Team Bios

Doug Willis was born in Sydney and grew up in a small dairy farm community outside Lismore, NSW, Australia.  Following High School he worked on his father’s farm and did contract ploughing prior to entering the Churches of Christ Bible College in Sydney.  After completing four years diploma studies he married Joyce Bulmer and they took up their first ministry in Western Australia.

His heart was always in evangelistic ministry, and in 1960 he worked his way to America as a deck hand on a Norwegian freighter in order to observe and learn from American evangelists.  He did this hoping to improve his own effectiveness in winning souls to Christ.

It was on this tour that he came in contact with Reggie Thomas, which resulted in a close friendship and working relationship that has lasted 48 years as of 2008. He spoke at numerous Bible Colleges and churches across the nation; and gave greetings at several Conventions.  He returned to the States in 1961 and preached to a very appreciative audience at the famous Kiamichi Men’s Clinic in Oklahoma and also conducted several Revivals. 

During the sixties and seventies he conducted several tent and aerosphere crusades across Australia.  His first overseas crusade was as an evangelist with Reggie Thomas’ team in Southern Rhodesia in 1972.  This was quickly followed by tours with Reggie Thomas’ evangelistic party to South Korea, India and the Philippines.

Doug spent five years working in pioneer evangelism and church planting in the far north and outback of Queensland, Australia.  He and his wife Joyce, then had some full and part time ministries in Queensland and New South Wales. In 1986 he dedicated his life to full-time overseas evangelism which has taken him back to India over 30 times, and included several visits to the Philippines, Russia, Myanmar, Guyana, Dubai, UAE, NZ, the USA, England, ten African nations as well as several South Pacific island nations.  During these visits he conducted numerous seminars for preachers and elders.  In 2005 he was presented an Honorary Doctorate Degree by SEEDS Bible College for his thirty years service to India and his committed contribution to the churches there.

Highlights from these visits include: preaching in 63 Indian villages during a three week period resulting in over 1,000 baptisms; establishing and raising support for three village evangelistic teams that became a model for other churches in South India; conducting a baptismal service in a lake in the city of Bryansk, Russia and as he was preaching numerous bystanders kept coming in repentance to be baptized; street and market place impromptu preaching in the Solomon Islands; pioneering work in Chad, Liberia, PNG and other places; visiting the Tsunami effected Indian island’s of Andaman/Nicobar with consolation and material relief; and having his grandson Joshua join him as a co-evangelist in Macedonia, Uganda and India.

In 1996 Doug was appointed Dean of the South Pacific Branch of Christ’s Evangelical Foundation Bible College (CEF).  Over 1,500 enquiries have come into his office and a visit to China has resulted in Chinese students now being enrolled.  Several students have already graduated and many others are continuing their studies.  Doug completed the 24 courses from CEF himself, obtaining the B.Bs with highest honours. He has since continued his theological studies obtaining his Masters of Theology (M.Th) and Doctorate of Philosophy (Ph.D) from the European Theological Seminary (ETS). Last year he was acknowledged by this institution as a Member of the Fellowship of the ETS as well as an Associate Professor of ETS and College of the Bible (Third World).

Doug has five children, four sons and one daughter who is currently living in America. Two of his sons are in full time ministry serving as Chaplains in the Air Force and Army.  Joyce, Doug’s wife of 48 years, passed on to glory in December 2004.  In November 2006 he married Loma Graydon from the Lismore Church of Christ, Doug’s home church. He and Loma minister together, with Loma taking over the role of Office Manager for the Australian Office of CEF.

Doug is best known for his passion for the salvation of lost souls and the restoration of pure New Testament Christianity.  His seminars are rich in Bible exposition illustrating New Testament truths with Old Testament principles, types and pictures, applying them especially to Christian living and the church.

Having conducted his ministry on a faith basis he has many testimonies of God’s faithful provision as well as His protection in dangerous situations. 

He is also known for his desire to mentor and train young men for the evangelistic ministry.  He has no plans for retirement.  ‘May the Lord be magnified’ is often heard coming from his lips and seen in his writings as he rejoices on his way to glory.