Bill Hybels Gets Standing Ovation at Church Meeting; Says Sexual Misconduct Claims Are ‘Flat-Out’ Lies

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Bill Hybels Gets Standing Ovation at Church Meeting; Says Sexual Misconduct Claims Are ‘Flat-Out’ Lies

(Screenshot: Willowcreek.tv)Bill Hybels, founder of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, speaks to the congregation in October 2017.

Bill Hybels, founder and senior pastor of the multi-campus Willow Creek Community Church, received standing ovations from the congregation after he addressed multiple allegations of sexual misconduct over the weekend.

“I was not afraid to come to this meeting tonight. I know the heart of this church. I knew that you would give all of us an even hearing. You wouldn’t rush to judgment,” Hybels said at a “church family meeting” Friday night, according to Chicago Tribune.

During the meeting, the congregation was told about three inquiries overseen by elders over the last four years that have cleared Hybels of misconduct.

Three leaders on the board of Willow Creek Association, a nonprofit organization related to the church, earlier resigned over what they believed was an insufficient inquiry.

“I will do my level best if you allow me to continue to serve here until October when I will retire. I’m going to serve my heart out,” Hybels added, after which the congregation stood up and applauded.

Hybels first announced in May 2012 that he would start the process of succession. He named his successors — Heather Larson, who will…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – The Christian Post.

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March for Our Lives rallies draw more than two million people

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March for Our Lives rallies draw more than two million people

The largest student protest in American history took place on Saturday. More than two million students and their supporters packed the streets in Washington, DC, and more than eight hundred other events in the US and around the world.

The DC rally was funded by Oprah Winfrey, George and Amal Clooney, and other celebrities. It was led by students from Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida, who vowed to make reducing gun violence the central issue of their generation. The White House issued a statement Saturday: “We applaud the many courageous young Americans exercising their First Amendment rights today.”

Meanwhile, other groups gathered at the nationwide marches in support of the Second Amendment. “I came to open dialogue,” one participant explained.

The first recorded use of a firearm was in 1364. While guns were obviously not available in the biblical era, Scripture does encourage self-defense (Exodus 22:2-3; Luke 22:36) while forbidding murder (Exodus 20:13) and mandating protection of the innocent (Genesis 9:6). We are to uphold the law (1 Peter 2:13-14), but we are also to change the law when necessary (cf. Acts 15:1-31).

Our society will continue debating the best ways to reduce gun violence. Meanwhile, my attention this morning is focused on the young people around our country who marched last Saturday.

Consider what they did–whether you agree or disagree with why they did it.

“Let no one despise you for your youth”

Paul’s encouragement to Timothy is God’s word to us as well: “Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (1 Timothy 4:12). There are two commands here.

The first, “Let no one despise you for your youth,” is a present-tense imperative, a divine order. “No one” means just that–no person, with no exceptions. “Despise” means to “look down on” or “depreciate.” Youth are not to let any person depreciate the…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Denison Forum.

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Irish missionaries to plant a million trees in Africa

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Irish missionaries to plant a million trees in Africa

The Republic has been invited by the United Nations to take a leadership role in helping deliver the Great Green Wall and combat desertification in a massive swathe of land south of the Sahara known as the Sahel.

The Laudato Tree Project, run by the Society of African Missions (SMA), hopes to create a lasting legacy from the Pope’s visit to Ireland this August.

 

Irish President Michael D Higgins is expected to deliver a major speech on the issue of desertification and the country’s response in Dublin on Monday.

Don Mullan, a spokesman for the Society of African Missions (SMA), said: “As the emerald island, Africa’s Great Green Wall gives Ireland an opportunity to establish a new beginning and demonstrate a new commitment to achieving promises made during the Paris Accord.”

Africa’s green wall, when completed, will span 13 countries. It will measure 8,000km long (4,970 miles) and 15km wide (nine miles).

The UN’s proposal would also involve schools, parishes and community groups in planting trees in Ireland, increasing biodiversity and contributing to atmospheric improvement.

Mr Mullan added: “We will be asking the Government to consider matching every tree we plant in Ireland with 5-10 along the Great Green Wall.”

The project takes its name from a 2015 papal encyclical by Pope Francis, Laudato Si’, on caring for the environment, and is intended to be a visible…

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Christian comedian Sir Ken Dodd to be buried with tickling sticks

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Christian comedian Sir Ken Dodd to be buried with tickling sticks

Christian and comedy legend Sir Ken Dodd will be buried with two of his tickling sticks.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Justin Bieber set to release 'Christian appropriate' album

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Justin Bieber set to release 'Christian appropriate' album

Popstar Justin Bieber is set to make a comeback to the charts with an album that has "Christian-appropriate" songs.

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Click Read More to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Premier Christianity News.

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Seven Critical Issues before Your Easter Services

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There is the usual anticipation and excitement with church leaders as we begin Holy Week and lead toward Easter Sunday. I have noticed at Church Answers and social media an unusually high number of questions about preparation for Easter Sunday. Of course, by this point, most of the plans are complete; it would be difficult to make major adjustments right now.

But you can address seven critical issues before the weekend arrives. Allow me to address each individually.

  1. No activities are more important than prayer. Church leaders sometimes get so busy with activities that they are too busy to pray. Don’t let that happen to you. Get alone with God and pray for this weekend. Gather with others and pray. Don’t get so caught up in the human preparation that you neglect focusing on the power of God and the work of the Holy Spirit.
  2. When the weekend comes, make certain you are celebrating the resurrection yourself. These words from a pastor last Easter were sad but powerful: “I was so caught up in the plans and activities and crowd that I didn’t worship God and celebrate the resurrection myself. I feel empty today [Monday after Easter].” Don’t let this happen to you.
  3. Lead your leaders and members toward worship more than activities. They too may be caught up the activities and the crowd. As you focus more on worship, you should lead them to do so as well. Perhaps you can send them an email reminder to that effect.
  4. Remember who usually shows up on Easter Sunday. Contrary to popular opinion,…

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Click here to read the rest of the story from our content source/partners – Thom Rainer.

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MFM Mountain Top Life Daily Devotional Monday, 26 March 2018 – All Are Made By Him And For Him

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TOPIC: All Are Made By Him And For Him (Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries Monday, 26 March 2018) FIRE SCRIPTURE: Malachi 3:8-10 MEMORY VERSE: “There is that scattereth, and yet increaseth; and there is that withholdeth more than is…

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Joyce Meyer’s Daily 26 March 2018 Devotional — Forgiveness: The Path to Real Peace and Joy

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Topic — Forgiveness: The Path to Real Peace and Joy [Joyce Meyer’s Daily Monday March 26, 2018] Jesus said to him, “Get up; pick up your pallet and walk.” — John 5:8 A few years ago someone told me about…

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David Oyedepo: Provoking Favour Through Kingdom Advancement Endeavours!

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Topic: Provoking Favour Through Kingdom Advancement Endeavours! Welcome to this new week of great things. I hope you were blessed through last week’s teaching. May God engrace us for noiseless breakthroughs via soul winning in Jesus’ name! Today, we shall…

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DCLM Daily Manna 26 March, 2018 by Pastor Kumuyi – The Litmus Test

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Topic: The Litmus Test [DCLM Daily Manna Monday March 26, 2018] Text: 1 Timothy 3:1-13 (KJV) Key Verse: “This is a true saying, if a man desire the office of a bishop, he desireth a good work” (1 Timothy 3:1).…

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