Year In Review

2025

We are celebrating
50 years of God’s faithfulness.

Here’s a snapshot of the incredible work of God in and through Willow in 2025.

Kids &
Students

7,703

Kids & Students attended this year

I started volunteering in Promiseland (now Willow Kids) many, many years ago when my twins were young and I committed to being a “room parent.” As they moved up, I started serving as a small group leader. Every time I walk into our Willow Kids, I can feel the love of our volunteers and church for our kids. I know Willow Kids is the community where I want my kids to be!

—Willow Kids volunteer

199

Kids & Students baptized

Baptism Story

Graduating Senior

A graduating senior was baptized days before leaving the country to serve in the Singapore National Army (he was born there). His leader who walked with him through many things and baptized him! He was baptized on Memorial Day weekend, when Pastor Thomas preached about allegiance to Christ. This message and moment provided a fantastic springboard as the young man ventured into his next season of life!

HSM Story

How Kate came back

As I grew up, my family drifted from church. However, about a year and a half ago, my dad talked to me about returning to Willow. I realized I should at least try. I felt a change in my heart but didn’t know what it was. Over time, church became a constant. Week by week, I was looking forward to it more and more. One night I decided to pray and ask God to give me a sign if I should get baptized. The very next day was Sunday and Dave was preaching. I vividly remember him saying, “And for those of you who havent accepted Jesus, don’t be afraid to let him in.” In that moment, I started to tear up because I knew God answered my prayer. I’m proud to say I got baptized, started attending HSM, and signed up for camp. I felt the love of Jesus and Willow letting me know I’ve found myself through Him and this amazing church. I finally feel peace in my life knowing I have found my calling.”

—Kate, HSM Student

1229

First-Time Families

195

Kids, Teens & Adults served through Willow’s Disability & Inclusion Ministry

Each year, Willow Friends puts on a musical performance to put their gifts and talents on display!

7,781

people attended this year’s production.

Life is better together

Groups
& Rooted

6,682

Adults in Small Groups in 2025

Groups Story

Jamie & Jared’s Story

Jamie and Jared made a bold decision to prioritize joining a church community, seeking to strengthen their family’s faith and connection. As they became involved at Willow, they not only met other families but also formed deep, meaningful friendships grounded in their shared faith. These relationships became a profound source of love, compassion, and spiritual support—especially during a difficult season marked by grief and loss. Through their experience, Jamie and Jared discovered the authentic community God designed the church to be—a place where people seek Jesus and walk through life’s highs and lows together.

557

People experienced Rooted

rooted Story

Joslyn’s Story

Groups are powerful ways to find connection and community, but they’re also a place to take the next step in faith. After completing Rooted, Joslyn felt called to lead a group of her own. Today, she co-leads a young adults group alongside Jonathan, and together, they are excited to see how God will use it to build authentic community, strengthen faith, and challenge each person to grow in new ways.

So many of you took important next steps and that is worth celebrating!

Next Steps

14%↑

New Attendees

715

People Baptized

Baptism

Nancy & Edwin’s Story

Lives are being transformed every day at Willow, and we love celebrating the ways God is moving in our community. Nancy and Edwin’s story reminds us that its never too late to open your heart to Him. God speaks, often quietly, through His Word, and it’s in those moments that lives begin to change!

Generosity

Generosity

Michelle’s Story

Michele Whitehead is deeply grateful to God for her father’s final year, during which he gave his life to Jesus and walked closely with Him. In response, she chose to donate her inheritance to Willow, supporting the work God is doing through the church.

1,142

First-time Givers

145

People helped through Dollar Club

$200K+

Given to Dollar Club

I had never fully accepted God into my life, but during a service, Pastor Shawn said living generously costs you something. I had $280 in my bank account, a $1500 mortagage, and a $600 truck payment due in two days, but I decided to set up an automatic tithe. The day after I did, I received two checks that more than covered what I owed. I cried because I felt Jesus delivered me when I put my faith in trust in Him.

