Wu
From Senior Pastor Bill Hybels’ childhood trips to Chicago to Willow Creek’s 20th anniversary event at the United Center, Willow Creek has had a long history in the city of Chicago. On January 19 at the Illinois Institute of Technology, Hybels began a new chapter in that history when he introduced Steve Wu as the pastor of the church’s Chicago campus.
According to Hybels, when Jim Tomberlin resigned as Willow Creek Chicago’s pastor last summer, it became clear that the church’s vision for the Chicago campus had to be put on hold until the church found another campus pastor. As soon as Hybels met Wu, he said he knew God had spoken.
“There’s this huge confirmation in my spirit that not only is he is the right guy, he’s God’s man for the job,” added Jeff Small, who served as the Chicago campus’ interim pastor during the search for a new pastor.
Though Hybels and Small immediately knew Wu was the right man for the job, Wu admitted he was not so convinced. Wu first became familiar with the Chicago campus when he briefly visited a monthly gathering last October. The next day, driving back to Chicago after meeting with Small in Barrington, Wu said he felt the tap of the Holy Spirit and knew God was calling him to Chicago. Wu said he initially had objections about moving to Chicago, and was particularly opposed to the prospect of leaving California’s warm weather and fishing.
“In the weeks to come, my heart completely changed,” Wu told the gathering of approximately 250 congregants. “I fell in love with the city.”
Wu spent years working in California’s Silicon Valley providing leadership in various capacities to Genesis Technology, Inc. and Twin Peaks Software. Then, twelve years ago, he started a church and most recently served as a pastor at Crosswinds Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. With his initial objections about moving to Chicago behind him, Wu is now committed to building Willow Creek’s Chicago campus.
“I so look forward to the day we can say, ‘Look what God has done in this place,’” Wu said. “I am thrilled to the core about Willow Chicago.”
For details on the Chicago Regional gatherings, visit http://www.willowcreek.org/chicago/
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Steve spent years working in California’s Silicon Valley providing leadership in various capacities to Genesis Technology, Inc. and Twin Peaks Software. Then, 12 years ago, he started a church and most recently served as a pastor at Crosswinds Church in the San Francisco Bay Area. Wu is now committed to building Willow Creek’s Chicago regional campus.
Who?
Willow Creek Community Church's Senior Pastor Bill Hybels has announced the resignation of the head of the church's Chicago campus because of "sexual impurity."
The Rev. Steve Wu has left as campus pastor of the Chicago branch of the South Barrington megachurch. He's "taken full responsibility for his sin," according to a church statement.
Hybels, who founded Willow Creek, hired Wu in 2006 to lead and help establish Willow Creek Chicago, which held its first service that year.
A church elder read a statement on Jan. 25 during services at the Chicago congregation announcing Wu's resignation. Church spokesman Ted Allen Miller said the church's staff was told of Wu's departure the next day, while Hybels told the South Barrington campus the news earlier this month.
Willow Creek, with its 20,000 members, is routinely listed as one of the most influential Evangelical churches in the country.
The church's statement also read that Wu wants to participate in a restoration process. Miller didn't have details of what that would entail.
"Our desire is we reconcile and restore," Miller said.
Miller would not provide further details.
According to Willow Creek's Web site Wu worked for years in California's Silicon Valley and also started his own church in California. He also served as pastor Crosswinds Church near San Francisco.
Willow Creek Chicago convenes inside the city's historic Auditorium Theater. Todd Katter is serving as interim campus pastor while church officials search for Wu's replacement.
"We would ask you to pray diligently for Steve in these difficult days," the church's statement concludes.
