Dear Enews Friends.

I still remember the day many years ago when we began our fledgling Cars Ministry. With weak knees I humbly asked Willow folks to pray about donating their vehicles to the church so that we could redistribute them to single moms who were sinking into poverty and hopelessness because their cars were breaking down and often not even worth fixing. Never in my wildest dreams did I think that 15 years later we would be receiving hundreds of cars per year and helping hundreds of under-resourced people with their transportation needs. Our Cars Ministry now operates out of a beautiful, leased building in Elgin and involves over a hundred Willow volunteers. Amazing! Only God.

This weekend is Father’s Day. As you have heard, we are planning our first ever “DadFest” event which connects our desire to honor Willow dads with the celebration of our Cars Ministry. As you drive onto the South Barrington campus this weekend, you will know that something very special is going on! Our Cars Ministry will have a tent set up behind the main auditorium. Please visit the tent before or after one of the services. You can learn all about the Cars Ministry and enjoy great music and good food. For a little added fun, there will be show cars and motorcycles displayed all around the tent. Dads can spend as much time as they want appreciating and drooling over those vehicles.

Inside the auditorium this weekend, we will be honoring dads in very unique ways. I do hope that all of you will go out of your way to make three or four phone calls to dads and granddads that you know and invite them to join you for the services this weekend. The weather looks exceptional, and I am hoping that this “DadFest” thing can become a fond annual tradition. Will you take up this challenge with me?

One more matter before I close. This coming Wednesday is our annual Volunteer Celebration. Our staff has been planning this grand event for many months. We believe that we have the finest, most committed volunteers in the world and we are all fired up to express that to all of you at our upcoming New Community. We have parties planned and refreshments provided for all of the volunteers of our church, starting at 6:00 p.m. . . so come early. The atmosphere will be festive and fun. The program that evening will feature a worship concert by one of our all-time favorite Willow friends, Tommy Walker. What better way to celebrate the servant spirit that Jesus taught us to manifest!

Thanks for taking a moment during your busy day to read this email. When I drove on the campus this morning as the sun was rising over the lake, I breathed yet another prayer of thanksgiving to God for the whole miracle and wonder of our church. I know you feel the same way.

Have a great day!

Bill

——————————- To find out about this weekend’s service or what’s happening around Willow Creek Community Church, visit: http://www.willowcreek.org. Willow Creek Community Church is located at 67 E. Algonquin Rd, South Barrington IL 60010.