—Recurring giver

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

Matthew 25:35-40 ESV

Compassion
& Justice

$1,396,455

Raised through COH to give to global partners

Seed Packing

228,480

Family packs distributed to our partners

437.5M

Pounds of produce from seed packs.

200K

Estimated number of people that will benefit from seed packs.

7,428

Global churches served

17,000

Global Refugees Served

(15,000 in Jordan and 2,000 through Ukraine We Care Centers)

Global teams

El Salvador & Guatemala vision trip

During a recent trip, our Compassion and Justice team took to El Salvador and Guatemala, we visited a solar-powered well providing clean water to 900 people, heard inspiring stories from entrepreneurs supported by the savings group initiative, and connected with local church leaders. It was a powerful experience seeing how God is moving through the local church.

Local Compassion
& Justice

2,498

Homeless Individuals Served at our Community Resource Center

A man in our community lost his job in 2023 and eventually, this lead to him being homeless. He got connected to our church through the Crystal Lake Community Resource Day, where he received the services and support he needed. In August, he found a job and his case manager found an apartment that he was able to move into! But the date for the move in was after he would receive his first check from the new job. The Dollar Club was able to pay his first month of rent so that he could move in on time and not lose the apartment! 

41,507

Care Center visits

3,475

First time Care Center guests

Care Center

Back To School Drive Story

Hoping to ease the financial burden of shopping for needed school supplies, the Back to School Drive supports students in our community as they head back to school this fall. Thanks to your generosity and the strength of our community partnerships, this year’s drive was a tremendous success!

Check out what a couple of Willow’s valued school partners have to say about the impact of this meaningful effort.

4,874

Back Packs collected
for kids in need.

6,500+

Families served through Back to School Bashes and collections

1,107

Car repairs

29

Cars given away

$243,511

Given to the Dollar Club to help community members in need

A single mom who attends Willow fell behind on their electricity bill when one of their children became sick for two months and needed extra care. The Dollar Club was able to help pay their past due electricity bill so that this mom didn’t have to worry about it. The family is now all caught up, and her child is now healthy and doing well!

Reaching Out

28

Community Events

Conferences

Global Leadership Summit 2025

Because of you…

56

Kids enrolled in Pathways Learning Academy

3

Playgrounds for the community

5

School Events

7

Concerts at Willow locations

15

Strategic Partnerships

5

Conferences

Invest in kingdom impact

Give Generously

When you realize everything you have is a gift from God, something changes. Jesus’ vision of an Acts 2 church becomes an ever-present reality. Needs are met, poverty is alleviated, injustice is fought, healing is found, and eternities are transformed through the power of Christ and His church. When you open your hands to give, not only does our church, community, and city change, but you also change.

Learn more about giving here.

Groups story

Special Olympics

Paula is highly involved in Special Olympics Illinois, and her daughter was the recent Duck Derby Ambassador. Paula always dreamed of engaging Willow Friends (WF) with Special Olympics and worked with both organizations to make this happen! The Group Directory has allowed the opportunity to offer WF corn hole in to facilitate the WF community the opportunity to participate in this new special Olympics offering.

Even better, the Young Adults at South Barrington have been galvanizing to find buddies to pair with the WF to learn the sport and create socialization opportunities. What a beautiful picture of two amazing communities coming together!

55,670

Hope Packs distributed to inmates.

Hope Pack Story

Life after Prison

A man emailed the Care Center because he had learned about us because he received a Hope Pack while incarcerated. He was recently released from prison having served a 42-year sentence for a crime he didn’t commit. Once his conviction was overturned, he turned to Willow for help in getting acclimated. When he arrived, he was greeted by staff and volunteers, In addition to a food visit, he met with our Care Team, who were able to qualify him to be seen in the Dental Clinic, provide a scholarship to cover the cost of his appointment, schedule him for an inspection/repair for his vehicle, and provide him with a clothing scholarship, which he used to purchase clothing. He continued using the Care Center’s long-term services for employment support. This individual is one of many stories that demonstrates the impact of Hope Packs and the ways they connect people to Willow, changing the trajectory of someone’s circumstances and ultimately, we pray, their future.