Meet Eric Willis | Pastor, Author, Spiritual Well-Being Encourager

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eric Willis and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eric, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
A 2013 study from the Schaeffer Institute [1] reports that 1,700 pastors leave the ministry each month, citing depression, burnout, or being overworked as the primary reasons. According to the study, 50% of pastors feel unable to meet the demands of the job. Brian Dodd [2] states that pastoring has one of the top three suicide rates of any profession.

[1] http://thegazette.com/subject/life/people-places/pastor-burnout-who-helps-the-helpers- 20150213
[2] http://www.briandoddonleadership.com/2013/04/10/pastors-and-suicide/

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work morphed out of my 30-plus year of experience as a pastor. Reclaim Leadership is tied to my story…

I came to a point in ministry where I couldn’t handle it. Early in my ministry years (late 1980’s), I experienced conflict in the church and said “God, if this is ministry, then I don’t want anything to do with it!” In anger, I threw my bible on a shelf and ran away from God. I resigned from my church position and wanted nothing to do with Him or his people. After two years of running… and after an emotionally heavy blow, I found myself with my butt on a curb and feet in a literal gutter… praying to die.
It was at that moment I realized the first prayer I prayed in two years was to die! God out of his incredible grace and mercy whispered to my heart a verse of Scripture that I had memorized as an eight-year-old boy in Vacation Bible School… “I have come that you may have life…” It was then my heart melted in knowing that although I had run from God, he was always in pursuit of me. I repented with a renewed vigor and passion to pursue the Lord. However, I spent years telling myself that what I had done in those two years of running had disqualified me from ever being used by God in ministry again.
Years passed until that day I was reading Scripture and praying and came across story after story of screwed-up people being used by God for his purposes and the Holy Spirit engulfed me with a message my heart longed for and needed to hear: “Eric, my precious son, you are not DIS-qualified for ministry, you are PRE-qualified for ministry!” It was out of this difficult season of ministry, with a rebellious heart, and a twisted mindset that God met me and lovingly grew me up into Him as my source. He is my one good thing and has now placed me in a position to be an encourager to fellow sojourners in ministry leadership.

But how was my renewed passion going to be a practical help? I spent the majority of 2006 reading business books, developing a business plan, doing a SWOT analysis, learning what was out there, and realizing there was an opportunity for a unique contribution. In 2007, I founded Reclaim Leadership as a 501(c)3 organization with the intent of infusing hope and biblical perspective for ministry leaders to stay the course of ministry. I have learned in my role as Executive Director the importance of distinguishing between competencies and passions. There are things I am competent to complete, like the administration of a business, but I am not passionate about it. My passion resides in coming alongside ministry leaders to dive into deep conversation mining for redemptive moments. I learned early that I needed to put other people with different passions into my places of mere competence. This allows me to focus on our future goals to train and certify Reclaim Leadership Coaches as the ministry experiences growth. A great challenge to every nonprofit is the fundraising component. If you are struggling with this as a new startup, maybe it is needed capital or investors for your for-profit organization, let me encourage you to remain steadfast and resolved to fulfill what you believe to be an important vision. I have learned that focusing on my “why” motivates me to endure difficult seasons of financial uncertainty.

I am proud of the work Reclaim Leadership provides as we come alongside pastors and ministry leaders struggling with “if this is ministry, then I don’t want anything to do with it.” The unique contribution of Reclaim Leadership is our focus on well-being in ministry. Specifically challenging ministry leaders in the area of resiliency amid the difficult places they find themselves. Rather than focusing on burnout, compassion fatigue, or any number of the hazards of ministry, Reclaim Leadership challenges ministry leaders to develop resiliency which reflects forgiveness, gratitude, hope, and optimism. Our business model is designed to infuse these traits into an intentional plan of well-being for those we serve. Unlike most pastoral care options that require a minister to leave their field of service, Reclaim Leadership goes to them to provide the encouragement and support they need. We see this as a unique way to set ourselves apart. The retreats and coaching we provide are filtered through the lens that Reclaim Leadership is not about reclaiming a title or position, but about allowing Christ’s leadership to be reflected in you and through you as you minister. This focus is squarely on healthy spiritual well-being.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I love the DFW Metroplex having lived here the majority of 30-plus years. You can’t go wrong visiting Arlington as the entertainment spot for professional football, baseball, and of course theme parks such as Six-Flags over Texas! Fort Worth will give you your horse and cowboy fix as the rodeo comes to town. Dallas gives you summer musicals, professional basketball, and a certain cultural vibe in each section of the city where communities create unique experiences. Outlying cities provide more options too: Grapevine – get the wine! Walking and biking trails are all throughout the area along with seasonally fresh produce at farmer’s markets. Lakes Grapevine and Lewisville have great places for picnics on and off the water. If you’re in the area around the fourth of July, Addison’s Kaboom-Town is a must. Other areas like Highland Village put on a show right on Lake Lewisville. Where would I eat, drink, and hang out? Downtown Carrollton has a great vibe. Babe’s Chicken is a treat and if you’re into craft beer, you’ll want to check out 3 Nations Brewery near the silos off interstate-35 in downtown Carrollton, So, shout out to Carrollton!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to the supporters of Reclaim Leadership who make the nonprofit ministry possible! To the numerous church leaders who remain faithful in the day-in and day-out engagement of coming alongside people in their most vulnerable places. Finally, to the One who created a passion within me and carved a unique ministry outlet to infuse hope and biblical perspective as He shepherds the souls of those who choose pastoral ministry.

Website: www.reclaimleadership.org