WILLOW News, January 29, 2008 Kingdom Redeployments: Appel, Frazee Pursue New Ministry Options From the Elders of Willow Creek Community Church January 26, 2008 Today the Elders of Willow Creek are announcing that two senior staff leaders have made personal decisions to pursue new ministries outside our church. This June, Teaching Pastor Randy Frazee will become the Senior Minister of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas where he will teach and lead in partnership with pastor and author, Max Lucado. "After 8 months of prayer and counsel, I believe God is calling our family to expand the reach of the neighborhood initiative to San Antonio." Randy said. "However, my decision to leave is mostly about family and a simple desire to be around my kids, two of whom are currently living in Texas and a third who will head to Texas for college this fall. It has been a complete privilege and joy to be a part of the Willow Creek team," he said. "You can count on our fervent prayers and blessings as we move forward on this endeavor." Gene Appel, Lead Pastor - South Barrington, who came to Willow Creek as Associate Pastor in 2003 and moved into his current role two and a half years ago, also announced his resignation from staff. "I love this church," Gene said. "It has been an enormous privilege for me to serve here, but after months of internal wrestling and seeking the counsel of wise people I trust, I have come to a place of peace and clarity, and sense the nudge to move toward being the senior pastor of a local church again. I'll continue serving in my role through the Easter season, and then I'll begin prayerfully pursuing God's next adventure. I am honored to have been able to serve in partnership with everyone at Willow and I have been forever impacted by this place. I will be cheering you on for the rest of my life." On January 17, 2008 the Elders of Willow Creek and Bill Hybels agreed he will assume the role of Lead Pastor - South Barrington in addition to his other Senior Pastor responsibilities, which include oversight of the Regional Campuses and the Willow Creek Association. "I am honored to assume the responsibility to lead the staff and congregation at South Barrington and I look to God expectantly for what He has planned for us in the future." The Elders fully support the decisions of Gene and Randy, and are grateful to them for their faithful leadership, high character, and inspired teaching. Letter from Gene Appel Dear Willow Creek Family, This past weekend during services, I shared my decision to transition off the Willow team. This has been a tremendously difficult decision because I genuinely love this church, I love the staff, I love its leaders, I love the mission, and I love all of you. It has been an enormous privilege to serve you for nearly five years. Yet, for some time now I’ve been wrestling with an unsettledness in my spirit concerning the best use of my gifts and life in the coming years. I’ve sought counsel from godly people I respect and who know me well. I’ve prayed, journaled, diligently asked God to lead, and I’ve tried to listen as best as I know how. After many months of internal wrestling, enormous reflection, and prayer, Barbara and I have reached a point of peace and clarity. Recently I met with our elders and explained I sensed the nudge to move toward being the senior pastor of a local church again. I am enormously grateful that the elders have honored my desire to pursue a role and kingdom contribution that will be more closely aligned with my sense of who God made me to be. I’m looking forward to teaching a three-part weekend series in February, and I’ll continue serving in my role through the Easter season. Then I’ll transition off the team and Barbara and I will begin prayerfully pursuing God’s next adventure. We are excited about seeing where God might lead (of course we’re open to Hawaii!!!). Until then, I plan to travel and speak; finish a book I've been working on; continue to do my weekly television commentary for CBS2 in Chicago; and hopefully fish a little more and spend some extended time in Minnesota. There are so many moments at Willow that will go down as highlights for me in my lifetime of memories. Thanks to all of you for accepting me and embracing our family. We’ve been stretched and inspired, and have grown through the influence of so many of you. We really do covet your prayers and you can certainly count on ours.We will be cheering the ministry of Willow on for the rest of our lives. Humbled and grateful by God’s kindness, Gene Appel Top