J.L. Williams was reared in a spiritually enriched family by his parents, Clarence and Edith Crouse Williams. It was a heritage full of faith and serving others, with a heavy emphasis on overseas missions.
He graduated pre-med from Asbury College in Wilmore, Kentucky, and then received his Master of Divinity degree in comparative world religions from Duke Divinity School. He later earned a Doctor of Ministry degree in contemporary counter-Christian cults from Luther Rice Seminary.
Through the YMCA in Burlington, NC, J.L. and his wife, Patt, founded The New Directions singing group in August 1968. This group was interracial, contemporary, and inter-denominational, ministering throughout the US and the Caribbean from 1968 to the mid-1980s. He then transitioned to developing partnerships with indigenous leaders overseas, mainly in Africa, Asia, and the Caribbean.
J.L.’s passion was to pour himself into those cross-cultural partnerships, equipping strategic Christian leaders with practical and spiritual tools to reach the unreached for Christ. Whether it was preaching, teaching, writing, mentoring, agricultural projects, self-support initiatives, helping orphanages, etc., he was absolutely relentless in serving Christ by serving others.
J.L. died on December 28, 2016, at Alamance Regional Medical Center in Burlington, NC, leaving Patt, their 4 married children, and 12 grandchildren. Patt continues his legacy by working with their son, Joseph, through Feed the Hunger, as he shares the same vision as his dad: to help meet the spiritual and physical hunger of those in greatest need, locally and globally.
Click here to view Dr. J.L.'s celebration of life service JL Williams Website