God’s plan for Will began with the family in which he was born, including a grandfather who was an evangelist, pastor, a founder of The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches, and spiritual leader of a large family with five uncles who also were pastors and ministry leaders. From boyhood he wanted to be a pastor and preacher if God would call him. So he pursued ministry education securing two Masters in Theology and Divinity during which God indeed called him into the ministry. His education also included a Doctorate in Ministry from Grace Seminary with a dissertation on Biblical Soul Care Counseling and church planting. God orchestrated a ministry for him in the planting of four churches in Hawaii, Ohio, and South Carolina.
His military involvement began with his parents both of which were in the military in the 2nd World War, his father as a navigator of B-29 in the Air Force and his mother as a nurse in Burma. God chose to give Will a medical condition denying his entrance into the military and professional sports, so off to seminary to prepare for ministry.
Will married Maria who also came from ministry roots having a grandfather, father, and brother who were all pastors in their calling and vocation. God has given them 6 children. Twin boys who both joined the Navy. His eldest son is no longer in the military having incurred injuries from a mission that medical boarded him out of the service while his younger son is still serving as a chief petty officer. He also has three daughters working as a SC police force supervisor, a missionary, and a professional sommelier. His son, Micah, died at an early age of Trisomy 13.
He began counseling as a teen counselor at a Christian Camp in NC ministering to over 100 teens annually for 10 years. When he became a pastor in Hawaii, he was certified by National Association of Nouthetic Counselors (NANC), later Association of Certified Biblical Counselors (ACBC), and was asked to start a biblical counseling training course and center which taught several students in 7 years. The training center was repeated in Ohio and South Carolina resulting in training over 200 students in biblical counseling.
Having watched his sons in their military commitments, he obviously sees the need for specific biblical counseling for military individuals, families, and even organizations. This must be done with wisdom, grace, and truth so that the needy are loved and lifted in their pursuit of God. Fallen Soldiers March has the burden and integrity to do just that for those who have given so much for so many.
Dr. Will Lohnes
Pastor, Hope Chapel
