Main Speaker - Pastor Bill Welzien
Catholicism and the Priesthood
Bill Welzien was born in Chicago to a family of devout Catholics. His father was a plasterer and his mother was a homemaker who raised Billy (as he was called as a boy) and his four sisters.
All of Bill’s schooling through his second year college was in Roman Catholic institutions, from grammar school to preparatory seminary. It was the goal of Bill’s Irish grandmother and mother that he follow in his Uncle George’s footsteps into the priesthood, however Bill’s training for the priesthood ended after his graduation from the preparatory seminary.
Hitchhiking Across Europe and Seeking out a “Holy” Man in India
Bill entered St. Procopius College in Lisle, Illinois and attended until 1970, when he decided to leave college after he received a high number in the draft lottery. He eventually began hitchhiking to New York City, as he had purchased a round trip ticket from NYC to Luxembourg. Bill hitchhiked through many of the countries of Western Europe for the next 8 months. This began a non-formal period of education in Bill’s life. He would travel eventually by his thumb across the USA a couple times, to Alaska, back and across the entire country of Canada and then back to Europe. Wherever there was land, he used his thumb.
During his second trip to Europe, Bill planned to travel all the way to India to sit at the feet of a “holy” man, but made it only as far as Greece. He learned that a friend of his was in Israel and so he set out to visit her, thinking that the two of them might travel together to India. Since he had no money, he began hitchhiking to Turkey and then south to Syria and then into Jordan. He was making his way to the Allenby Bridge, which at the time was the only access from a Muslim country by land into Israel. He was sent back to Jordan with his first attempt by the Israelis since he had no visible means of support. He wired to his parents for $300 and it seemed to take forever for the money to arrive. In desperation he attempted another trip across the bridge but was sent back to Jordan for the same reason.
Offended by Christianity
It was on his way back to Ammon, the capital city of Jordan that he came to faith in Jesus Christ. As he walked along the desert road, hoping for a car to give him a lift, he began thinking about the many people who had spoken to him about his need for the Lord Jesus Christ. He wondered to himself why he was so offended when people spoke to him about the Lord Jesus but was not that way affected by other religious leaders or philosophies. He recalled John 14:6, “Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the Father except by Me.” He prayed for the Lord Jesus to show him the way and to take him to the Father. Two days later he crossed into Israel a third time with the money wired to him by his parents and had no difficulty passing through immigration and customs.
When he found Judy she was a Christian living with a Christian couple and Bill lived with Rina and Clifford Jaquith for the next 8 months, reading and studying the Bible. He also began to share his faith with others. This was the beginning of his ministry in the Lord’s service.
Marriage, Ministry and other Fun Endeavors
After Bill returned to the USA he traveled to Key West and ministered there from early 1976 until 1978. He met and married Cecilia (Sessie) Bonilla in January, 1977. Soon afterwards he was ordained with the Conservative Congregational Christian Conference and served as Associate Pastor of Calvary Chapel in Massillon, OH. His first daughter, Elizabeth, was born at that time.
In 1980 he and Sessie left for Europe and served with Things to Come Mission. The first year was in Italy and the second year was in England, where his son David was born. Bill returned to Massillon, OH and served as the interim senior pastor of Calvary Chapel.
He then attended Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, where his daughter Abigail was born, and graduated with a diploma majoring in Pastoral studies with a Greek emphasis.
In June of 1986 the Welziens drove to Key West, Florida and have ministered there ever since. The remaining 6 of their 9 children (Christiana, Julianne, Georgia, Priscilla, Billy and Jane) were born in Key West, FL
Bill has directed Keys Evangelistic Ministries since 1986 and in 1989 he was received in as an ordained minister of the OPC. He then became a church planter in Key West for the OPC, with what is now known as Keys Presbyterian Church.
Bill has been ministering at the Key West Sunset Celebration for over 21 years. He preaches the Gospel utilizing an easel, colorful paints and a unique type of lettering. He ministers in the open air each Monday, Wednesday and Friday. He has worked next to acts such as the sword swallower, high wire walker, trained house cats, escape artists, jugglers and minstrels, just to name a few.
Bill has also had the opportunity to minister in Africa, South America, Haiti, Jamaica and many states in the USA. These opportunities include both in churches and open air venues.
Bill is an avid athlete. He has swum the 12.5 miles around Key West a total of 40 times. 20 of those swims have taken place over the past 20 consecutive months. He has also completed 4 marathon runs and completed 2 half iron man triathlons, and he and his family are members of the Southernmost Runners Club.
All nine of the Welzien children have been or are still being home schooled. Three daughters are married, one son is “on his own” and 5 children are still at home. Bill and Sessie have been married for 31 years and currently have one grandson.
