Joseph Willis Institute for Great Awakening Studies
The mission of the Joseph Willis Institute is to educate the present and future generations of spiritual leaders on the historical and biblical principals of the great Christian revivals that have significantly impacted Western civilization, culture, and church growth around the world. It will sponsor symposiums, host a repository of historical materials, and provide academic instruction.
Where? The JWI will be housed at Louisiana College giving pastors, students, educators, researchers and other interested persons access to historical documents, lectures, and audio and video recordings.
When? In honor of the 200th anniversary of the Louisiana Baptist Convention, Louisiana College will launch JWI (Joseph Willis Institute) later this year. Plans are being made for lecture/training on spiritual awakening and the materials for the electronic repository to be released in the future.
Who was Joseph Willis? Nineteenth century historian, W. E. Paxton, penned A History of Baptists of Louisiana describing Joseph Willis, “He was a mulatto, and came to Mississippi prior to 1798, as a licensed preacher. He was a man of some education, full of the Holy Ghost, and was a sound gospel preacher.... a simple-hearted Christian, glowing with the love of Jesus, and an effective speaker.
Paxton said, “In November of this year [1804], he preached the first sermon ever preached in the state west of the Misssissippi River, by other than a Catholic priest.... He preached three or four times... at the peril of his life. Both his color and his being a Baptist exposed him to violent prejudices, and he was often threatened with violence.
Willis, threatened at gun point, was told to leave Louisiana. However, his calling to win people to Christ and plant a church would not allow him to leave. He planted a church in Bayou Chicot. Willis was ordained by Mississippi Baptists and the first Baptist church west of the Mississippi River was formally birthed in 1812. Willis, the son of an Indian slave, was a pioneer in planting several Baptist churches and an important instrument in the beginning of the Louisiana Baptist Association. Willis was greatly affected by the First Great Awakening--and was God’s first arrow shot across the Mississippi River at the beginning of the Second Great Awakening.
Symposiums, Educating Leaders and Training Laypersons: Louisiana College will host symposiums with leading scholars who will lecture on specific areas of the Great Awakenings in the history of the church. Leading voices on the practical aspects of spiritual awakening will also train churches to see God for revival.
Repository: Historical Materials on Great Revivals
Electronic Repository: Coming soon will be historical documents about the life of Joseph Willis and other historical personalities. Pastors, students, researchers, and Christian leaders interested in spiritual awakening will be able to access historical documents, as well as audio and video testimonies of the historic revivals and awakenings.
Contact:
Directer of Joseph Willis Institute for Great Spiritual Awakening
Tel. (318) 426-1512
Email: jwi@lacollege.edu
Joseph Willis Institute
Louisiana College
1140 College Dr.
Box 555
Pineville, LA 71359
(from left) Dr. Rod Masteller, Dr. Timothy Johnson, Dr. Chuck Quarles, Sammy Tippit, Randy Willis, Dr. David Hankins, Dr. Joe Aguillard
The Joseph Willis Family
Dr. Rod Masteller speaking to audience members of the “Return” convention on the importance of Louisiana College and the Joesph Willis Institute
Dr. Hankins praying of Dr. Joe and Judy Aguillard and the “Return” Convention
