The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada

The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada's vision "that each church would reach it's redemptive potential" has roots going back to 1933, when pioneering evangelist Charles E. Fuller first began to broadcast the Old Fashioned Revival Hour on the radio.

For much of the 20th century Fuller's name was synonymous with evangelism in North America, through both the Fuller Seminary, founded in 1947, as well as the Charles E. Fuller Institute of Evangelism and Church Growth (The Fuller Institute) which began in 1980.

It was while consulting on behalf of The Fuller Institute that Carl George met John and Lorraine Baergen, who were serving on staff of Sherwood Park Alliance Church in Edmonton, Alberta, in the late 1980's and early 1990's.

John and Lorraine had joined the staff of the church following a successful business career. With their passion for evangelism, their track record of leading growing organizations, and their experiences gleaned while on staff of one of Canada's thriving churches, it seemed as though God was positioning John and Lorraine to step up to serve churches on a national stage.

In 1992 health concerns forced the Baergens to move away from Edmonton, where harsh winters made life difficult for their family. The lingering effects of a tragic car accident suffered in 1981 meant that John and Lorraine would relocate to the comparatively moderate climates of Kelowna, located in the Okanagan valley in south central British Columbia.

On a shoe-string budget, but with great faith that God was directing their path, the Baergens converted a portion of their home into an office, and the Charles E. Fuller Institute for Evangelism and Church Growth, Canadian Ministries was born.

Bill Hybels, the son of a successful businessman, led a thriving youth group in suburban Chicage, called Son City. Then, while attending Trinity College in Deerfood, Illinois, God used the passionate words of one of Hybel's professors to change the direction of his life.

Dr. Gilbert Bilezikian challenged his class to see if God was calling them to build an "Acts 2" type of church; a biblically functioning community where "lost people matter."

Hybels caught the vision, and with much prayer and preparation, set out to establish such a church. On October 12th, 1975, that church met for the first time, as 125 people filed into the Willow Creek Theater, and Willow Creek Community Church was born.

God blessed the church with amazing growth, and in 1977 the church moved to its permanent site in South Barrington. Over the next 15 years growth continued at a staggering rate, and by February 1992 more than 17,000 people attended services.

As more church leaders from around the world sought to learn from the principles which had guided Willow Creek's growth, the time had come to establish a ministry which would extend Willow Creek's impact to other church leaders.

And so it was that in 1992, the Willow Creek Association was formed.

In 1999, under the leadership of Harbour Fellowship Senior Pastor John Garner, the Willow Creek Association opened The Willow Creek Association Canada, with offices in St. Catharines, ON.

After one year of praying, planning and vision casting The International Centre for Leadership Development and Evangelism and Willow Creek Association Canada merged in 2000, becoming The Leadership Centre Willow Creek Canada.