God to work on his heart so that he ultimately does the right thing by all his victims, by Christ & the church he claims to love. Repentance means you recognize the wrong you have done & seek to make amends. I pray WCCC sincerely & prayerfuly considers the need for repentance and pursues it. Only then will they & Hybels' victims be able to truly reconcile & move on from the nightmare caused by Bill Hybels.
Sorry, So very sorry! I did not know of these things at Willow Creek Church in Illinois! I'm shocked! [No Lie!] I'm Morris L. Walton - Author of "Welcome to My Journal: Poems for Knowledge, Understanding, Love, and Revelation" - '2010 - '2021 God, I/we pray that you now breathe freely, Ms. Vonda Dyer! 04-24-2021
Remember the fruit of the Spirit? Glorious. Galatians 5. Just a few verses before ... "Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God." It's amazing how the Scripture juxtaposes good and evil for contrast. These abuses creep in because big money stirs up greed and covetousness which then lead to a host of other sins. Many church "leaders" in America today are busy implying/insinuating that without big money you can't have church. I wonder what that's all about? No mention of the Cross. No mention of the sufferings of the Saints. No mention of a Suffering Savior. A totally fake Jesus is presented. Surprise. A fake Jesus doesn't solve anything. The REAL Jesus ... "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross." You can't have church without the Word of God. The early church (you know the one actually written about) were a poor crowd who had the right to be thrown in jail and have the key thrown away and God showed the glorious mediation of Christ through them. Where was the money? It was virtually non-existent.
I only hoped that the victim of Dr. Zachariah came forward before his passing as this sister in Christ has done…..just so he would’ve given a chance to repent and make it right with his family and the decades of vital ministries he and his associates carried on! Thank you for your wisdom to be obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit in this! Thank you again.
Man I’m soooo sorry this happened to you. When you say you listened to the Holy Spirit .. how did you hear Him? I don’t know of any other way to hear Him except through scripture, was this some kind of audible voice? Some kind of feeling? Thanks ..
There is one sexual sin that scripture alone calls out specifically…adultery. There’s no need or room for further interpretation or translation. Very clever people can rationalize and philosophize the other sexual sins, but adultery is made 100% clear. Adultery and affairs have destroyed more Protestant churches than any other reason, I would posit. As for the Roman Catholic Church, obviously it’s the pedophile priests, and so difficult to understand how it remains to exist. *Note: Bill Hybels was/is married so I am calling his sin under the umbrella of adultery, although he his actions can be categorized colloquially under sexual abuse, assault, or “misconduct”.
How it remains to exist? How the Catholic Church continues to exist?… or how there may still be pedophile priests who have not yet been brought to account? The Catholic Church has 1.4 billion members worldwide. It’s the largest religion in the world. The early Christians started to use the word Greek word Catholic around the year 100, because Christianity was spreading to different countries and also heresies were arising. So, the word Catholic, which in English means “universal,” was meant to signify that this was the universal standard by which Christian believers everywhere should adhere. This was “orthodoxy,” standard Christian beliefs. So, the Catholic Church is ancient. It’s weathered thousands of years of wars, invasions, persecutions, good popes, bad popes, you name it. Jesus told Peter (whose name is translated “rock”), “you are rock and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ and He ordained that His Church would continue and prevail. He also said there would be both wheat and weeds in His Church. Pedophile priests are weeds, obviously and need to be rooted out! Statistically, they are 3%, whereas 97% of priests are NOT abusers. But they need to be rooted out! But 3% bad priests are not going to destroy a Church that God has sustained for 2,000 years. May God bless and strengthen, guide and comfort all His people everywhere.
Protestant churches can all be traced to a specific person who started them … Calvinism (John Calvin of France), Lutheran church (Martin Luther of Germany), …. Anglicanism (King Henry VIII of England), and so forth. The Catholic Church cannot be traced to anyone other than Jesus Christ himself, because it is the original Christian church. … It is accused of being prideful and boastful for saying this, but there is no reason for pride, only humility before God. Jesus was falsely accused of pride and blasphemy for saying He was God. His Church is likewise accused of pride and blasphemy for claiming to be started by Jesus. Jesus said if the world hates me, it will hate you too. 🙏
@@flowergirl-pp7vz That is not even a claim of the Catholic Church, which only claims the papacy back to Peter. That in itself is not even rock solid evidence, pun intended. Literally nothing can be traced back to Jesus Christ, not even his alleged words.
@@DL-rl9bd “which only claims the papacy back to Peter”? Only? What do you mean by that? Are you aware that Peter was one of Jesus‘ Apostles, upon whom Jesus founded His Church? I assumed you were aware of that, but you might not be. Peter was not a man who lived in the 1500’s like Martin Luther or John Calvin, the men who started the Protestant Revolution. I was assuming you knew that. … I am a lifelong Catholic, and the Catholic Church most definitely claims that it was started by Jesus Christ. Peter is the first Pope, not because the Church “made” him the first Pope. Jesus Himself changed Simon’s name to Peter (rock) and said to Peter -- “You are rock and on this rock I will build my church.” Jesus started His church with Peter, and he is our first Pope. That really can’t be any more clear. .. This isn’t something Catholics believe out of pride. It’s history.
@@flowergirl-pp7vz Yes, the key word being “claims”. It’s merely a faith-based claim based upon a massive attempt at extrapolation, and additional interpretation of the concept of “upon this rock”, while ignoring all of the context around it. It’s funny because I guess it’s one time when Catholics believe in sola scriptura. The Roman papacy didn’t really begin until the sixth century as far as historical facts are concerned.
Rare is the church that handles abuse properly though it confesses it has “ Gods word”….This proves behavior is not changed by words in a book, no matter how much you read it, study it or claim God is found in its pages. It’s just not true.
Hi all: The issues with Pastor Bill Hybels, Pastor John O, and others, of "Willow Creek Community Church" in Barrington, IL do not invalidate any of the bible scriptures and the writings within any of my text books, [Period!]. Additionally so and of equal importance, those issues do not invalidate the bible [Period!]. "Bless it be the name of the Lord our God!" For: [THE LOVE OF GOD IS ABSOLUTELY, MAGNIFICENT!] - BOOK I, SECTION [4.9]. THE JOURNEYMAN SPEAKS, [Forevermore!], Amen! Morris L. Walton 05-13-2021
My apologies for the abused if you are going to have vocation to religious life you must represent the leadership of the host the body and blood of Christ. Lapses of judgement is to allow sex offender's among teenagers, minors and families in your church family.
@@BP-sk7lp so am i though.. Its (sin) what we are struggling everyday if we are honest.. Only then we can win against it.. We all need to admit after all of our sin/weakness..
@@johnsumampau3145 A simple lapse into sin or moral failure is very different from being a play actor (hypocrite), deceiver, and a wolf/predator: one in a position of power over others who deliberately disguises oneself (a wolf in sheep's clothing) to use, abuse, and prey upon the flock of God. Genuinely struggling against one's own sins and seeking God is not the person Hybels demonstrated himself to be. He is a wolf, a fraud, a spiritual abuser, a sexual predator, and a deceiver. I truly hope that you are nothing like him.
