Just recently, Willow Creek Community Church, one of the most influential churches in modern evangelical history, celebrated its 50th anniversary.

For five decades, Willow shaped how the church looks, how it leads, and how it measures success.

Through its Seekers' sensitive model and its leadership platforms,

it became the blueprint for much of the Western Church. But as we hit this 50-year milestone,

the Willow story is no longer just about influence. It's also about the damage it's done.

As we first reported seven years ago, numerous women have accused Willa Creek founder

Bill Heibles of adult clergy sexual abuse or harassment. And sadly, Heibles has never confessed

this sin nor asked for forgiveness. And the church has never adequately named the extent of

Heibel's abuse nor apologized to the individual women harmed.

It did, however, issue a general apology at its 50-year celebration in October.

To the women of those who brought those initial allegations forward,

we're sorry.

Many of you carried pain for well over a decade, sometimes even decades.

And your story wasn't held with care.

Your story is initially faced with defensiveness and even dismissiveness.

We're sorry.

But damaging in a completely different way was the church model Willow Creek upheld

and others replicated, not just nationwide, but worldwide.

Though its Seeker model was effective in attracting unbelievers to the Lord, data shows it was

miserable at making disciples.

And isn't that what Jesus commanded the church to do? So why is Willow Creek upheld

as a church to be celebrated and emulated? And what is the real story of its five decades in

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