Meet the Team

Rebecca Willard Heatley has been engaged in furthering the teaching of Dallas Willard since becoming his ministry assistant in 2000. She established DWillard.org in 2001, through which Dallas was happy to make his work freely available around the world. Today Becky’s efforts are primarily directed toward expanding the availability of Dallas’s work in partnership with Dallas Willard Ministries, and through Dallas Willard Publications, LLC. She is honored to also serve on the boards of the Dallas Willard Research Center and the Apprentice Institute. Her undergraduate studies were at USC and Northwest College (BA, Sacred Music), with post-graduate training in computer technology, and a certificate in spiritual formation from the Apprentice Institute. She and her husband, Bill, have had the joy of raising Dallas and Jane’s one and only "grand daughter," 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 received his Doctorate of Ministry degree from APU with an emphasis in spiritual formation. He is also a graduate of the first cohort of The School of Kingdom Living, and serves on the SKL staff as a teacher and sound engineer. 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 establish a new Christian fellowship there. Mike’s career direction changed some years later. He began working in commercial business having 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. He finds great purpose and joy in developing relationships with men in his church fellowship that lead to a deeper knowledge of God, and practical living in God’s kingdom. Mike counts it a privilege to love and serve families in his neighborhood community. Mike currently resides in Idaho with his wife Debbie, and they are blessed with 2 grown children and 5 grandchildren. He is a fitness buff and enjoys many outdoor activities 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.

Aaron Preston is DWM’s Philosopher in Residence.  He studied philosophy with Dallas at USC both as an undergraduate (1991-1995) and as a graduate student (1997-2002).  Upon completing his doctorate under Dallas’ supervision, Aaron spent 24 years teaching philosophy, first at Malone College in Canton, Ohio (2001-2007) and then at Valparaiso University in Valparaiso, Indiana (2007-2025).

Like so many of his students, Aaron looked to Dallas as a personal mentor as well as a Professor. They maintained a close friendship and mentoring relationship to the end of Dallas's life, and Aaron was part of the team that completed Dallas’s final academic book The Disappearance of Moral Knowledge (Routledge, 2018).  As DWM’s Philosopher in Residence, Aaron is continuing Dallas's work in this important area as a co-leader of DWM's Moral Knowledge Initiative, guiding our efforts to highlight more of Dallas's philosophical work, and helping clarify Dallas's teaching in both philosophy and theology. Be watching for the online courses Aaron will be teaching for DWM in 2026.

For more on Aaron’s academic work, please see his PhilPeople profile.

For more on his relationship with Dallas, please see his page in our Speakers Bureau and his memorial tribute, Dallas Willard: My Beloved Rabboni.

Claudia Schneider has lived most of her life on the coast of Georgia. She received a B.S. Ed. from Georgia Southern University, followed by a M. Ed. And Ed. S., all in Early Childhood Education. Most of her teaching career was in the primary grades, with second grade being her favorite. Her husband, Tom, a University of Michigan graduate, moved to Georgia to leave snow behind and to have the opportunity to play golf year-round. He taught Social Studies courses at a local high school. Claudia and Tom welcomed their son Mason into the family after 13 years of waiting and praying. Tom and Claudia each taught for 30 years in their local public school system. Tom received a surprising cancer diagnosis and died in 2013. Claudia has retired from full-time teaching, but continues to work daily with the youngest learners at an elementary school. Mason, now 24, is part of a local “grassroots” ministry that uses board sports and athletic pursuits to build relationships with teens and young adults. Through a series of connections and introductions, Claudia became a part of the first cohort of the School of Kingdom Living. Through the SKL fellowship Claudia continues to read, study and practice with her friends. She enjoys volunteering with DWM by writing notes to donors and friends, and acting as the recording secretary for the DWM board.

