Rev. Fred Willis, Pastor   Rev. Fred, Selah and Sarah Willis EDUCATION Born in Texas City, Texas, to a United Methodist family, Rev. Fred Willis was raised in Pearland, Texas, where he graduated High School. He received his undergraduate degree from the U of H Architecture School where he was awarded a B.S. in Environmental Design and a minor in Construction Management.  During his undergraduate work, he accepted his call into full time ministry while attending a Walk to Emmaus (College Chrysalis) and eventually was accepted to Perkins School of Theology, where he received a Master’s of Divinity.  He has expanded his education by attending both a Clinical Pastoral Education program (hospital chaplaincy) during his seminary years and a Pastoral Care Specialist Program, receiving certification through the Kriss Samaritan Counseling Center.   HISTORY Reverend Willis was officially ordained as an Elder in the United Methodist Church in May of 2002.   League City United Methodist Church – Associate Pastor-  served 5 years     Focuses and accomplishments include: Evangelism and working to assimilate new members into the church, the Disciple Bible Study series, started a Christian Book Club for working mothers and retirees, spearheaded the Communications Committee, which focused on communication both inside and outside the church finding new technology for the church, established the church’s website, began the church’s now successful Alternative Worship Service known as Mosaic. San Augustine First United Methodist Church – Pastor - served 3 years     Rev. Willis found himself in a community that loved its heritage/history and looked for community involvement from everyone. Some notable achievements have centered on capital improvements and finance.  This included the remodeling of the parsonage, the choir room, and the youth rooms. In a church as historic and old as San Augustine FUMC, it has been a great challenge to blend the old with the new in a respectful way.   WORSHIP  “I was raised in a very high-church traditional sort of worship and have always found a lot of spirituality in the historical traditions of the church. At the same time, I also enjoy a lot of the elements of the Contemporary worship a lot of churches use today. To me, the perfect worship is always one that blends whatever is needed to help the congregation give appropriate praise to God as well as help the faith community become empowered to go out into the world for the next week.”   FAMILY Fred met and married his wife, Sarah Willis, while in League City. They were married on December 28th, 1999. Sarah worked as a school teacher in Seabrook, Texas for 5 years. She was certified to teach Art at Elementary Levels. Sarah is an artist and has a several small businesses/interests on the side such as painting children’s furniture, murals, and selling Mary Kay.   Sarah and Fred recently adopted their first child from China. During August 2005, they took a two week trip to Beijing and then to Nanchang in the Jiangxi province. They adopted a beautiful 9-month old girl and named her Selah Anne Willis.  Selah was born November 8, 2004.   During his life, Rev. Willis has developed a myriad of interests and hobbies. He enjoys classical music and even experimenting with different instruments. He loves to read books of all sorts; his tastes running the gambit from Fantasy to Theological, from Science Fiction to Psychology. Together, Sarah and Fred enjoy cooking all sorts of new dishes, shopping for relaxation, attending the Renaissance Faire each year, and even playing video games together.     The Willis family have begun the process to adopt another child from China, which should happen sometime in the next year to year and a half. Rev Willis is interested in beginning his Doctorate in Ministry, as well, and hopes to specialize in Technological Evangelism & the Study of how modern day society receives information so as to further the church’s ability to tell the world the message of Christ.