@@BP-sk7lp you are so right. These abusers portray themselves as " like everyone else here" and " I just make mistakes" that we are to forgive and move on past. But what made me realize they are very different, is that they have often been willingly and consciously doing these things for years! And they are the top spiritual leaders! This is just on a whole other conscience-searing level. Can you grasp yourself doing what they are doing and managing the coverups as well? The lies? The hypocricy? The destruction to lives you are causing? This is in no way "just mistakes". This is predatory wolf behavior. (in my opinion, the doctrine of OSAS helps excuse and allow this type of outrageous, sinful behaviour. After all, under that doctrine, how can you call a wolf a wolf as long as they are claiming "Lord, Lord!" ? Matt. 7 ).
The thing is, this (and stories like this) should also lead Christians to wonder whether Christianity is actually true in the first place. It doesn’t seem to though.
So...a man made an unwanted sexual advance and the Holy Spirit had to tell you to nope out of there? I could see if you were attracted to him and about to give in to temptation, but... The Holy Spirit didn't talk to you -- didn't need to...and, assuming it did, then, why didn’t it actually help you when it counted, further on down the road when you were being canceled? Christians that describe their inner voice as divine are absolutely unbearable to listen to. Yeah, somehow that isn’t taking the Lord's name in vain or blasphemy -- no, that’s just testimony. What garbage....
@zaclevans The Holy Spirit is not an "it" He is God the Holy Spirit. If you are born again and have a close relationship with God, then you can, from time to time, hear the inner voice of the Holy Spirit promoting or convicting us. He also gives us dreams and visions. The bible tells us that. Shalom and blessings
Pornography is the on-ramp to this activity. In this society saturated by constant sexual imagery to an insane unprecedented level, the church has to talk A LOT about pornography, arm our kids, arm our adults, thoughtfully, carefully, consistently. It’s really uncomfortable to talk about, for many people, but plans must be laid and carried out vigorously.
Pornography isn't the problem. The problem is the growing number of people who are okay when humans are trafficked so they can be repeatedly raped for the stimulation of others. It's a caste system, some people aren't fully human and are dispensable. There would be no porn industry if there were no customers ready to pay for porn.
Gosh, this sounds just like what's happening currently with IHOPKC and Mike Bickel. Same devil, same deception, different victims. May this exposure bring conviction of sin and repentance. Thank you Vonda for choosing truth over fear!
I gave my life to Jesus at WCCC in 1989, and attended there for years, playing in the Orchestra and being involved with student ministries before moving south. I actually just read about this today, but I'm not surprised any longer at any high-profile "pastor" that is exposed. The Lord is preparing His bride and this includes extreme cleansing from all filth and hypocrisy. I will pray for BG to repent and get healed, this is a sick, deep-seated sin, but Jesus is the miracle healer and can do all things. I'm so sorry that Vonda and others went through that experience and I'm glad they spoke up.
I was abused by 2 Methodist ministers in a row while still in my twenties and they both in their fifties and the damage was severe. I noticed the same personality traits and leadership style in Bill Hybels and wasn't in the least bit surprised when the allegations against him surfaced. So terribly sad.
It’s now been five years and the pastor Vonda is talking about has suffered zero consequences, and the ten women she references have never gotten reparations for him ruining their lives. He lives a life of a multimillionaire, gallivanting around his many homes around the globe, enabled and still praised by his family. I used to love reading his daughter’s books, and it sickens me every time she talks about another vacation in the Bahamas or at the lake with him. How was he ever allowed to just say, I’m not going to deal with this. I don’t get it. Heartbroken for all the women, there were probably more than the ten that Vonda mentions. Thank you for your courage to speak up. I used to watch WC online, I don’t anymore.
The elephant in the room, however, is the idol that both the Catholic Church and the modern Evangelical Church have created: men as the sole leaders. Whatever anyone feels about women in the pulpit, there is absolutely no reason why women should have to go to a male pastor, male deacon, or all-male committee to give the details of their abuse or for guidance on how to deal with abuse and/or grooming. There should be all-female options, and I'm talking about women with the actual power to do something. Do you know how many women never report their abuse because they don't want to have to run that all-male gauntlet? In reality, probably most of them. And the second elephant in the room is the Evangelical rejection of personal counseling and marriage counseling. There are many Christian psychologists and LCSWs, and the church should never make women (or anyone) feel ungodly for seeking professional help. I have been a devout Christian for decades, and I am also a victim of sexual assault, once by a church member when I was a teen and once as an adult, not church-related. Instead of hiding those incidents for decades, I can tell you what I would do now, I don't care what my pastor and deacons say. If something illegal is done, I'm going to the police. No Matthew 18, no forgiveness until the perpetrator faces the consequences for his actions. I will then seek counseling, and not from anyone related to my church. Finally, if my husband abuses me physically, sexually, emotionally, financially or spiritually, I will leave him and I will not return until I deem it safe to do so, no matter what the pastor, elder, deacons, etc. say I should do. The church has set women and children up for abuse, and now it's reaping the whirlwind. Men without any accountability is the problem.
I believe you Vonda😢💔 Courage is the Hardest and Most right thing you must walk through. What I'm most impressed with is your Pure Devotion to Jesus! That's Beautiful! May God continue to use you and May the Lord richly bless your Family🙏🔥in Jesus name By the Blood!
Bless you Vonda ,I myself have been through this abuse many times with Church pastors and tha with my husband ,unbelievable how Evil sexual sin thrives in our churches and the hurt one goes through when the women come forth with the abuse …it’s so sad that the women that are victims become victims again (sex ,hate ,jealousy ,believe me are running through our churches to the place where one pastor in our town got a young women pregnant and murdered her and buried her in his yards (her body was found 5yrs later ) Evil is taking over the minds of pastors and men in our church’s (the men defend the me. because so many of them are into pornography or affairs ,lies ,God is angry and God himself opened wide the evil my husband was doing in secret and his sins were unbearable …God opened up the evil going on in my home ….I have so many story’s of sexual abuse in churches ,it hurts when you the victim has to leave the church and the evil sex addict gets to stay and the people Pat him on the back ,say he can change ,no he can’t change because he thrives on what he’s doing and secretly getting away with it (Evil must be put out of our churches or God will not honor these buildings (so called Gods house ) they are not Gods house because God hates Evil ,and tells us to have nothing to do with Evil ,not to even eat with Evil people ….prayers 🙏my lady for strength ,and love for whoever God puts in your life ……When God fights with you ,you have Victory ……
Good biblical sound advice. Sad story sadly all too common. We're falling prey to wolves in sheep's clothing but we're not completely blameless. We've sought out leaders who would scratch our itching ears.
I have been preaching for years about false Christianity. If you want to know who someone worships don't let them know that you are a Believer and put down the Bible God and Jesus. They will simply say I'll pray for you it won't really bother them. But then ask them what church they go to and put down the church and their pastor and they will call for your head. They will hate you openly. What Vonda experienced was exactly that. Church people idolize their Church and their pastor they are modern-day idols. I have been preaching this for years and this testimony is living proof.
