DR. WILL SHARPLES
at FBF on April 24th, 2022
Will Sharples grew up in the Ozark Mountains of southwest Missouri in the 1960’s and 70’s. During his early teen years, Will became involved in drug use and soon found himself spiraling out of control. It was during this time that the mother of one of his friends began speaking to him about Jesus and a few weeks later he attended church with her for the first time. After four weeks, Will answered the call to salvation and was saved on November 7, 1977. He was baptized one week later. Will began to share his new-found faith within the rodeo community where he participated as a bareback bronc rider until 1982 when a severe back injury ended his rodeo career.
On June 3, 1984, while driving home from a wedding, Will heard the voice of the Holy Spirit direct him to begin a public preaching ministry. He spent the next 16 months preaching around the Sarcoxie, Missouri area to anyone who would listen. Will was licensed to the ministry on September 9, 1984 and ordained the following April 13, 1985.
Will pastored a small start up church in Monett, Missouri from June 1984 through April 1985. It was at this time that the Lord directed him to pursue a Bible college education. After moving to Springfield, Missouri, he attended Berean College in the fall of 1985. Will has earned an MS in Christian counseling, a D.Min. in Christian counseling and a Ph.D. in theology.
Since finishing seminary in 1992, will has pastored 3 churches, served as an evangelist, missionary, Christian counselor, seminary professor, and Bible college president. Will has had the privilege of working as a missionary in 9 foreign countries, and has recently helped establish a Bible college in the country of Suriname.
In 2008, Will left full-time ministry to seek God’s direction. After 8 years, Will came back to ministry with a passion and vision for organic relationship rather than religion. His teaching now focuses solely on Jesus, the center and focal point of everything found in the Scripture.
Will is married to Gretchen Sharples, and together they have 3 children, and 6 grandchildren. They reside in Anderson, Missouri where they do a weekly live broadcast on Facebook on Sunday morning and a verse-by-verse teaching video on their YouTube channel on Thursday evening. Their message is about how the Gift, (Jesus), is enough.