Highly Committed: The Wilson Family Story / Williams, DeWitt S. / Hardback / LSI

The most important legacy a person can leave behind is reflected in the lives they touch for Christ during their lifetime. After serving the Seventh-day Adventist Church for more than 100 years in different capacities, the Wilson family has left quite a legacy that continues on today.

The legacy began when William Henry Wilson gave his heart to the Lord after hearing Ellen White preach at a camp meeting in California. Although his time on earth was short, he dedicated himself to studying God’s word, and before he passed away, he asked his sons to promise him that they would commit their lives to serving the church. Nathaniel Wilson gave his word that he would serve the Lord, and he did so in a mighty way, working in various conferences in the States and serving overseas in Africa, Asia, Australia, and India. Neal C. Wilson carried his father’s legacy forward and served in the Middle East and North America before accepting the call to lead the world church. Along the way, Neal mentored his son, Ted N. C. Wilson, who followed in his father’s footsteps and ministered in Africa, Russia, and currently at the General Conference as president of the Adventist Church.

Four generations of Wilsons, along with their wives and families, have stood firm in their commitment to God and their church. Highly Committed traces the history of the Wilson family from William Henry and Isabella Wilson through Ted N. C. and Nancy Wilson. Their family’s story is one of providential guidance and unwavering commitment.

May you be blessed as you read the story of this God-fearing family, and may you be inspired to commit your life to following God and making a difference for the kingdom!

About the Author

DeWitt Stanton Williams served as the associate director of health for the Health/Temperance Department at the General Conference from 1983 until 1990, and then as director of health for the North American Division from 1990 until he retired in 2010 after forty-six years of service to the Adventist Church. While serving at the GC, Williams lectured in more than 100 countries, wrote articles about the importance of good health, and talked to young people about the dangers of drugs. Before his appointment to the Health/Temperance Department, Williams held positions as pastor in the Southwest Region Conference; department secretary for the Congo Union, Africa; president of the Central Africa Union; and assistant and associate director of the General Conference Department of Communications.

In addition to Highly Committed, Williams has written four other books, three of which were co-authored with other Adventist authors. In addition to writing and volunteering on numerous boards, Williams finds time to stay fit. He is an avid exerciser and has run in several marathons.

Williams is a graduate of Oakwood University and Andrews University, and he was ordained a Seventh-day Adventist minister in Oklahoma City in 1967. Furthermore, he earned his doctor of education degree from Indiana University in 1975 and his master of public health from Loma Linda University in 1985.

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Brinklow Member Chronicles Wilson Family in Highly Committed

DeWitt Williams, EdD. is probably best known as the former Health Ministries director for the North American Division (NAD). After retiring in 2010, this member ot the Emmanuel-Brinklow church in Ashton, Md., set out to write Highly Committed, a book about world church president Ted N.C. Wlson's family. He shares some thoughts on the book below:

Q: Tell us about the book.
A: The book begins when Isabella Wilson joined the Adventist Church and influenced her husband, William Henry Wilson, to come and listen to Ellen G. White at a camp meeting. He joined that Sabbath day and became a lay leader in the church in Heatfsburg (Calif.). Before he died about seven years later, he made he boys (among them Nathaniel C Wilson, Neal's father) promise to dedicate themselves to a life of service to God and the church. So I follow the family from that point (1904) until 2011 when I finished the book.

Q: Why write about the Wilson family?
A: I don't know of any other Adventist family—besides the Ellen G. White family—that has made such a long and useful contribution to the Adventist Church as the Wilson family. Nathaniel was president of five world divisions, Neal was president of the NAD and world chuch and Ted was president of a division and is the current world church president. We have had five generations of Wilsons serving the church. I try to emphasize the blessings and legacy of useful service that the family has devoted to the church and to God. That's why I titled the book Highly Committed.

Q: Have you talked to Ted Wilson about the book?
A: I interviewed many of the members of the Wilson family in writing the book. I also had three very nice interviews with Elder Wilson. He looked at the final copy and told me that many in his family did not know this history. He even bought eight copies as Christmas gifts for his family.

Q: Where can people find the book?
A: The book is available at the Potomac Adventist Book and Health Food Store in Silver Spring, Md., and at teachservices.com, Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Read more at columbiaunion.org/highlycommitted.

This article first appeared in the April 2013 issue of the Columbia Union Visitor and is reprinted with permission.

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