Ivan L. Williams, Sr.

Ivan L. Williams, Sr. is the Vice President of Strategy and Leadership for the North American Division of Seventh-day Adventists. His role involves serving and supporting over one hundred ministerial leaders and associates, and more than four thousand pastors in Bermuda, Canada, the United States, and the Guam-Micronesia Mission. Before this position, he served as the Ministerial Director for the Northern California Conference.

Williams felt a calling to ministry at the age of thirteen while participating in an evangelistic meeting. To prepare for full-time ministry, he pursued educational training at Oakwood University in Huntsville, Alabama, where he earned degrees in Communications and Theology. He also graduated from Andrews University Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, Michigan, with a Master of Divinity degree. Additionally, Williams completed a Doctor of Ministry degree from Claremont School of Theology in Claremont, California. His project-dissertation focused on pastor burnout and renewal in Seventh-day Adventist ministry.

In addition to pastoral ministry, Williams had the privilege of serving as a chaplain for the California State Assembly for eight years while also pastoring in Sacramento, CA. He also served as a Chaplain-Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Air Force. Williams enjoys spending time with his family, media and broadcasting, reading, preaching, barbering, athletics, sharing hope, and teaching people to live a balanced life in Jesus. He feels blessed to have the unwavering love and support of his Heavenly Father, his faithful wife Kathleen, and their two children, Imani and Ivan II.