More stirring still was the realization that the caste system—alive and quite well in most parts of India—had relegated 250 million people to a life of permanent poverty and oppression just for being born on the wrong side of the tracks.

Despite unthinkable challenges, limited finances, and deeply ingrained traditions, evangelical leaders there describe it as the most exciting era of outreach and growth that has ever swept through India. They have big dreams. They have big faith. And they are willing to do whatever it takes to bring people to Christ.

Hybels himself remembers what it was like to be vision-heavy and resource-light. As the 23-year-old head of Willow in the early days, he sold tomatoes door to door so that a little band of three dozen devoted Creekers could make the $250-a-week rental payment to the theater where weekend worship services were held. On top of organizing services, writing talks, helping to lead worship, and facilitating twice-nightly home meetings in order to raise funds for a permanent meeting spot, Bill Hybels was moonlighting as a salesman for his dad’s produce company to cover his own family’s expenses. Just like his current-day comrades in India, though, his belief that God was up to something big compelled him to seize every opportunity to log another five percent gain. Books, sermon tapes, conversations with seasoned leaders—he’d accept leadership inspiration wherever he found it. By all accounts, his dedication has paid off.

Upon completing his recent work in India, Hybels found himself stricken with a huge case of faith-based optimism regarding God’s plans for India. From there, it was on to Singapore, Australia and New Zealand, where he would be introduced to still more leaders who “get” what five percent growth spurts can yield: “Think of what those gains actually translate to over time!” he notes. “A couple more conversions a quarter? A few more small groups? Another batch of under-resourced men and women getting help from a local church? Every time we get five percent better, friends, it translates immediately into kingdom help for needy lives.”

An accomplished leader himself, Hybels is simply in awe of church leaders who find ways to stretch their minds, broaden their horizons, expand their hearts, and refuse to stay the same year after year. The best leaders he knows are incurable learners, he says. “The ones who are utterly committed to getting better all the time,” he admits, “ … they are the reason I stay fired up!”

In the not-too-distant future, Hybels envisions masses of people in places like Delhi and Bangalore and Mumbai surrendering their lives to Christ. “I have to wonder how many of those freshly-converted people will attribute their salvation to having crossed paths with a pastor right there in India who chose to get just five percent better by coming to the Global Leadership Summit.”

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