Cory Smith is a pastor and digital media strategist who works to help others find and follow Jesus. He has a Bachelor's degree in Religious Studies from the University of California-Riverside, and a Master of Arts in Pastoral Studies from Azusa Pacific University, where he is currently pursuing the Doctor of Ministry degree. During his time at Azusa Pacific, Cory's journey to understanding spiritual formation has been greatly influenced by Dallas's writings in Renovation of the Heart, Spirit of the Disciplines, and Hearing God. Today Cory serves as a media consultant and strategist working to help leaders and ministries reimagine how they can do the work of ministry online. He is a proud lover of films, travel, and most anything he can enjoy with his family. As part of his doctoral studies, Cory is currently studying how to start an online-first church community as a model for church planting in an increasingly digital-native world. Cory and his wife, Ebony, live in Locust Grove, GA, with their 14-year-old son.

Dawn comes to DWM from Orange County, California. She holds a Bachelor's degree in organizational management from Hope International University and a certificate in Spiritual Direction from Soul Shepherding. She retired after a 30+ year career as a Sr. Human Resources Business Partner at the University of California, Irvine, Health System. After graduating from the third cohort of the School of Kingdom Living, where she discovered a community of like-minded Christ-followers and gained a deeper experience of life in the Kingdom of God now, she volunteered to participate in the vision of Dallas Willard Ministries by sharing her H.R. experience with us. Dawn now coordinates the efforts of our growing team of volunteers, and we praise the Lord for bringing us her expertise!

Visit our Volunteers page to learn more about what Dawn and the volunteers are up to and see if you'd like to get involved.

James grew up in Troy, PA. He holds bachelor’s degrees in Political Science (Messiah College) and Business Administration (Houghton College) along with Master’s degrees in Public Policy (Regent University) and Christian Spiritual Formation and Leadership (Friends University). James stumbled upon Dallas Willard in 2007, downloading numerous MP3s from DWillard.org. He looked for years for a learning community where he could wrestle with Dallas’ ideas related to the Kingdom of God. The CSFL program/Apprentice Experience at Friends University proved to be the perfect fit. This program changed his life in profound ways including providing the opportunity for him and the DWM team to get to know each other. James began volunteering with DWM in late 2021, and joined our staff in early 2024.

Professionally, James served as an associate registrar at a Christian liberal arts college for 19 years followed by 3 years working as the CFO for a family medical practice. He has a passion for higher education, data management, all things C.S. Lewis and Dallas Willard, and Christian spiritual formation. James resides with his wife and children in Franklinville, NY.

John directs the ministry’s operations, finances, programs, and is the founding director of the School of Kingdom Living. With a Bachelor's degree from the University of Central Florida and a Master of Divinity from Asbury Theological Seminary, John brings a unique blend of experience (11 years in business, 9 years in the local church) to Dallas Willard Ministries. Prior to joining DWM in 2020, he served for six years with James Bryan Smith at the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation in Wichita, Kansas. John is ordained in the Evangelical Covenant Church. He resides in Melbourne, Florida with his wife, Amber. Together, they have two college-age kids. In his free time, John enjoys reading, going to the beach, and training at his faith-based cross fit gym. [Learn More]

Amy Pierson is the Manager of Special Projects for Focus on the Family/Parenting and Youth, the founder of Burning Heart Workshops (a soul care ministry combining classic spiritual formation, neurotheology, and creative soul care), and a writer. She is the author of Makers in a Thinker’s World: What Brainscience Teaches About the Spiritually Transforming Power of Creativity (2023), and formerly served as Executive Director of the Spiritual Formation Alliance. Amy is a graduate of the Renovaré Insitute for Christian Spiritual Formation/Santa Barbara Cohort, a ministry intercessor, and member of Denver’s Downing House community. She received her Bachelor of Science in Journalism and Advertising from the University of Colorado, Boulder. An artist, empty-nester mom, “Ama,” and champion of creativity for lasting spiritual transformation, Amy lives in the Denver area with her hilarious husband, Bill, and their ridiculous golden retriever.

Bill Dwyer was a founding member of DWM and currently serves by overseeing the DWM YouTube channel. Dallas and Jane were very active members of the Valley Vineyard Church in Reseda, the church Bill pastored for forty years. Their friendship and mentoring had a life-changing impact on the church and on Bill, drawing him into spiritual formation, contemplative practices, and spiritual direction. Bill has a heart for missions and has served with Foundation for His Ministry for over thirty years; a mission changing the lives of children throughout Mexico. He and Anamarie have three wonderful children and seven amazing grandchildren. In 2021 they retired to Peoria, Arizona. 

