009446-Willis, Ray
Church Planting Catalyst
Billings Montana
Fellowship Baptist Church
May 14
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About My Family
I came to know the Lord Jesus Christ when I was 12 years old at a Royal Ambassador camp in southern Illinois. I was baptized at and became a member of Roland Manor Baptist Church in Sunnyland, Ill. I have continually been a member of Southern Baptist churches since that time. I am married and have been married to Arlene (Smith) Willis for 58 years. We have been blessed with three children, 11 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. I have served as a pastor for 37 years and have been a missionary for almost nine years.
About My Church Plant
Our Lord assigned has assigned me to pastor smaller churches or start churches in areas where there were no Southern Baptist churches, with the exception of two churches. One of the churches was in Arkansas while I went to seminary. The second was a church in Tennessee for three years. Otherwise I have been bivocational as our Lord assigned us to either start churches or pastor declining churches until they became stable.
NAMB Church Planting
Demonstrated Christian character is essential for missionaries and chaplains to gain credibility and build community. A missionary is a person who, in response to God's call and gifting, leaves his or her comfort zone and crosses cultural, geographic or other barriers to proclaim the gospel and live out a Christian witness in obedience to the Great Commission. The North American Mission Board supports missionaries serving across the United States, Canada and their territories. Churches are the missionary incubators and sending centers for missionaries through the Southern Baptist Convention. Missionaries serve in a variety of settings and face tremendous challenges. But the rewards are tremendous and life-changing. Missionaries have the privilege to represent their church and their Father in sharing the gospel as the primary focus of their activity. If you are interested in pursuing next steps as a potential missionary or chaplain from your church, explore the possibilities at namb.net/send-me.
