The Seekers’ Service/believers’ Worship Churches

Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, the second largest church in the United States, has become well known for its pioneering efforts in the development of the seekers' service. This entry presents and explains this service, which is intended for the unchurched. Willow Creek Community Church is unique because it avoids providing a worship service for believers on weekends. They must come instead to New Community on Wednesday or Thursday evenings at 7:30 p. m. to receive teaching from the Bible and to worship God with songs and prayers. Saturday night and Sunday morning services are devoted to seekers, who most probably are unchurched or unconverted but are curious about life-changing Christianity. In this sense, Willow Creek has started its own tradition sui generis that is not derived directly from any denominational or sectarian source. The essential twofold principle that guides those who "produce" either seeker or New Community services stresses both sim…