Meet our Board of Directors
Rebecca Willard Heatley first met Dallas and Jane in the maternity ward of the University of Wisconsin hospital. She began working for Dallas as his assistant in 2000, and continues to work with Jane in publishing and ministry efforts. She established DWillard.org in 2001, which brought Dallas great joy knowing that his work would be freely available to people around the world. Becky’s publishing and editing work includes The Great Omission, The Allure of Gentleness, and Life Without Lack. Her undergraduate studies were at USC and Northwest College (BA, Sacred Music) and she later received a certificate in spiritual formation from the Apprentice Institute. She and her husband Bill have spent the last 25 years raising Dallas and Jane’s one and only grandchild, Larissa.
Clifford Young Jr. is Lead Pastor at New Hope Christian Center in Lomita, California. He has a Masters in Music Education, Masters in Clinical Phycology, Master's in Divinity from Azusa Pacific University and is pursuing his Doctorate at APU with an emphasis in spiritual formation. He is also a graduate of The School of Kingdom Living. Cliff first discovered Dallas Willard’s work in Seminary at Azusa. Willard’s teaching changed Cliff’s vision of God and ushered him into a world of riches available now in the Kingdom of God. Cliff lives in Southern California with his wife of 25 years, Robin. They have two college age children, Cliff III and Catheryn. Cliff enjoys writing, reading the classics, traveling, great wholesome food and a good cigar. Please visit his website to learn more about Cliff’s writing and music.
When Jan Johnson moved from inner city Los Angeles to its outskirts, she had no idea she was moving just 20 minutes away from Dallas and Jane Willard and would become a part of their lives. She is an author (23 books), speaker, graduate school professor and long-time spiritual director. She holds a D.Min. in Ignatian Spirituality & Spiritual Direction. Everything she does focuses on spiritual formation or partnering with God in caring for the voiceless. Please visit her website to learn more about her writing and teaching, and to read her biography page. For Jan, hanging out with Jesus often happens in the midst of reading, hiking, bike riding, doing yardwork or viewing great works of art.
Mike served as an associate pastor in Southern California for 5 years before moving to Colorado Springs with his wife and two children to pioneer a new fellowship there. Mike’s career direction changed some years later. He began working in finance and operations roles, while completing his Master’s degree in Business and Management. Mike is passionate about teaching and learning. Having attended the same church fellowship as Dallas, he was greatly impacted by Dallas’ life and teachings. Through Dallas’s wife Jane, Mike was brought into the practice of spiritual exercises which are now a significant part of his walk with Jesus. Weekly, he and several of his friends find great purpose and joy in helping men struggling with drug addictions. He likes playing his guitar, and, as a fitness buff, enjoys cycling and golf with friends.
Rich Gregory has been married to Kristin for 24 years; helped to raise his lovely Niece, Alyesha (22); gets to be Dad to Nate (19), Corinne (16), and Noah (10); and proud Godfather of Jackson. He lives in Simi Valley, CA, in a house he owns with his best friends. Around sunrise or sunset, Rich can often be found paddleboarding at the local harbor, or re-reading The Divine Conspiracy—a book that changed his life—on his hammock in his backyard. Rich has been Lead Pastor of Lifesong, a missional church he helped to plant over 15 years ago, and is currently Principal of Ascension Lutheran School in Thousand Oaks, CA. He was formerly a Bible teacher and High School Director of Spiritual Life for 13 years at Oaks Christian School Westlake Village, where he wrote a curriculum on The Divine Conspiracy for high school students and their families. Rich earned a Master’s in Divinity from Fuller Seminary and is currently studying Dallas Willard’s work as he completes his Doctorate in Ministry at Azusa Pacific University in Southern California.
Terri Taylor was adopted from Korea when she was 6 months old and considers herself more Polish than Asian. Terri received her Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Biola University, completed The Renovaré Institute and is a certified Spiritual Director. She has led the Quaker Meadow Christian Camp board as well as the Ministry and Counsel (Elders) at the Friends church she attends. She has been greatly impacted by her time in the Renovaré Institute and is grateful to be able to contribute to furthering the work of Dallas Willard through working with the DWM Board. She has been told that she is a curator of souls and is grateful to have the opportunity to care for souls with the team at the School of Kingdom Living.
DWillard.org is co-sponsored by the family of Dallas Willard, Dallas Willard Ministries, and FiveStone.