What does it really mean to be a revolutionary follower of Jesus Christ? That is the question Erik Willits is committed to answering through his ministry. At 29, Erik travels the country fulltime, challenging churched and unchurched people, retreat-goers, college students and youth to live out the revolutionary teachings of Jesus.
Although you'd traditionally refer to Erik as an evangelist, he's often just called a "speaker guy" and is known for his high value on building relationships and preaching the Bible. Erik's signature relational style is a key part of his ministry as he teaches the idea of revolution as far more than popular terminology.
"I understand the word revolution has become cliché, but I can't think of any better way to explain what Jesus is and what He calls us to be," Erik says. "In my messages, I explore how to be a revolutionary. I speak from the scriptures about community, living as the body of Christ, and spiritual practices for followers of Jesus."
The passion for revolutionary life started early for the Illinois native, who began his preaching ministry in 2000 while attending Olivet Nazarene University. While working on a Masters in Religion there, Erik founded a ministry organization called Cross Style Revolution (CSR) that aims to be a community encouraging and enabling students and others to learn and grow as followers of Jesus. In 2005, while continuing to lead the way for CSR, Erik chose to focus more of his efforts on independent ministry, in order to fully embrace God's unique calling on his life.
This unmistakable calling traced back to childhood. Erik's early years were marked by an absent father, leaving him and his mother to fend for themselves. His first encounter with authentic spirituality came at age 6 through a church that stopped by his low-income housing development to pick up kids for Sunday school. But it piqued Erik's curiosity about God.
"Then In junior high, I attended a church camp with a friend," Erik remembers. "At this camp, I saw other students loving and following Jesus, having fun living in community and engaging in relationships built on the love of Christ. I wanted to be a part of something, to belong to something bigger than me and my broken circumstances."
Intrigued by the faith he'd observed, Erik asked Jesus into his life and later began to attend a local church and share life with the people there. Until he left for college, these believers loved him and invested in his life, showing him what it looked like to love and follow Jesus.
Beginning with delivering a D.A.R.E. speech in fifth grade to more than 1,000 people, and evolving into winning high school speech competitions, speaking always came naturally to Erik. It was in high school, when he began sharing his testimony at youth events, that he first sensed the 'call' to become a teacher/preacher of the scripture.
"I just shared with people how I grew up without an earthly father, and how God the Father loved on me and gave me a new identity, a new name," Erik says. His birth name was Gezim, given to him by his father who was Muslim and from Eastern Europe, but Erik had his name legally changed the same year he became a Christian. He often shared this story with others and says, 'It would inevitably lead into a mini-sermon about how God was changing me and teaching me through prayer and Bible study."
In his sophomore year at Olivet, Erik did a summer internship with traveling preacher/evangelist Stephen Manley, an experience he now says shaped his future. "I was able to learn under him what it meant to have a heart for people but also a burning passion to preach the Gospel," Erik explains. As opportunities to speak at camps, festivals, revivals and churches multiplied, God continued to cultivate his passion for preaching and teaching the Gospel. Erik continues receive overwhelming affirmation from pastors, congregations and students that God is using him in powerful ways.
Now increasingly in demand as an expositional preacher/teacher, Erik speaks to thousands of people each year, relating the revolutionary Gospel message in a way that's both relevant and life-changing. His ministry focuses on relationships and strong biblical teaching, filling the void of creative biblical teaching in a day of feel-good, seven-step preachers. And daily immersion in scripture and theological study keep Erik grounded and growing.
"I want everyone, young and old, religious and non-religious, to engage Jesus and discover the best way to live and the only way to redeem all of creation," Erik says. "I want to see people living holy, world-changing lives in pursuit of God's imaginative vision for all of humanity.
You can view & download a page of recommendations from denominational leaders :: View & Download Here
Also view and download Erik's resume.
Also view and download Erik's resume.
Erik lives in Nashville TN
with his wife Andrea and son Jack.
Let us know what you would like to know about Erik and the ministry God has called him to.
info@erikwillits.com
with his wife Andrea and son Jack.
Let us know what you would like to know about Erik and the ministry God has called him to.
info@erikwillits.com
Some of Erik's most popular speaking topics
The REAL Revolution
:: Engaging the revolutionary teachings of Jesus.
The world revolution has become cliche but there might not be a better word for what it means to follower of Jesus. Erik looks at what it means to be a revolutionary follower of Jesus Christ and challenges us to engage Jesus and join his Revolution!
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IDENTITY
:: Finding out who you are in Christ.
When Erik was young he had his name legally changed and has been on a journey to find his true identity ever since. With this unique perspective on issues of identity Erik looks at some characters from the bible and also shares some of his own story as he talks about finding out who we are in Christ.
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A Disciples Mantra
:: Learning to love God with our all.
Jesus quotes a popular mantra of the Hebrew people, "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and all your strength." Erik looks at the Shema (Deut. 6) and works through the question of how we love God with all that we have.
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Revolutionary prayer
:: Praying the Lord's prayer.
Most of us can say the Lord's Prayer but can you really pray it? Erik looks at the prayer of Jesus and challenges us to pray it not just say it; calling us to reliance on God, living in community, Christian action, and serving those in need as he walks line by line through the Lords prayer.
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Revolutionary Rhythms
:: Learning the rhythms of Grace.
As followers of Jesus we are to have certain rhythms to our lives. Erik talks about some of these rhythms or disciplines for the Christian life such as bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, community, celebrating and more.
:: Engaging the revolutionary teachings of Jesus.
The world revolution has become cliche but there might not be a better word for what it means to follower of Jesus. Erik looks at what it means to be a revolutionary follower of Jesus Christ and challenges us to engage Jesus and join his Revolution!
----------
IDENTITY
:: Finding out who you are in Christ.
When Erik was young he had his name legally changed and has been on a journey to find his true identity ever since. With this unique perspective on issues of identity Erik looks at some characters from the bible and also shares some of his own story as he talks about finding out who we are in Christ.
----------
A Disciples Mantra
:: Learning to love God with our all.
Jesus quotes a popular mantra of the Hebrew people, "Love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and all your strength." Erik looks at the Shema (Deut. 6) and works through the question of how we love God with all that we have.
----------
Revolutionary prayer
:: Praying the Lord's prayer.
Most of us can say the Lord's Prayer but can you really pray it? Erik looks at the prayer of Jesus and challenges us to pray it not just say it; calling us to reliance on God, living in community, Christian action, and serving those in need as he walks line by line through the Lords prayer.
----------
Revolutionary Rhythms
:: Learning the rhythms of Grace.
As followers of Jesus we are to have certain rhythms to our lives. Erik talks about some of these rhythms or disciplines for the Christian life such as bible study, prayer, fasting, fellowship, community, celebrating and more.