Recently I've been asking other pastors why we always leap to protect and believe the pastors rather than protecting the sheep. A deep dive into 1 Peter 5 has totally renovated my thoughts in this space. Peter didn't exhort elders and leaders to lead a worthy life, he explicitly WARNED us to live a life worthy of being imitated by those we lead as an example of a Christ-like walk!
I just ask why she went to his room alone? leader meeting in his room doesn't make sense? We have to be wise and avoid situations that seem sinful. What he did wasn't right but what they did wasn't either.
I want to thank this woman for her message. I am not a church leader but am in a position where i could easily abuse my position and influence. This message spoke to me very powerfully to be on guard from my own human weaknesses. I must do my work as if God is watching and he is. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thankyou for this. I was wondering where the men were in this comment section. And finally I saw not only a man biologically, but because of your comment it seems that you have the humility of a true servant of Christ.
@@Loveispatient76 The last thing I would want to do is hurt Christ’s name as a result of my failures. He deserves better from me. I have made mistakes and am grateful he is merciful, patient and kind. I’ve needed plenty of all three.
The Holy Spirit spoke through you, Vonda, without a doubt! I was at Willow Creek from 1988 - 2011. I remember that in 2018, right before the Tribune article came out, I read a blog in which most of the comments were saying that Bill Hybels would "never do anything like this." I wrote that I was at Willow in 1998 (the year Bill invited you up to his room and told you that you and he could "lead Willow together), and I wrote that in my opinion if you and Nancy Beach said inappropriate things happened...then...inappropriate things happened! I saw both of you for many years, and I also had the pleasure of having dinner (nothing expensive) with your husband, Scott...who, I could tell was just as authentic as you and Nancy Beach. 95% tbe people who were "pro Hybels" on this blog were not around in 1998, and they did not remember a couple of very important things that Bill Hybels made a "big deal" about in the mid 90's...such as when he openly told Willow that he did not drink...and although he did not find anything "wrong" with drinking per se...for the sake of "Christ and the church" he thought it was better that he did not drink. Also, on many occassions on weekend services Bill Hybels stated that he thought it was "extremely" important that he was never alone with a woman-the Billy Graham rule. So, when you stated that Bill invited you to his room for a drink...red flags went off all over the place. Why? Because Bill was doing the very things that he made such a big deal about "no doing" for many years. That, coupled with what I experienced for years of both you and Nancy Beach as godly, authentic women...made me believe that without a doubt you and Nancy were telling the truth. The next day, the article in the Tribune came out. I am so sorry that you and the 8 other women involved were "not believed" by a majority of the people who were at Willow when the story started coming out. You strength of character was never in doubt in my eyes, and to watch this video of God clearly and profoundly speaking through you to the No More Silence Conference was a very powerful experience for me. Thank you for your increfible courage, Vonda! Steve Schreiner For Willow Creek Community Church Member Licensed Profession Counselor
I was recently coerced into a sexual posistion by a pastor. I can’t help but think how he so arrogantly preaches Gods word every Sunday without any remorse. He hasn’t apologized or anything and I know he hasn’t repented. I know he’s doing this to more women.
THE WIFE: Something similar happened to me several times, in little different ways. What shakes me up is that there are so many people who live two lives. Not that they are imperfect. But, they are thoughtfully hiding themselves in order to deceive others. They make a life of destroying the reputation of another. They take the focus off themselves who are guilty, and put everyone's attention on another who is innocent. It is very important that you came forward! God says that we are to expose these things. We also must remember that Hybels held a position where he was to be "above reproach" so we should never feel bad exposing any incident to an elder board. They too, proved themselves to be nothing but hired hands. "They leave because they have no concern for the sheep." This group was only concerned for their own reputations. It sickens me.
Thank you DTS for this relevant in service Didactic to future teaching elders. Perhaps this is a lesson about the superior ecclesiology of Churches remaing small, amd planting other churches when they are large and out of control. Discipleship requires effective church discipline.
"I LOVE this church....and I love God too." I heard Bill say that in a sermon the one time I visited this church. That immediately turned me off so I'm not surprised at all by this.
Well Vonda my heart goes out to you. It is a sad but common truth both the manipulation of authority and the way the church treated you. I don't know if you learned a lesson from it or not but I learned a long time ago that these churches in America and probably worldwide are nothing more than corporations and are more like Cults than anything. If you did not learn from that experience you will learn from the next Church you join. I went through dozens they're all the same. That's the problem with modern-day Christianity once saved always saved so there is no repentance anymore there is no fear of God there is no accountability.
Years ago I read and was inspired by his book, "Too busy not to pray". Looking back, I realized he was preying... Preying on women. Sadly, Ravi Zacharias, another gifted preacher was doing the same thing behind closed doors
I heard a sermon that Hybels daughter actually held. She said she has a life long male friend that she called to meet him since she was in his area. She said he declined as examined that he doesn't want to give his wife a reason to suspect anything. She saud she respected that and incorporated it into her own life. BTW, Hybels used to take annual shipping excursions. Fly to Great Britain a take a luxury cruise back. What was happening there?
Hybells needed to be exposed, no question. BUT, the culpabilities of the women caught in these situations needs to be accounted for, too. This woman, like many others, is a grown adult with her own sense of ethics, and her own sense of discernment or lack of discernment must be considered. One should not automatically think that the woman is 100% victim. Often they are not. Not saying that is necessarily the case with this particular woman, but that it needs to be considered. False claims are not 'rare'.
Institutions have a way of "circling the wagons" because there are so many people dependent on the institution that when a flaw is uncovered with top leadership, it seems to be in the interest of most involved parties to support the the public face of the institution.
As a member of Willow Creek Community Church for 10 years,serving in the Orchestra there as well as leading New Believer groups,this video shattered me.I knew Vonda as a lovely,genuine authentic worship leader,and her story had me weeping.This was a church my husband and children came to faith in,and my husband and I were baptized by Bill Hybels.I even kept a note from him for many years thanking me for getting up in front of the congregation speaking of why I believe and trust in God.The body of Christ is severely damaged by such brokenness, secrets and cover ups.May God give us the courage and integrity to hold our leaders up to Biblical standards.
All people are sinners. King David is an excellent example. Should we hold our leaders up to the standard set by King David?
@@bjones9338 Whoever still becomes a pastor today must be a mentally deranged masochist
What's been most sad to me, is ACTUALLY NOT Bill Hybels' sin, cause of course we are all sinners saved by grace. However, what DOES DEEPLY SADDEN ME....has been Bill Hybels' DEAFENING SILENCE!!!! His lack of public repentance!!!! This man had a platform & influence that was world wide!!!! It's NOT about throwing stones, but him humbly repenting!!!!
@@bjones9338Yes but God was using his behaviour as a example of wot not 2 do. The pit falls of coverin up sin n the deep of the selfishness of men's hearts unless examined.
@@bjones9338 But let's NOT dismiss the fact, that a) David repented!!!! (But it still took Nathan to help David to c his sin) And David also suffered harsh consequences!!!
