Hey Enews Friends,

Greetings from Singapore where I am mentoring pastors and completing my 5th day of Willow’s subsistence eating plan in order to more fully identify with the poor. I can not adequately convey how much I respect the Willow elders, board of directors and staff for setting the example for our entire congregation with regard to eating in a manner that half the world eats (mainly rice and beans) for a full 5 days. I have been hearing from tons of members of the congregation that this experience has sensitized them to the plight of the poor like nothing else they have ever participated in.

As these emails flood my trusty BlackBerry while I am on the other side of the world, I find myself praying short prayers of thanks to God for the commitment of Creekers as I am boarding airplanes, riding in cabs or checking into hotels. My own hunger pangs have made me mindful of the millions of children around our world who do not understand why the growl in their stomach never goes away. When I think about that long enough I have a tough time fighting back all the emotion that wells up in me. I can only imagine my 18 month old grandchild looking up at Lynne or me and asking for a few more spoonfuls of rice, only to be told that we have run out of today’s supply. Ughhhhhhh.

The 10,000 children that we as a church are going to feed for one year are probably never going to know who provided the food that is going to save their lives. I actually like that part of this deal. Hidden acts of kindness were often cited by Jesus as being the purest form of love. Way to go Willow! For the hundredth time thanks for rising above the level of casual Christianity and living full on for God and those He cares so much about in this broken world.

I will miss being with you this weekend but Greg Hawkins is fired up and ready to teach, so show up in force and fasten your seat belts!

Only 4 more countries to go for me on this trip. Your prayers are appreciated deeply.

Blessings,

The Rice and Bean Guy (Bill Hybels)

P.S. If you want to know more about our Celebration of Hope: Hunger Challenge, go to http://www.willowcreek.org and click on “Hunger”.

April 26, 2008