Main Session Speakers

Lynne Hybels

Lynne grew up in southwestern Michigan and, after graduating from college, moved to the Chicago area. In 1975, alongside her husband, Bill Hybels, started Willow Creek Community Church in a rented movie theatre in suburban Chicago. Despite intending to become a social worker, Lynne was pleased to start a church instead, convinced that God has given the local church a clear mandate to address the needs of “the whole person in the whole world.” For years she has been involved with Willow Creek’s ministry partnerships in under-resourced communities in Latin America and Africa. She is the author of Nice Girls Don’t Change the World and most recently collaborated with Bill and the Willow Creek Association to develop Hope and Action, a DVD and participants’ guide that helps churches and small groups begin to address the AIDS pandemic.

Robert Guerrero

Born to Dominican parents in New York City, Robert has spent much of his life in both the U.S. and Domnican Republic. He earned a degree in theology from Moody Bible Institute and during his studies was active in the ministry of Lawndale Community Church, Chicago, as well as planting La Villita Community Church alongside Pastor Noel Castellanos. In 1995, Robert and his wife moved into the Colonial Zone of Santo Domingo where they planted Iglesia Comunitaria Cristiana (ICC), a church that has grown in ten years from a small house group to a local congregation of more than 400. ICC follows a wholistic ministry model by hosting gatherings relevant to the secular Dominican culture, small group Bible studies, a gym ministry, a preschool, a clinic, a metal carpentry business, and a sports ministry for street kids. Robert is the founder of the Coordinating Community of Del Camino Network for Integral Mission in Latin America with networks in Costa Rica, Argentina, Chile, Guatemala, Honduras, Bahamas, Brazil and the Dominican Republic.

Tom & Dee Yaccino

Attendees since the early 80’s, Tom and Dee joined the Willow Creek staff in 1995 as country representatives in the Dominican Republic for Willow Creek’s Global Connections team. They serve as the link between Willow Creek and national partners to assist in on-going development and outreach programs. They also coordinate serving opportunities for Willow Creek teams ensuring trips are relevant, empowering, and meet real needs expressed by the communities or churches. Tom and Dee have both received Master of Arts degrees in Intercultural Studies and Community Development from the Wheaton Graduate School. Before joining Willow Creek’s staff, they took a four-year assignment in Bolivia with a Christian relief and development agency and facilitated the initiation of several community-based development programs. As a result of their efforts, a grassroots development organization is now operating to help marginalized communities organize themselves to make a difference within their own realms of influence.

Stella Kasirye

Stella serves as the Africa Representative for the Willow Creek Community Church Global Connections Unit. She has been involved in church-based HIV/AIDS work for more than fifteen years. In her current position, Stella works with Willow Creek partners in Africa that are working with local churches in the areas of HIV/AIDS and poverty eradication. She passionately believes in grassroots development and the strategic and unique role of the church in the process. Stella holds a BA in Social Work and Social Administration from Makerere University in Kampala and a MA in Educational Ministries from Wheaton College in Illinois. She currently lives in Lilongwe, Malawi and cares for a 13-year-old foster daughter who is HIV-positive.

Bill Hybels

Known worldwide for his work equipping and training Christian leaders, Bill is the senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois and chairman of the board for the Willow Creek Association. He is passionate about empowering leaders to transform communities through the local church. A highly sought-after conference speaker on issues related to Christian leadership, Hybels is the best-selling author of more than 20 books including Courageous Leadership, The Volunteer Revolution, and the recently released, Holy Discontent. In 2006, he collaborated with his wife, Lynne, and the Willow Creek Association to develop  Hope and Action, a DVD and participants’ guide that helps churches and small groups begin to address the AIDS pandemic.