Thru out Scripture, there's 1 of many principles threaded thru all of Scripture, "What you sow, you will reap." And also God does hold leaders to a higher standard!!! That's another thru line thru the Bible. I GLEANED SO MUCH from the Leader Summits as a young leader starting a new ministry. I will always be thankful for Willowcreek & Bill Hybels' for that!!! BUT I think what hurts ppl, me included, the 1 thing that Hybels taught, thru the 10 yrs, I attended the Conference & 1 oth conference, he led during the yr, he'd say, "The LOCAL CHURCH is the HOPE of the WORLD!!!" His leadership & influence, I recall, when Willowcreek members were SO not on the women's side, & I get it, he was their, ur Pastor!!! BUT Bill Hybels' influence was GLOBAL!!!! I BELIEVE in grace & forgiveness, BUT for a Xian leader who claimed to LOVE THE CHURCH so much, not just the local church but the whole church as a whole, I have felt more disillusioned, honestly, b/c if Bill Hybels' was true to what he believes, he would NOT remain quiet!!! He'd APOLOGIZE publicly!!!! I've only seen in the last few mths, b/c I was curious I thot maybe Bill Hybels' has now?!?! But this came up & oth things, & it was all old stuff. I saw this clip & decided to listen. I wz an listening to a podcast, where Rick Warren addresses Bill Hybels' kind of in passing. It was the 1st time I heard a Pastor of his peers say something. I say Rick Warren, in large part, b/c Rick Warren or John Maxwell, know him!!! And have been a part of the Mega Church Movement. I hated when I'd hear Bill Hybels' being judged b/c he was a the Lead Pastor of a Mega Church.
I don't think it's fair to judge him b/c somehow it was the fault of being a leader of a mega Church. BUT it's disheartening that he hasn't shown accountability or humility, given what I did deep down think Hybels' believed!!!
Thank you DTS for giving this woman a platform.
Thank you Vonda for having the courage to share your story, and for highlighting the very low percentage of false accusations and call to action steps for church leadership.
If I told my husband something like this the perpetrator would have been in some real trouble and would not have walked away quietly.
This is so so good. I hope this goes viral in this day and age. She covers it so well. Even appealing to the perpetrators.
Thanks for posting this, Julie. I'll share that carrying the pain of child rape for over 50yrs, I found it becoming increasingly lighter after telling the Greek Orthodox priests they are woefully ignorant about the trauma inflicted on innocent children by selfish rapists. My brother is a volunteer at a large GO church in Memphis, I told his priest. I heard all the same ol' 'pray for you' yet I continue to demand they express moral indignation toward my rapist instead of calling me a liar with no evidence to support such a ridiculous claim. Silence has consequences, and with child rapists, the results of the broader community keeping its collective heads in the sand are dyer. Took me almost a year to get one GO priest to say "I believe you" ... oh well, one step at a time, and I am pushing forward regardless of their ignorance. As with Vonda, silence is not an option for me any longer, either. And speaking out eases a heavy burden imposed on every victim. Embarrassment of shame is the rapist's to feel , although he may actually be totally numb to real emotions. Anyway, he can have his dirty secret back, I've carried it far too long. Thanks again.
Very brave. God's strength to you in this.
Where is this woman’s cape!?!? She’s a hero mama bear, what an awesome human being! Proud to call you my sister in Christ!
What's really shocking is how often that abusers are given a platform to continue, even after admitting (in a self serving fashion - "I made a mistake" not "I'm a sexual predator") and everyone flocks around to say it's ok they're forgiven, as if that deletes the massive hurt they inflicted on so many and the shame they brought to their church... It's almost like people forget how offensive it is that a respected, trusted leader who is supposed to be an ambassador for God has done these things :(
Exactly! And no acknowledgement of the harm inflicted or any attempts to make reparations. Just trying to protect the self.
Amen! It seems the perpetrators become the victims while the true victims are never heard or ministered to.
I remember one day I was standing alone in our church kitchen. Our pastor started to walk in and he stopped in the doorway and asked me if I was alone. When I said I was he abruptly turned and left. I thought he was crazy but now I understand why. Leaders need to be held to a very high standard.
I think this is a key point. Church leaders need extensive accountability, and should avoid even the appearance of impropriety.
When I first became a believer in Christ back in 2016, I began attending willow creek and a youth leader at impact kept making fun of my facial features and hurled racial slurs at me. Paulo Plaza, a leader at impact, liked a girl and he thought that girl liked me so I suppose he was jealous. When he finally realized that girl never liked me, he stopped hurling racial insults at me. This indicates that he was being very covetous. Clearly, the leadership at willow creek is comprised of covetous people. Looking back, I wrongfully judged a church based on the actions of one leader, yet it turns out more of their leaders are covetous as well. Although my experience at this church was nowhere near as bad as the women abused, we should not be afraid to speak out against abuse of any kind. Covetous people need to be removed from positions of power because evidently, they abuse them.
💔💔💔 I am so sorry!!! Thank you for sharing so bravely!
The holy spirit in me testifies for you, Vonda. I believe you. Thank you, you are brave!
I am so sorry you went through this. I have experienced something similar in a church by someone was a manipulator and put on a really good show. It was all about his image. When this person was let go because of what me and others witnessed about them, the tables were turned on me and I was seen as the problem. Narcissistic types thrive in this type of environment. The more people wake up to this type of behavior, the less damage they can do.
I am so sorry that this lady experienced what she did. All you people who keep saying well why didn’t this person come forward with allegations, why did they wait? Look at the cost this woman has had to pay because of what one sick man did and all the people around him who did their best to protect him and make it as hard as possible for victims to hold him accountable. Thank you brave lady, God knows how you have sacrificed for the body, for the bride.
Exactly.
Aptly said!!!!
I was there the night the church met to defend Bill. I found his explanation full of holes. When the congregation stood to give him a standing ovation, my husband and I sat in our seats as did others. What makes me sad is Hybels has never publicly admitted what he did. The church went from calling his accusers liars to saying they now believed them. Willow has never fully addressed the issues about Bill's actions to the congregation. They never held him accountable. After two years, my husband and I decided to leave Willow and are now at another church. The new pastor seems determined to renew Willow to its former hey day. I caught him plagiarizing from other sermons three times That was enough for me to decide Willow still doesn't get it.
it is not plagiarizing to re-use a powerful message. SMH. Imagine how entitled you have to feel to make that statement. you sided with the victims to the point you thought that the other 9,000 members of your church "were not worth it" and you ran. be honest. yes, Bill has fault and should be held accountable, but you ran. end of story. keep running each time they make you mad why forgive, forgiving and bearing your cross is for fools.
@@andyarellanoChannel Some things and some places have a season and that goes for church too. Victim shame much??
@@SeeCSeesCC dont tell me, you are a runner too. why forgive or understand that the church is greater than any one man. run, you fool.
@@andyarellanoChannel There's nothing wrong with deciding to attend a different church, especially for reasons like those described in this video.
