June 2025

Pastor James H. Wills

Pastor Wills Thank You; it is an honor to speak with you today. Let's start from the beginning ...

Q. When and where were you born.

A. I was born on our family farm on June 05, 1939. In Hecla, Pa. That's in central Pa. near Penn State College.

Q. Tell us about your early life. 

A. My dad George was born in 1893, and my mom Mildred was born in 1901. Our days began early as we kept to the farm. We didn't have electricity until 1953.

Q. What was the first church you attended in your youth?

A. Hecla Union Church, in Mingoville, Pa. It was first built in 1832. I eventually was the pastor from 1968-1975.

Q. When did you start ministering?

A. I started after I got out of college, 1964. I graduated from Nyack Theological Seminary a part of Nyack College on the Hudson river. 

Q. Did you have a church right away?

A. No, I filled in all over Pennsylvania and New York. My first church was in Thomson, Pa.

Q. So where did you go after Hecla Church?

A. Well literally God told me to take a ride. So I got in my car and let the lord take me where he wanted me to be. Eventually he led me by a new church that was being built. I at first went by it but he told me to turn around and go back. So I did, it was a beautiful new church. But one problem was that it was Wesleyan, and I wasn't Wesleyan.

But in time I was moved to become Wesleyan while I was still pastoring Hecla. I left the rest up to God, if it was to be then he would call me. Then one day the phone rang!  

I pastored the Morley Wesleyan Church from 1975 till sometime in the early 1980's. We had about 175 regular Parishers. 

Q. How did you get to Seekonk.

A. At a Conference meeting in Saratoga I met brother Leonard. He said he needed someone for the Seekonk Church. Karen and I were aware of the Seekonk area because she was born in Needham, Ma. and we met on Cape Cod while she worked at a Christian youth camp.

Q. So you came to Seekonk, with what expectations?

A. Karen and I thought we would be here for about 2 years. I was Wesleyan and not Free Methodist but thought we could help.

Q. Did you become Free Methodist.

A. Yes but not right away. We came in 1984; it was 1995 that I became Free Methodist.

Brother Leonard the superintendent of the New England District spoke up for me. He said that God told him he wanted me here. He asked me to stay and that the district "will support you" and our society in Seekonk.

So, Karen and I have stayed.

[Brother Leonard has always had a special place in the Seekonk congregation and the Elderkin Family. He came to comfort the church after the fire in 1962 that Killed church founder James Elderkin, Charles Ross Elderkin, Harold David Elderkin, Robert Wesley Elderkin, and Mildred Elderkin. Annie Elderkin, church founder, and Anthony Viera a grandson to James and Annie. Brother Leonard died in 2022]

Q. What are your thoughts about the 2nd 100 years of the First Free Methodist Church of Seekonk, Ma.?

A. "We have a fine little church". The future is in God's hands. "We must stay close and follow his direction."

Authors Notes: The last of the FFMCSM founders passed away shortly before Pastor wills came in 1984. the next 20 years saw the passing away of the children of the founders. But the past 20 years the congregation of the FFMCSM has grown and revitalized. In a way back to its roots as the majority of the congregation is once again of African descent.