There are relatively few Adventists in these senior-level positions and Willis, an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, says this opens doors for ministry in a more significant way.
Debbie Michel
March 16, 2021Willis pastors the Lake Region churches of Maywood and Robbins in the Chicagoland area and serves as the Command Chaplain of the Military Intelligence Readiness Command (MIRC) at Ft. Belvoir, Virginia. He is responsible for coordinating religious support for 8,000 soldiers. He also provides mentorship and guidance to over 28 chaplains, seven brigade unit ministry teams, 18 battalion unit ministry teams and 15 chaplain candidates across 15 states, Europe and Africa.
There are relatively few Adventists in these senior-level positions and Willis, an Iraq War veteran and Bronze Star recipient, says this opens doors for ministry in a more significant way.
In addition to the fact that there are few Adventist colonels, the promotion is meaningful for another reason. In his 25 years in military career in the Michigan Army National Guard, Active-Duty Army and US Army Reserves, Willis notes that he has seen only two other African American army colonel chaplains.
“This promotion means a lot,” says Willis. “It means that the Bible is right, and that God answers prayers; that my parents morning and evening worship, discipline and dedication to God paid off, that the mentors I had in my life made a difference.”
Willis now joins just one other Adventist chaplain colonel and according to North American Division Adventist Chaplaincy Ministries Director, Paul Anderson, Willis' promotion extends the church's reach in a sizable manner. Anderson says: "He has been a shining ambassador of Christ and the Seventh-day Adventist church in places where the church might otherwise have no presence. In the midst of combat forces, in the battle space or in garrison he has been a stellar spiritual leader, staff officer and soldier."
Willis received a Bachelor of Theology degree from Oakwood University in 1993, a Master of Divinity in 1996, and a Master of Social Work from Andrews University in 2014. In 2017, he graduated with a Doctorate of Family Ministry from Andrews University Theological Seminary. Over the years, his story chronicling his tours of duty and time on Chicago’s South Side, were published in the Lake Union Herald. An outgrowth of those articles was a well-received memoir released in 2013, Bullet Proof: How to Arm Yourself for the Fight of Your Life.