@@thomascampbell5633 each has to choose, but I wonder if our mentality and propensity to run affects four families, marriages and friendships? To me it seems we run too much and will not humble ourselves, forgive others or learn to suffer and carry our cross. I do not think running is the answer, you and others do, but there may be truth to both arguments. I have a feeling that the majority of the time, the vast majority what I am saying is true. Do you have the courage to admit that at all or will you just turn your eye and pretend that families are not broken and churches destroyed because people run and will not humble themselves and learn to forgive and bear with patience and humility. Look those words up and think about what the speakers meant.
When this came to light I was a supporter of bill... I had been attending since mid eighties took a break in 90’s ( found a church closer to my home) but came back in 00’s cause it just felt like home ... I vividly remember a message where bill had told the congregation in a service where he would never put himself in a one on one with a woman... he said he would always have a third party present to act as chaperone for both parties... I’m an extremely political person and me too movement was gaining in popularity, I thought it was more out to harm reputations of churches and spiritual leaders... When this got out I defended the accusations against bill , after all he told us he would never be in a situation with a woman present alone so I completely supported him ... but I sat in church and was present for a church family meeting and afterwards I was dubious of bill ... When he got his chance to speak things didn’t add up in my mind and he showed no emotion whatsoever in my opinion... but what bothered me was the elders had knowledge of this years before and we never knew of any of it ... what sealed the deal for me and I became a believer of the women was when it was disclosed about Michigan and he was going to meet with the publisher of his books and she drove there to meet him , he was on his boat and alone ... and they were going to have dinner and I think he asked her to pick a bottle of wine up on the way to picking him up ...I could not believe he as intelligent as he was would be so STUPID!!! But far and away the worst thing that the church suffered at least in my opinion is we had a young unbelievable pastor named Steve carter and he left the church... he was the most prolific teacher and related to every single person who he met ... he had a passion that was so genuine and generous and he had just been made for teaching pastor position... and when the real truth came to light he had been scheduled to teach on Sunday morning at 9 am and Matt lundgren came on stage and said that carter was in back sick with stomach flu and he would do message instead ...Steve was sick of the lies and couldn’t stand to be in the church for even one more day ... he left THEY LIED !!! and he was gone !!! and I believe that was the worst part of this whole situation... we lost the best teacher we ever had ...!!!... Me too hit us big time...
Might be interesting for Julie to interview Steve Carter.
I can't believe how long this goes on before these goons get called on the carpet.
Respect and support from Croatia!! Expose these monsters, they are everywhere
I found this woman totally credible
Thank you so much for being so brave and helping the wounded who have been crushed through abuse - you’re my new hero!!
I am so impressed with her courage!
This is a shocking story about the insidious way the devil destroys believers and the church through abuse by clergy. I am a pastor myself and I am now aware of the trust church leaders receive. This is sacred.
We need to call out sin and stop protecting pastors who abuse their position.
It is a very good thing that the epidemic of sexual harassment and abuse in the church is being exposed. At the same time, we need to understand that emotional and spiritual abuse is rampant, too, and also needs to be exposed. Not all abuse is physical in nature.
Exactly.
I believe every word your saying and what’s sad is that many women don’t believe other women or blame them for it
My heart is broken for each and every brother n sister that has been hurt by representatives of our church or church family
I wonder if we will ever know how many people knew what was happening and kept quiet. Systems that reward silence are evil.
For most of my life, I have purposely had men who will affirm and also call me if they see something in me that is not good. They are close enough to me, and all of us are so transparent that we know when someone shows any slight deviation from God's will.
I would have left the church over the 1999 issue. Not sure what Scripture would lead me to another conclusion. I would not have remained on staff to allow myself to be subjected to further abuse.
Thank you for sharing your experience! I pray that God continues to give you grace.
Why are Bill Hybels youtube videos still up?
not everybody believes her
Why is he not in jail?
MS &T he’s rich and has connections I’m sure
Net Worth: 48 million
@Dennis Yen i would leave that church with my family right away.
Vonda, This is profound! You are strong and courageous, boldly speaking truth!
Wow! Watching this on this last day of the year- Dec 31st, 2023! This needs to be watched by all, especially in light of the IHOPKC mess. #ihopkc
Vonda Dyer - inspired by your courage
Ok, so why are women so determined to stay in this situation? I don’t get it, seeing as how this isnt 1900 anymore. Are we so delusional that we don’t think if it happened to one person it would happen to others? And yet, they’re still going along and doing their jobs at the church? ONE such violation makes null and void that man’s integrity and his entire ministry. Get out immediately! And where are all the husbands and fathers that should be giving these guys black eyes?! We, as the body of Christ should not put up with this crap for years and then yell foul after the game is over!
The wicked are fearful but the righteous are as bold as a lion.
Proverbs 28:1
Have you ever been groomed? This evil man had been doing this for years. He knew how to do it and do it well. He gained trust. He owned people. She was shocked & stunned & I am sure frozen at what was happening. She is a strong person to do what she did and what she continues to do.
Also, hind sight is always 20/20
Admirable courage!
If that happened to me would have left the church. Why would she stay in that ministry with him? Bizarre. As Christian we are called to expose these people.
Because that's the message that is drilled into the heads and spirits of evangelical women - forgive, forgive, forgive. And greatly reinforced when the elders and deacons just ignore their behavior.
Thank you for bravely telling us what happened & for outlining much needed tactics in preventing or dealing with sexual abuse or any sinful activity affecting a congregation.
While all those tactics are important, one very needed step nearly everyone, not all, but most have forgotten, especially WCCC, is repentance. Without repentance, true reconciliation cannot occur. Reconciliation is not the same as forgiveness. The Bible offers numerous examples of what repentance & reconciliation looks like. Joseph & his bros. is a great example. He didn't seek reconciliation with his bros. until he learned whether they had repented of their actions against him. Once Joseph determined they had repented, only then did he seek reconciliation with them.
WCCC, including Hybels has much to repent of. Hybels ego is a problem, which may prevent him from ever repenting. We must pray that he allows God to work on his heart so that he ultimately does the right thing by all his victims, by Christ & the church he claims to love. Repentance means you recognize the wrong you have done & seek to make amends. I pray WCCC sincerely & prayerfuly considers the need for repentance and pursues it. Only then will they & Hybels' victims be able to truly reconcile & move on from the nightmare caused by Bill Hybels.
Thank You For Sharing ❤️
🤔 ☹️ 🤨 👀
What also happens in some churches is that the parents force their daughters to marry a member of the church in order to get citizenship
Yes I'm so glad you are sharing this! Address sin churches! Thank you
Julie, thank you for exposing the dark side of the church.
Sorry, So very sorry! I did not know of these things at Willow Creek Church in Illinois! I'm shocked! [No Lie!] I'm Morris L. Walton - Author of "Welcome to My Journal: Poems for Knowledge, Understanding, Love, and Revelation" - '2010 - '2021 God, I/we pray that you now breathe freely, Ms. Vonda Dyer! 04-24-2021
Remember the fruit of the Spirit? Glorious. Galatians 5. Just a few verses before ...
"Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God."
It's amazing how the Scripture juxtaposes good and evil for contrast.
