Rev. John Williams (Ph.D)
Roles: Shepherd, Board of Administration Member, Prayer Partners Team Leader, Disciple Group Leader
I am a retired pastor and former college professor of Psychology, born and raised in Roanoke, Va. My wife, Nancy, is also from the same area. We were married in her childhood church in nearby Daleville in 1961, just after she finished college. I was in my second year of grad school at William and Mary in Williamsburg, Va.
After graduation, I went to work as a research assistant, first at Walter Reed Army Hospital, then Educational Testing Service and then Rutger's Medical School. By this time we had three children and I was back in school, part time, working on a PhD in Psychology.
In 1974, we were members of a small church that had a Lay Witness Mission. People from several parts of the country came to share their experiences with Jesus and lead us in a discussion of the Christian life. I thought they were rather strange and was not very nice to them. They seemed to be saying that we needed to change our church. They did not get angry and just shared their experiences in a simple, honest way. Over the next three weeks I could not get their stories out of my mind. They had something my education had not provided for me. They knew Jesus as someone they could interact with and who changed their lives. I knew Him only as a character in a book. After following their example of asking Jesus to show me how I could change and follow Him, He did. This was the very best psychological experiment ever, and my life changed in some surprising ways. I finished my PhD and went to teach at The King's College.
After about 7 years of teaching I was back in school, part time, at The Alliance Theological Seminary, so that I could offer better devotions for my students. After teaching for 10 years I left to become a full time student and then a pastor, something I had said I would never want to do. After serving as pastor in five churches over 18 years, I retired and moved to this area, which is in the middle of where our four children live and where two fellow pastors have vacation homes. Our two sons live to the north and south, while our two daughters, who are both grandmothers, live to the east and west. Our blessings include 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
When looking for a church near our new home, we visited several before finding one with good teaching and a friendly atmosphere and we are still here at BLFMC . I have been given the privilege of passing on prayer requests to our prayer team, ringing the bell on Sunday mornings and pronouncing the benediction.
Favorite Scripture Verse: John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Favorite Worship Song/Hymn: Trust and Obey and Amazing Grace
After graduation, I went to work as a research assistant, first at Walter Reed Army Hospital, then Educational Testing Service and then Rutger's Medical School. By this time we had three children and I was back in school, part time, working on a PhD in Psychology.
In 1974, we were members of a small church that had a Lay Witness Mission. People from several parts of the country came to share their experiences with Jesus and lead us in a discussion of the Christian life. I thought they were rather strange and was not very nice to them. They seemed to be saying that we needed to change our church. They did not get angry and just shared their experiences in a simple, honest way. Over the next three weeks I could not get their stories out of my mind. They had something my education had not provided for me. They knew Jesus as someone they could interact with and who changed their lives. I knew Him only as a character in a book. After following their example of asking Jesus to show me how I could change and follow Him, He did. This was the very best psychological experiment ever, and my life changed in some surprising ways. I finished my PhD and went to teach at The King's College.
After about 7 years of teaching I was back in school, part time, at The Alliance Theological Seminary, so that I could offer better devotions for my students. After teaching for 10 years I left to become a full time student and then a pastor, something I had said I would never want to do. After serving as pastor in five churches over 18 years, I retired and moved to this area, which is in the middle of where our four children live and where two fellow pastors have vacation homes. Our two sons live to the north and south, while our two daughters, who are both grandmothers, live to the east and west. Our blessings include 16 grandchildren and two great grandchildren.
When looking for a church near our new home, we visited several before finding one with good teaching and a friendly atmosphere and we are still here at BLFMC . I have been given the privilege of passing on prayer requests to our prayer team, ringing the bell on Sunday mornings and pronouncing the benediction.
Favorite Scripture Verse: John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."
Favorite Worship Song/Hymn: Trust and Obey and Amazing Grace