Robert S. Howey is the founder of the Spiritual Formation Alliance and served for many years with the Renovaré board and ministry team. An entrepreneur his entire career, Bob initiated several new ventures in the insurance and financial fields. Now retired, Bob assists Christian ministries with strategic planning—especially as it pertains to the Church and current culture. Bob lives in Centennial, Colorado.

Jim Smith is the founder and Executive Director of the Apprentice Institute for Christian Spiritual Formation at Friends University, where he is also the first person to hold the Dallas Willard Chair in Christian Spiritual Formation. Jim was a founding member of Richard J. Foster’s spiritual renewal ministry, Renovaré, and is an ordained United Methodist Church minister. He served as a teaching assistant for Dallas over the course of seven years and spent much time learning from him inside and outside the classroom. He developed the Apprentice series of books as a way of communicating Willard’s teaching in a more accessible format. Jim serves as a teaching pastor at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church in Wichita, KS, where he makes his home with his family and their very energetic dogs, Winston and Wesley.

For over 25 years Jane, a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT), worked with adults who had experienced childhood trauma, utilizing what she termed imagery prayer. She has presented several papers on the topic at conferences for Christian therapists. Currently Jane is a certified spiritual director. She has led groups through the 30-week Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius and, with joy and gratitude, meets with directees via Zoom and in her home in Southern California where she and Dallas lived for most of their 57 years of marriage. As the owner of Dallas Willard Publications LLC, Jane continues to work with publishers and organizations to continue Dallas’s message of “living in the Kingdom now.”

Keith Matthews is Chair of the Graduate Ministry Department and Professor of Spiritual Formation and Leadership at Azusa Pacific Seminary. He is an ordained pastor, church consultant, executive coach, retreat speaker, and former teaching fellow for the Renovare Institute, Apprentice Institute, and now, currently with the Dallas Willard School of Kingdom Living. He was an Adjunct Professor at Fuller Seminary where he worked with Dallas for 18 years teaching the Spirituality and Ministry course. Keith also served on Dallas’s Supervisory Council (2001-2013). He and his wife Christa have three children and two grandchildren, and reside in Southern California.

Larissa Norwoods is Dallas Willard’s granddaughter and has a passion to further Christ’s kingdom through continuing her grandfather’s work. Larissa studied English and Public Relations at the University of Arizona, graduating in 2021, and now works as the Social Media Producer and Community Manager for Red Robin Restaurants. She has been called tiny but mighty for as long as she can remember, and loves helping out with anything behind the scenes. Her favorite quote from her grandfather is “Give 'em heaven,” and she hopes to live that out daily.

Sam Newby is originally from Kansas City where he was an associate pastor for several years before planting a church in the arts & music district of Kansas City. For eight years he shepherded the congregation as it took shape and in 2016 he transitioned out of that role to move to Pasadena and do a PhD in Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. Due to the deep influence of Dallas Willard's writing, Sam is focusing on Spiritual Theology and Human Development in a Theological perspective. This fits with his favorite DW quote: "What God gets out of our life is the person we become." He also works full time as the Manager of Operations for Stars, a faith based non-profit that focuses on youth development. He has been married to Anna for 14 years and has a 10 year old son and 4 year old daughter. His greatest passions are his family, the church and writing. He also enjoys classic literature, birding and Marvel comics.

Todd Hunter is the founding bishop of The Diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others and founder and leader of The Telos Collective. He is past President of Alpha USA, former National Director for the Association of Vineyard Churches, and retired founding pastor of Holy Trinity Anglican Church in Costa Mesa, CA. Todd serves as an adjunct professor of evangelism, leadership in contemporary culture and spiritual formation at George Fox University, Fuller Seminary, Western Seminary, Vanguard University, Azusa Pacific University and Wheaton College. He and his wife, Debbie, have two adult children and live in Franklin, Tennessee.