These abuses creep in because big money stirs up greed and covetousness which then lead to a host of other sins. Many church "leaders" in America today are busy implying/insinuating that without big money you can't have church. I wonder what that's all about? No mention of the Cross. No mention of the sufferings of the Saints. No mention of a Suffering Savior. A totally fake Jesus is presented. Surprise. A fake Jesus doesn't solve anything. The REAL Jesus ... "For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross."
You can't have church without the Word of God. The early church (you know the one actually written about) were a poor crowd who had the right to be thrown in jail and have the key thrown away and God showed the glorious mediation of Christ through them. Where was the money? It was virtually non-existent.
Is this the same Vonda that was a major singer in worship at Willow Creek?
Thank you
I only hoped that the victim of Dr. Zachariah came forward before his passing as this sister in Christ has done…..just so he would’ve given a chance to repent and make it right with his family and the decades of vital ministries he and his associates carried on! Thank you for your wisdom to be obedient to the call of the Holy Spirit in this! Thank you again.
Man I’m soooo sorry this happened to you. When you say you listened to the Holy Spirit .. how did you hear Him? I don’t know of any other way to hear Him except through scripture, was this some kind of audible voice? Some kind of feeling? Thanks ..
I will share: it’s a thought, but inspired. ALWAYS lines up with God’s holy word too.
" those outside the church God judges, remove the Wicked Man from yourselves"
WHY IS A "pastor" DRINKING WINE?????
God help us
There is one sexual sin that scripture alone calls out specifically…adultery. There’s no need or room for further interpretation or translation. Very clever people can rationalize and philosophize the other sexual sins, but adultery is made 100% clear. Adultery and affairs have destroyed more Protestant churches than any other reason, I would posit. As for the Roman Catholic Church, obviously it’s the pedophile priests, and so difficult to understand how it remains to exist.
*Note: Bill Hybels was/is married so I am calling his sin under the umbrella of adultery, although he his actions can be categorized colloquially under sexual abuse, assault, or “misconduct”.
How it remains to exist? How the Catholic Church continues to exist?… or how there may still be pedophile priests who have not yet been brought to account? The Catholic Church has 1.4 billion members worldwide. It’s the largest religion in the world. The early Christians started to use the word Greek word Catholic around the year 100, because Christianity was spreading to different countries and also heresies were arising. So, the word Catholic, which in English means “universal,” was meant to signify that this was the universal standard by which Christian believers everywhere should adhere. This was “orthodoxy,” standard Christian beliefs. So, the Catholic Church is ancient. It’s weathered thousands of years of wars, invasions, persecutions, good popes, bad popes, you name it. Jesus told Peter (whose name is translated “rock”), “you are rock and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.” The Catholic Church was established by Jesus Christ and He ordained that His Church would continue and prevail. He also said there would be both wheat and weeds in His Church. Pedophile priests are weeds, obviously and need to be rooted out! Statistically, they are 3%, whereas 97% of priests are NOT abusers. But they need to be rooted out! But 3% bad priests are not going to destroy a Church that God has sustained for 2,000 years. May God bless and strengthen, guide and comfort all His people everywhere.
Protestant churches can all be traced to a specific person who started them … Calvinism (John Calvin of France), Lutheran church (Martin Luther of Germany), …. Anglicanism (King Henry VIII of England), and so forth. The Catholic Church cannot be traced to anyone other than Jesus Christ himself, because it is the original Christian church. … It is accused of being prideful and boastful for saying this, but there is no reason for pride, only humility before God. Jesus was falsely accused of pride and blasphemy for saying He was God. His Church is likewise accused of pride and blasphemy for claiming to be started by Jesus. Jesus said if the world hates me, it will hate you too. 🙏
@@flowergirl-pp7vz That is not even a claim of the Catholic Church, which only claims the papacy back to Peter. That in itself is not even rock solid evidence, pun intended. Literally nothing can be traced back to Jesus Christ, not even his alleged words.
@@DL-rl9bd “which only claims the papacy back to Peter”? Only? What do you mean by that? Are you aware that Peter was one of Jesus‘ Apostles, upon whom Jesus founded His Church? I assumed you were aware of that, but you might not be. Peter was not a man who lived in the 1500’s like Martin Luther or John Calvin, the men who started the Protestant Revolution. I was assuming you knew that. … I am a lifelong Catholic, and the Catholic Church most definitely claims that it was started by Jesus Christ. Peter is the first Pope, not because the Church “made” him the first Pope. Jesus Himself changed Simon’s name to Peter (rock) and said to Peter -- “You are rock and on this rock I will build my church.” Jesus started His church with Peter, and he is our first Pope. That really can’t be any more clear. .. This isn’t something Catholics believe out of pride. It’s history.
@@flowergirl-pp7vz Yes, the key word being “claims”. It’s merely a faith-based claim based upon a massive attempt at extrapolation, and additional interpretation of the concept of “upon this rock”, while ignoring all of the context around it. It’s funny because I guess it’s one time when Catholics believe in sola scriptura. The Roman papacy didn’t really begin until the sixth century as far as historical facts are concerned.
Rare is the church that handles abuse properly though it confesses it has “ Gods word”….This proves behavior is not changed by words in a book, no matter how much you read it, study it or claim God is found in its pages. It’s just not true.
Hi all:
The issues with Pastor Bill Hybels, Pastor John O, and others, of "Willow Creek Community Church" in Barrington, IL do not invalidate any of the bible scriptures and the writings within any of my text books, [Period!]. Additionally so and of equal importance, those issues do not invalidate the bible [Period!].
"Bless it be the name of the Lord our God!" For: [THE LOVE OF GOD IS ABSOLUTELY, MAGNIFICENT!] - BOOK I, SECTION [4.9]. THE JOURNEYMAN SPEAKS, [Forevermore!], Amen!
Morris L. Walton
05-13-2021
Punishment?
My apologies for the abused if you are going to have vocation to religious life you must represent the leadership of the host the body and blood of Christ. Lapses of judgement is to allow sex offender's among teenagers, minors and families in your church family.
Asmodeus demon
Proud that Vonda confronted Bill Hybels, this man needed to be exposed. His egotistical unstable personality was an absolute disgust
HYPERSEXUALITY.
SIN.
As a man i like to apolagize in behalf of my brothers doing.. Its a sin that we all men face to everyday..
Why would you refer to Hybels as a 'brother'? He is a wolf and a fraud, not a Christian.
@@BP-sk7lp so am i though.. Its (sin) what we are struggling everyday if we are honest.. Only then we can win against it.. We all need to admit after all of our sin/weakness..
@@johnsumampau3145
A simple lapse into sin or moral failure is very different from being a play actor (hypocrite), deceiver, and a wolf/predator: one in a position of power over others who deliberately disguises oneself (a wolf in sheep's clothing) to use, abuse, and prey upon the flock of God. Genuinely struggling against one's own sins and seeking God is not the person Hybels demonstrated himself to be. He is a wolf, a fraud, a spiritual abuser, a sexual predator, and a deceiver. I truly hope that you are nothing like him.
