Nazareth - Linga

Through an invitation from the Baptist School and sponsorship of the Evangelical Churches Convention in Israel on Tuesday, 2.2.2010, a special meeting was held in St Margaret's Hostel in Nazareth for about one hundred pastors, ministers, and Christian workers from around the country.

Attendees also included both Arab and Jewish believers from Israel and the West Bank, along with foreign missionaries.

The guest of honor was Rev Dr Bill Hybels, founder and pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, which was selected to be a co-sponsor of the American Evangelical Churches for several years in a row, and is one of the most influential evangelical churches in the United States.

Brother Botrus Mansour, Director of the Baptist School, welcomed the attendees and Bishara Awad opened the meeting with prayer followed by Nizar Touma who led worship.

Dr Hybels shared about the founding of Willow Creek church and its outreach to non-believers. He used Acts 2 and the illustrations of the early church to demonstrate the methods and aims of his church and the goals of all believers. Afterwards, there was a question and answer session among the leaders followed by lunch.

Following lunch, participants returned to hear more on the internal construction of the church and core leadership development, at which time Dr Hybels’ shared a video by Rev TD Jakes, pastor of one of the largest churches in America. The video focused on what a leader must do to remain faithful to what the Lord has called him to do.

Dr Hybels concluded by encouraging the leaders in their current efforts and informing them about a training program his church holds in 50 countries throughout the world.

Brother Botrus Mansour thanked Dr Hybels for his time and asked leaders to come forward and lay hands and pray for his ministry and its impact around the world.