About
Us - Pastoral Staff - Our
Beliefs
Pastoral Staff
Dr. Ray and Peggy Willis – Senior Pastors
Ray and Peggy are a charismatic team that have committed their hearts
to serving God and committed their lives to helping people grow and walk
in abundant life. They were married in 1969 and have abounded in love
that flows out of their lives and into everyone they touch. Pastor Ray
and his family have deep roots in preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
He is a third-generation preacher, his children Chad and Shelisa are fourth
generation, and he and Peggy will quickly tell you their grandchildren
are fifth generation. They have been answering the call to pastor for
30 years and have been the Senior Pastors of Abundant Life Ministries
for over 20 years. Pastor Ray also has an apostolic calling on his life,
overseeing over 230 churches and 40,000 members as the Assistant Superintendent
of Sonshine Network Ministries. An exceptional preacher and teacher of
the Word, God uses him all over the United States and into the world.
He has a passion to see the broken world healed, the lost saved, the fallen
restored, the saints equipped, the captives freed, the down trodden lifted
up, an army of believers raised up, and the kingdom of God built up. Pastor
Peggy backs Pastor Ray in his mission and walks in her own prophetic anointing.
She is the Women’s Ministry Director of the Sonshine Conference,
preaching and teaching with boldness and readiness. She has a sensitive
ear to the voice of God and when He speaks, she releases powerful truths
without apology or hesitation. Pastor Ray and Peggy each have their own
callings and purposes to fulfill and it is together that they have begun
to realize their destiny and walk in its fullness.
Email: Pastor
Ray (pastorray@abundantlifepalatka.com)
or Peggy (peggywillis@abundantlifepalatka.com)
Chad
and Antoinette Willis – Senior Associate Pastors
Chad and Antoinette are a unique, dynamic couple wreaking havoc on the
kingdom of darkness and forcefully advancing the kingdom of God. God brought
their lives together when they were in the Air Force in 1994 and they
have been linked together in love and power ever since. They married in
1996 and have one child, Lexis Elaine. When God joined this couple’s
lives, He proved that there was unity in diversity because while they
are different in many aspects, they have the same powerful calling inscribed
on their lives. They minister with zeal and forthrightness, creatively
and boldly delivering the Word with the power to challenge, transform
and mold lives. Their greatest desire is to see people walk in freedom
from strongholds and experience life unbound by the lies of the enemy.
God has used them mightily to minister to everyone, including youth, couples,
men and women. They are a driving force in launching this ministry forward
into its destiny, and they are a key component in the Body of Christ for
this generation.
Chris and Yassah Lee
– Associate Pastors/Ministers of Music
Chris and Yassah are a gifted couple that have freely given their time,
energy and commitment to impact this Ministry and this world. They met
while attending Bethune Cookman College in 1993 and Chris knew instantly
he had found his wife. He and Yassah joined their futures together and
have blossomed into a loving and talented powerhouse, producing fruit
that overflows. They married in 1995 and have three sons and a beautiful
daughter. Chris is a gifted musician, singer, songwriter and minister
of the Word. He is also a board-certified Associate Behavior Analyst that
counsels and develops programs for young people with behavioral issues
in the school systems across Putnam County. Yassah, a native to Liberia,
West Africa, has survived the country’s civil war and unrest to
walk into the calling she was predestined to achieve. She teaches at the
middle school and college level and is passionate about attaining and
transferring knowledge. Although she is gifted in many ways, her most
pronounced talent is in the area of music. She is an extraordinary singer
and psalmist, flowing prophetically in worship through song. Together,
Chris and Yassah lead our Praise & Worship through the gates of praise
right into the very presence of God.
Henry and Grace Willis – Pastoral
Care/Seniors Pastor
Henry and Grace have matured in their relationship with Christ, and their
relationship with each other serves as a model for all couples. They have
been married for over 50 years and still act like newlyweds. Henry and
Grace have been in the ministry for more than 50 years and have been both
pastors and evangelists. 
Their
calling has taken them around the world twice, many times to places that
have never been exposed to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They bring a wealth
of wisdom and knowledge that is indispensable, and they are willing to
share it with everyone. They are constantly reaching out and touching
the lives of everyone they come in contact with, making a sincere effort
to love and embrace all people. They currently minister to our “Prime
Timers” which includes everyone who is 50 or above and in the primes
of their lives. Though they are supposed to be retired, they can never
stop fulfilling the call of God that rests on their lives, so they keep
going strong!
Georgie Beckert - Childrens Pastor/Secretary
Georgie is a vital organ in
the Body of Christ, playing an integral role in helping this Ministry
to advance, function and thrive. She is a dedicated servant that freely
gives her time to help wherever she is needed and freely gives her heart
to love those that are in need. With an amazing heart for children, she
operates as the Children’s Pastor and overseer of the entire Nursery
and Children’s Ministry. Georgie’s work for this Ministry
does not begin and end with the start and close of services because she
stretches herself to be involved in many aspects of this Body. A major
way she does this is by working as the Secretary at the church office.
She handles many of the day-to-day responsibilities at the church and
lends a big hand with maintenance and upkeep. Few people even realize
the immense time and energy she pours into Abundant Life because much
of what she does is behind-the-scenes. Even while some of her acts remain
unseen, the fruits of her efforts are evident and indispensable to this
House.
Jerry Carter - Media Director/Administrator
Jerry breathes, lives and infuses creativity into everything
he does, accelerating Abundant Life to the next level. No matter the task
or project, Jerry develops, designs and always delivers fresh ideas, cutting-edge
ingenuity and explosive imagination. He is not afraid to try something
that is different, sometimes daring, often unconventional, never ordinary
and always phenomenal. Jerry does not hold back his gifts and is involved
in many different areas at Abundant Life. He is a key member in our Praise
Choir, strumming the bass guitar as a powerful instrument of praise and
worship. 
When
he’s not on the stage, you can find Jerry behind one of the cameras,
switchboards or computer screens. As the Media Director, he is passionate
about media and has an incredible vision to produce materials that communicate
the messages of this House with impact and results. Jerry is also intricately
woven into the every day activities of the church. He is the Administrator
at the office, taking on many obligations necessary for this Ministry
to function. Jerry is one of the leading members of this generation of
believers, driven to be effective and productive in this Ministry and
beyond.