@@BP-sk7lp you are so right. These abusers portray themselves as " like everyone else here" and " I just make mistakes" that we are to forgive and move on past. But what made me realize they are very different, is that they have often been willingly and consciously doing these things for years! And they are the top spiritual leaders! This is just on a whole other conscience-searing level. Can you grasp yourself doing what they are doing and managing the coverups as well? The lies? The hypocricy? The destruction to lives you are causing? This is in no way "just mistakes". This is predatory wolf behavior. (in my opinion, the doctrine of OSAS helps excuse and allow this type of outrageous, sinful behaviour. After all, under that doctrine, how can you call a wolf a wolf as long as they are claiming "Lord, Lord!" ? Matt. 7 ).
Does anyone have any photos of her in 1998? Asking for a friend.
No where is the church called the bride of Christ. New Jerusalem, the great city is.
Very observant
What an unbiblical church. Woman pastors and elders!?!?!?!
Your not a real church!!
The thing is, this (and stories like this) should also lead Christians to wonder whether Christianity is actually true in the first place. It doesn’t seem to though.
Christianity is as real as Satan. It is an imperfect world made up of imperfect people.
Problem , why not resign right away and turn him in right away!!! I believe you but you didn't until you were let go. Makes you look insincere
I don't believe you and you play the victim role. Shame on you.
Why don't you believe her?
What proof do you have of this? You need to give some evidence. I believe her!
God bless Bill Hybels ...
So...a man made an unwanted sexual advance and the Holy Spirit had to tell you to nope out of there? I could see if you were attracted to him and about to give in to temptation, but...
The Holy Spirit didn't talk to you -- didn't need to...and, assuming it did, then, why didn’t it actually help you when it counted, further on down the road when you were being canceled?
Christians that describe their inner voice as divine are absolutely unbearable to listen to. Yeah, somehow that isn’t taking the Lord's name in vain or blasphemy -- no, that’s just testimony. What garbage....
@zaclevans
The Holy Spirit is not an "it" He is God the Holy Spirit. If you are born again and have a close relationship with God, then you can, from time to time, hear the inner voice of the Holy Spirit promoting or convicting us. He also gives us dreams and visions. The bible tells us that. Shalom and blessings
@@peterforrest4503 So the HS has a penis, then?
Pornography is the on-ramp to this activity. In this society saturated by constant sexual imagery to an insane unprecedented level, the church has to talk A LOT about pornography, arm our kids, arm our adults, thoughtfully, carefully, consistently. It’s really uncomfortable to talk about, for many people, but plans must be laid and carried out vigorously.
Pornography isn't the problem. The problem is the growing number of people who are okay when humans are trafficked so they can be repeatedly raped for the stimulation of others. It's a caste system, some people aren't fully human and are dispensable. There would be no porn industry if there were no customers ready to pay for porn.
Use the work LUST! Pornography scares men away... it freaks guys out and w ego into a shell until the lightning and thunder passes...
Gosh, this sounds just like what's happening currently with IHOPKC and Mike Bickel. Same devil, same deception, different victims. May this exposure bring conviction of sin and repentance. Thank you Vonda for choosing truth over fear!
Oh gosh. That's exactly what I was thinking.
I gave my life to Jesus at WCCC in 1989, and attended there for years, playing in the Orchestra and being involved with student ministries before moving south. I actually just read about this today, but I'm not surprised any longer at any high-profile "pastor" that is exposed. The Lord is preparing His bride and this includes extreme cleansing from all filth and hypocrisy. I will pray for BG to repent and get healed, this is a sick, deep-seated sin, but Jesus is the miracle healer and can do all things. I'm so sorry that Vonda and others went through that experience and I'm glad they spoke up.
Really, I wonder who you are, I was there at the same time. Dick swemen performed my wedding. Today everyone is a victim.
I was abused by 2 Methodist ministers in a row while still in my twenties and they both in their fifties and the damage was severe. I noticed the same personality traits and leadership style in Bill Hybels and wasn't in the least bit surprised when the allegations against him surfaced. So terribly sad.
I am sorry about what happened to you. Praying for you.
God heals
I’m so sorry for what you went through!
Thank you for your bravery. This is widespread and seldom believed.
I respect your courage to come out.God bless you.
It’s now been five years and the pastor Vonda is talking about has suffered zero consequences, and the ten women she references have never gotten reparations for him ruining their lives. He lives a life of a multimillionaire, gallivanting around his many homes around the globe, enabled and still praised by his family. I used to love reading his daughter’s books, and it sickens me every time she talks about another vacation in the Bahamas or at the lake with him. How was he ever allowed to just say, I’m not going to deal with this. I don’t get it. Heartbroken for all the women, there were probably more than the ten that Vonda mentions. Thank you for your courage to speak up. I used to watch WC online, I don’t anymore.
Didn't he resign from Willow Creek?
The elephant in the room, however, is the idol that both the Catholic Church and the modern Evangelical Church have created: men as the sole leaders. Whatever anyone feels about women in the pulpit, there is absolutely no reason why women should have to go to a male pastor, male deacon, or all-male committee to give the details of their abuse or for guidance on how to deal with abuse and/or grooming. There should be all-female options, and I'm talking about women with the actual power to do something. Do you know how many women never report their abuse because they don't want to have to run that all-male gauntlet? In reality, probably most of them. And the second elephant in the room is the Evangelical rejection of personal counseling and marriage counseling. There are many Christian psychologists and LCSWs, and the church should never make women (or anyone) feel ungodly for seeking professional help. I have been a devout Christian for decades, and I am also a victim of sexual assault, once by a church member when I was a teen and once as an adult, not church-related. Instead of hiding those incidents for decades, I can tell you what I would do now, I don't care what my pastor and deacons say. If something illegal is done, I'm going to the police. No Matthew 18, no forgiveness until the perpetrator faces the consequences for his actions. I will then seek counseling, and not from anyone related to my church. Finally, if my husband abuses me physically, sexually, emotionally, financially or spiritually, I will leave him and I will not return until I deem it safe to do so, no matter what the pastor, elder, deacons, etc. say I should do. The church has set women and children up for abuse, and now it's reaping the whirlwind. Men without any accountability is the problem.
Women pastors for women and children only.
Thank you for your bravery.
I believe you Vonda😢💔 Courage is the Hardest and Most right thing you must walk through. What I'm most impressed with is your Pure Devotion to Jesus! That's Beautiful! May God continue to use you and May the Lord richly bless your Family🙏🔥in Jesus name By the Blood!
Bless you Vonda ,I myself have been through this abuse many times with Church pastors and tha with my husband ,unbelievable how Evil sexual sin thrives in our churches and the hurt one goes through when the women come forth with the abuse …it’s so sad that the women that are victims become victims again (sex ,hate ,jealousy ,believe me are running through our churches to the place where one pastor in our town got a young women pregnant and murdered her and buried her in his yards (her body was found 5yrs later ) Evil is taking over the minds of pastors and men in our church’s (the men defend the me. because so many of them are into pornography or affairs ,lies ,God is angry and God himself opened wide the evil my husband was doing in secret and his sins were unbearable …God opened up the evil going on in my home ….I have so many story’s of sexual abuse in churches ,it hurts when you the victim has to leave the church and the evil sex addict gets to stay and the people Pat him on the back ,say he can change ,no he can’t change because he thrives on what he’s doing and secretly getting away with it (Evil must be put out of our churches or God will not honor these buildings (so called Gods house ) they are not Gods house because God hates Evil ,and tells us to have nothing to do with Evil ,not to even eat with Evil people ….prayers 🙏my lady for strength ,and love for whoever God puts in your life ……When God fights with you ,you have Victory ……
Good biblical sound advice. Sad story sadly all too common. We're falling prey to wolves in sheep's clothing but we're not completely blameless. We've sought out leaders who would scratch our itching ears.
