Keith Wills is the founder and leader of the Spearhead team and has been involved in front-line evangelism for over 35 years.

CONVERSION AND EARLY LIFE.

He was born in Burnley, a mill town at the foot of picturesque Pendle Hill, in Lancashire, and became a Christian at the age of fourteen through "The National Young Life Campaign", a youth organisation specially set up to reach young people and sevicemen just after World War II.

COLLEGE, CALL and OPEN AIR CAMPAIGNERS

Keith was accepted by the London Bible College for a 4 year course in theology and practical training, but at that time had no sense of direction for his life. Towards the end of his first year in College he sensed a definite call from God into an evangelistic ministry. This came during one weekend where everything he read, the talk in the College chapel etc., were all saying the same thing -"Do the work of an evangelist." The whole theological course took on a new meaning and purpose. He knew what he was to do with his life. His grades improved! He heard first-hand from men such as Francis Schaeffer, Billy Graham, Malcolm Muggeridge and was influenced by the Navigators as well as the many missionary speakers and the excellent tutorial staff. It was during this time that he was introduced to "Evangelism In Depth" and its work in Latin America. A new world vision was planted in his heart and a desire to do "in-depth" work in reaching as many people as possible for Christ.

 Upon leaving College and marrying Deborah, he went back to Burnley seeking to work in secular      employment, taking every opportunity to preach and help young Christians and non-Christians alike.  During this time Ruth and Catherine, their eldest daughters, were born. The Lord eventually led them to  the ministry of Open Air Campaigners, where, during the next ten years they developed many areas of  evangelism, including helping to begin a work in Belgium.

One of the exciting opportunities was to lead an outreach to the thousands of tourists who visit York each summer. Hundreds were contacted, many taking Bibles and literature in their own language, as well as those who came to faith in Christ for the first time. The ministry opened up new doors of opportunity in Europe, Germany, Holland and especially Belgium. The emphasis of the work was that of reaching people where they were with the gospel, as well as making use of a whole range of methods.

Throughout this time, Keith was mentored by Rev. Geoffrey Jones and his wife, Mary.  They were a great influence on him, giving him opportunities and advice that would have never come otherwise. Geoff was the minister of one of the largest Methodist Churches in England, based in South Chadderton near Oldham. Unfortunately, he was taken ill whilst helping Keith on one mission and died a few days later. In his place, Keith now has an advisory group from various parts of the British Isles.

SPEARHEAD MISSIONS

 After 10 years as Northern Director of Open Air Campaigners, the Lord led Keith and Deborah to begin a ministry of in-depth missions with single churches. Then came Multiple Church Missions, believing that more people could be reached and more churches encouraged through such missions. His concern, which had grown through his decade of ministry with OAC, was to find the most effective ways of reaching as many people as possible with the Gospel. A Trust was formed (The Keith Wills Evangelism Trust) to assist him in the ministry. At first a small team of lay people accompanied him on mission, but then, as the missions began to become more adventurous, he began to call on other agencies to help him saturate areas for Jesus Christ.

In the 1990`s, whilst undertaking missions in other parts of Britain, he undertook an eight year project to his home town of Bolton involving hundreds of opportunities for the 40 participating churches on an increasing in-depth basis. Churches came alive, one already large church doubling in size, as well as people finding Christ. The Spearhead office was opened in Bolton, and the number of trustees increased. The ministry began to widen, especially through Keith`s ministry in various parts of the world assisting national churches and Christian workers in their ministry of evangelism. New people were brought into the team for yet more strategic outreach.

THE WIDER MINISTRY

 Opportunities have come for Keith to share the ministry in a number of countries in  Europe,  Africa, South America and Asia. He has spoken at the huge `Jesus Festivals` in Ibadan,  Nigeria;  trained evangelists in Kenya; and worked alongside missionaries in Thailand. He has  an ongoing link with Romania, having spoken in many centres of the country. He has also  worked  alongside the Billy Graham and the Luis Palau Evangelistic Organisations as part of  the extension team.

 His ministry in Britain over the years has seen missions and preaching opportunities in  many  areas. He has also encouraged people in the ministry; training evangelists and  acting  as a  consultant to churches in their outreach to their communities. Over this  past  year God has  led the Trust to develop major events. 

RECENT MINISTRY

The Lord has opened doors to a new and exciting kind of evangelism on Keith's own doorstep. With the help of his team he has been able to host three huge interactive events in Bolton, two based on C.S Lewis' "Narnia" and the other based on "Superheroes". The team were able to visit over 20 schools leading up to a day with over 2000 people attending, many of whom were from Asian families. The impact has been phenomenal and lasting. What a joy to see so many enjoying the days and still excited about what they learned a year later!

Other events have been a great open-air Fun Day in the town Square, drawing many hundreds to the craft and childrens' work, as well as hundreds to listen and watch as the Gospel was presented through music, banner waving and magic. People were happy to sit on the Town Hall steps and just listen in the sunshine. We have also had "Meals with a Message and a Valentine's Dance in the Town Hall, and two "Shoe Box Festivals", where children from local Schools have brought shoe boxes full of gifts for disadavantaged children throughout the world and have heard, along with their parents, the Christian Message. All of these had a strong Gospel content and many were challenged to receive Christ.

 Over the past two years we have also conducted a Bible School with between 15 and 35 students  covering such topics as "An overview of the Bible and Theology", "Studies in Matthew and John"  and "First and Last Things". We hope to continue this in the Autumn of 2009. 

 Besides these, we have  hosted "Word and Worship" events with such speakers as Rev. Alec  Motyer  (Keswick), Rob  Whittaker (Capernwray) and Neil Hudson (Institute of Contemporary  Christianity). These will start again in Autumn 2008 (see "Spearhead Communication").

Keith has also been mentoring an number of people in evangelism and hopes to build a wider team who can help in the ministry and in schools' work in particular.

THE FAMILY

  Deborah is employed in a local school as a nursery nurse, supporting a teacher with a lively mixed  ethnic group. She has recently retired from being a youth leader in the church after 40 years of      ministry. She has been a friend to many Asian families through her work in the school and is often   invited to celebrate birthdays, Ead and weddings with the families. She has cared for two Asian  girls in the school, one of whom is Fedose, who was only given 18 months to live but who is now a  bright 15 year old. She retires from work this summer which will mean she will be able to join  Keith on  more of his assignments. 

Ruth is the Scripture Union evangelist for the North West. She has built up many contacts with churches in that area with whom she is developing long term strategies for children`s work. This involves training of church leaders as well as evangelistic events for children. She has received an MA from Oxford University for her work on childrens' spirituality on which she regularly lectures, particularly at the International Childrens' Spirituality Conference (2008-Melbourne, Australia).

  Catherine is married to Simeon and they have a beautiful daughter called Emily  who is nearly 10 years old.  They have been working in Ecuador for over four  years with the South American Missionary Society but now are back in this  country working as nurses in Manchester. Both are training and working, doing  further studies;  Catherine, in community childrens' nursing and Simeon, in Bone  Marrow Transplantation.

Rebecca is Keith and Deborah`s third daughter and is teaching German and Spanish in a Secondary School in London. She was recently featured on a 30 minute programme for the digital channel, "Teachers TV" (www.teachers.tv). She is a keen musician and has worked with `Christia` in Romania, and with the Heidi Baker Foundation in Mozambique, both reaching street children. She is a childrens' worker at Westminster Chapel in London and runs a Christian Union in her school. Whilst in Mozambique she met Dinis. They are to marry in Africa in the summer.

Home Page