Bill Hybels (born December 12, 1951) is a prominent American Christian leader, author, and speaker, best known as the founder and former senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, one of the largest and most influential churches in the U.S. He launched the church in 1975 with a focus on making church accessible to seekers and non-traditional churchgoers. Hybels also established the Willow Creek Association and the Global Leadership Summit, which became widely respected among Christian and business leaders alike. Over his career, Hybels wrote several best-selling books, including Courageous Leadership, Too Busy Not to Pray, and Axiom. In 2018, he stepped down from leadership amid allegations of inappropriate behavior, which he denied, leading to significant discussion within evangelical circles.