I have been preaching for years about false Christianity. If you want to know who someone worships don't let them know that you are a Believer and put down the Bible God and Jesus. They will simply say I'll pray for you it won't really bother them. But then ask them what church they go to and put down the church and their pastor and they will call for your head. They will hate you openly. What Vonda experienced was exactly that. Church people idolize their Church and their pastor they are modern-day idols. I have been preaching this for years and this testimony is living proof.
Recently I've been asking other pastors why we always leap to protect and believe the pastors rather than protecting the sheep. A deep dive into 1 Peter 5 has totally renovated my thoughts in this space. Peter didn't exhort elders and leaders to lead a worthy life, he explicitly WARNED us to live a life worthy of being imitated by those we lead as an example of a Christ-like walk!
I just ask why she went to his room alone? leader meeting in his room doesn't make sense? We have to be wise
and avoid situations that seem sinful. What he did wasn't right but what they did wasn't either.
This is so stupid! What do you do when you trust someome? So easy to say what you say!
I want to thank this woman for her message. I am not a church leader but am in a position where i could easily abuse my position and influence. This message spoke to me very powerfully to be on guard from my own human weaknesses. I must do my work as if God is watching and he is. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
Thankyou for this. I was wondering where the men were in this comment section. And finally I saw not only a man biologically, but because of your comment it seems that you have the humility of a true servant of Christ.
@@Loveispatient76 The last thing I would want to do is hurt Christ’s name as a result of my failures. He deserves better from me. I have made mistakes and am grateful he is merciful, patient and kind. I’ve needed plenty of all three.
This girl should be commended for her standing strong against abuse in the church. It has been hidden too long.
The Holy Spirit spoke through you, Vonda, without a doubt!
I was at Willow Creek from 1988 - 2011. I remember that in 2018, right before the Tribune article came out, I read a blog in which most of the comments were saying that Bill Hybels would "never do anything like this." I wrote that I was at Willow in 1998 (the year Bill invited you up to his room and told you that you and he could "lead Willow together), and I wrote that in my opinion if you and Nancy Beach said inappropriate things happened...then...inappropriate things happened! I saw both of you for many years, and I also had the pleasure of having dinner (nothing expensive) with your husband, Scott...who, I could tell was just as authentic as you and Nancy Beach.
95% tbe people who were "pro Hybels" on this blog were not around in 1998, and they did not remember a couple of very important things that Bill Hybels made a "big deal" about in the mid 90's...such as when he openly told Willow that he did not drink...and although he did not find anything "wrong" with drinking per se...for the sake of "Christ and the church" he thought it was better that he did not drink. Also, on many occassions on weekend services Bill Hybels stated that he thought it was "extremely" important that he was never alone with a woman-the Billy Graham rule. So, when you stated that Bill invited you to his room for a drink...red flags went off all over the place. Why? Because Bill was doing the very things that he made such a big deal about "no doing" for many years. That, coupled with what I experienced for years of both you and Nancy Beach as godly, authentic women...made me believe that without a doubt you and Nancy were telling the truth. The next day, the article in the Tribune came out.
I am so sorry that you and the 8 other women involved were "not believed" by a majority of the people who were at Willow when the story started coming out. You strength of character was never in doubt in my eyes, and to watch this video of God clearly and profoundly speaking through you to the No More Silence Conference was a very powerful experience for me. Thank you for your increfible courage, Vonda!
Steve Schreiner
For Willow Creek Community Church Member
Licensed Profession Counselor
I was recently coerced into a sexual posistion by a pastor. I can’t help but think how he so arrogantly preaches Gods word every Sunday without any remorse. He hasn’t apologized or anything and I know he hasn’t repented. I know he’s doing this to more women.
Thank you for your courage Vonda
THE WIFE: Something similar happened to me several times, in little different ways. What shakes me up is that there are so many people who live two lives. Not that they are imperfect. But, they are thoughtfully hiding themselves in order to deceive others. They make a life of destroying the reputation of another. They take the focus off themselves who are guilty, and put everyone's attention on another who is innocent. It is very important that you came forward! God says that we are to expose these things. We also must remember that Hybels held a position where he was to be "above reproach" so we should never feel bad exposing any incident to an elder board. They too, proved themselves to be nothing but hired hands. "They leave because they have no concern for the sheep." This group was only concerned for their own reputations. It sickens me.
Thank you DTS for this relevant in service Didactic to future teaching elders. Perhaps this is a lesson about the superior ecclesiology of Churches remaing small, amd planting other churches when they are large and out of control. Discipleship requires effective church discipline.
"I LOVE this church....and I love God too." I heard Bill say that in a sermon the one time I visited this church. That immediately turned me off so I'm not surprised at all by this.
Well Vonda my heart goes out to you. It is a sad but common truth both the manipulation of authority and the way the church treated you. I don't know if you learned a lesson from it or not but I learned a long time ago that these churches in America and probably worldwide are nothing more than corporations and are more like Cults than anything. If you did not learn from that experience you will learn from the next Church you join. I went through dozens they're all the same. That's the problem with modern-day Christianity once saved always saved so there is no repentance anymore there is no fear of God there is no accountability.
Years ago I read and was inspired by his book, "Too busy not to pray". Looking back, I realized he was preying... Preying on women. Sadly, Ravi Zacharias, another gifted preacher was doing the same thing behind closed doors
I believe you Vonda.
Ty you tho . Your very brave!
Why would a pastor invite a woman (not married to the pastor) to his room? AND why would she agree to even consider such a dangerous question?
I heard a sermon that Hybels daughter actually held. She said she has a life long male friend that she called to meet him since she was in his area. She said he declined as examined that he doesn't want to give his wife a reason to suspect anything. She saud she respected that and incorporated it into her own life.
BTW, Hybels used to take annual shipping excursions. Fly to Great Britain a take a luxury cruise back. What was happening there?
Hybells needed to be exposed, no question. BUT, the culpabilities of the women caught in these situations needs to be accounted for, too. This woman, like many others, is a grown adult with her own sense of ethics, and her own sense of discernment or lack of discernment must be considered. One should not automatically think that the woman is 100% victim. Often they are not. Not saying that is necessarily the case with this particular woman, but that it needs to be considered. False claims are not 'rare'.
I can only imagine the shock, betrayal & other feelings Vonda felt during that attack.
Bravo!! This was good. 💕💕 And is still relevant to 2024!!
Institutions have a way of "circling the wagons" because there are so many people dependent on the institution that when a flaw is uncovered with top leadership, it seems to be in the interest of most involved parties to support the the public face of the institution.
Man how desperate was Bill Hybels. 😅