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FROM THE BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF PRIMITIVE OR OLD SCHOOL BAPTIST MINISTERS BY DAVID MONTGOMERY AND MARK GREEN.
Elder J.G. Willis was born August 1, 1897 in Estill County KY, the son of Elder Merle Willis, a United Baptist Minister. He and his six brothers and sisters grew up in a godly home and an atmosphere rich in the letter of the Word. After his marriage, in 1919, to Florence Miller, his life long companion, Elder Willis moved his family to the vicinity of Hamilton, Ohio. Brother Willis was a great lover and student of the Bible, and through out his life he had little else to talk about. His love and devotion for the Scriptures soon brought about dissatisfaction with the inconsistencies with the United Baptists, and an appreciation for the doctrine and practice of the Primitive Baptists.
Elder Willis was familiar with the Hamilton Primitive Baptist Church, and later said that he always knew that it was his home. He did not, however, join the church at Hamilton because of many obvious errors, including a pastor who had a reputation of very progressive leanings. Instead he joined a Primitive Baptist Church at some distance, where he began to exercise his gift. Still, his burden for the church at Hamilton couldn't be ignored, and in 1950, he joined the Hamilton Church by letter.
J. G.'s gift was soon recognized and he began the painful task of "Cry loud and spare not, show unto Israel her sins." Elder Willis was ordained and called to pastor the Church in 1958 and although his lot was to sow in tears, he was blessed to reap in joy. He saw members of the Hamilton Church come out from among the world and renounce Free Masonry, put away adultery, remove idolatrous pictures of Christ from their meeting house, and restore fellowship with orderly churches across the country.
On Sunday morning August 20, 1967, Elder J.G. Willis fell asleep in Jesus while preaching the gospel of Christ at the Hamilton Church. He died of a heart attack while in a big way of preaching. He had said many times that this was the way he would like to die, telling the children of God what a wonderful Savior they have. |
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