Steve Willis (pastor)

Steve Willis is an American Baptist pastor and health activist. He was described as the "Apostle of Health" by Charisma magazine,[1] and is best known nationally for his efforts to curb childhood obesity, as well as for his role on ABC Television's Emmy award winning series Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.[2] He is currently the lead pastor of the First Baptist Church of Kenova, West Virginia.[3]

Early life and education

Willis was born and raised in Kanawha County, West Virginia, and has called the state home for most of his adult life as well.

He graduated from West Virginia University in 1991 and moved to Texas to complete his Master's in Divinity soon after from Dallas Theological Seminary. Upon graduating in 1996, Willis returned to West Virginia to take a youth ministry position and has lived there ever since. He later earned a Ph.D. from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary and received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Alderson-Broaddus University.[4]

Career

After spending many years in full-time youth ministry, he began noticing the toll that obesity had on both the children and adults of his congregation. In 2009, his sermons on overall physical and spiritual health helped bring Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution to Huntington, West Virginia as they attempted to improve the health of the nation's most obese city.[5]

Pastor Steve also travels extensively for the purpose of educating parents, teenagers, and pastors around the world.[3] He is actively involved in the "Try This" movement, an effort to promote health throughout Appalachia.[6]

He was instrumental in passing the $4.5 billion Childhood Nutrition Act, the largest nutritional initiative in the history of the United States.[7]

In 2012, he published Winning the Food Fight, a book chronicling the events leading up to his time with Jamie Oliver and the subsequent improvements to the overall health of the Huntington community.

In 2013, he collaborated with Pastor Rick Warren, Dr. Daniel Amen, Dr. Mark Hymen, exercise physiologist Sean Foye, and others to produce The Daniel Plan project. The Daniel Plan tradebook hit #1 on the New York Times bestseller list in 2013.[8]

He has also served as Guest Chaplain for the United States House of Representatives, delivering the pre-election prayer for the 2012 General Election.[9]

Personal life

Willis lives in Kenova with his wife of 21 years (Deanna). He has three children: Titus, Johnna, and Lucas.[3]

References

  1. ↑ Walker, Ken (August 1, 2010). "The Apostle of Health". Charisma Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  2. ↑ "Steve Willis: Winning the Food Fight". The Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  3. 1 2 3 "Steve Willis - Lead Pastor". The First Baptist Church of Kenova. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ "109 graduate from Alderson-Broaddus". The Inter-Mountain. May 13, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  5. ↑ Witchel, Alex (October 6, 2009). "Putting America's Diet on a Diet". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  6. ↑ "TRY THIS Conference - Building blocks for healthy communities" (PDF). West Virginia Legislature. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Child Nutrition Act: 12 Key Changes The New Law Delivers (PHOTOS)". The Huffington Post. December 14, 2010. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  8. ↑ "Advice, How-To & Miscellaneous". The New York Times. Books - Best Sellers. December 7, 2013. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  9. ↑ "Reverend Stephen Willis". Office of the Chaplain. Guest Chaplains. United States House of Representatives. November 2, 2012. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
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