A Life of Passion: Remembering Bill Wilting
(2020)
In 2020, DYM lost not just a leader, but a friend, a father, and a spiritual giant. Co-Founder and DYM President Bill Wilting went home to be with the Lord.
For decades, Bill had been the heartbeat of DeSoto Youth Ministries. He was the one cracking jokes with teens in the corner, driving vans full of kids on trips, setting up chairs before events, rescuing young people late into the night and motivating students to discover their mission.
A Life Poured Out
Bill wasn’t a man of half-measures. He poured himself into whatever God placed in front of him—whether it was raising a family, running a business or running a marathon, picking up a tool to build a structure or create furniture, sailing, writing music or opening his home to dozens of teenagers who needed hope.
He didn’t care about polish. He cared about people. He was the kind of leader who saw value in every student, no matter how broken their story.
A Legacy of Yes
Perhaps Bill’s greatest legacy was his willingness to say “yes” to God’s nudges. When he and Donna first whispered, “If no one else will do this, we won’t let it slip through the cracks,” Bill meant it with his whole heart.
That simple yes became three decades of mission.
Lives Forever Changed
At Bill’s memorial, story after story poured in. Former students, now adults, shared how Bill’s laughter, listening ear, and faith in them changed the trajectory of their lives. Parents remembered how he stood in the gap for their kids. Friends recalled his deep faith and unshakable joy.
A life lived on mission is never wasted. Bill’s story reminds us that passion for Jesus and people creates ripples that go on long after we’re gone.
“Not only did Bill allow my craziness to run through DYM (the youth group that made me) but he encouraged it! He always made me feel like my energy and emotions were a gift to the group. God put you in my life so I would know what a good dad was when I didn’t have one.”
-former teen“He loved God and he loved people.”
-adult mission team volunteer“He was always available to come to the rescue of myself and countless others. Not because he had nothing to do, but because he dropped what he was doing to take care of other people. That I have called this man dad was one of my greatest blessings. He taught me to dream and to go after dreams. Cause Coffee exists, in large part, because of him.”
-Tara (daughter and creator of Cause Coffee, LLC)“27 years ago Bill baptized me in a cold Colorado pond, somewhere up the side of a mountain. On the hike back, he found a fitting stick and carved me (a cross) something to remember it by.”
-former teen“As I was learning the ropes of being a youth pastor, Bill often encouraged me, just through his wise words (and lots of stories), pointing always to Jesus and loving everyone the Lord brought his way. While on a DYM Nicaragua mission trip I saw his love (in action) of introducing people to Jesus, no matter the barrier, situation, language, or age.”
-youth pastor“He was a unique personality, visionary, adventurous, non-judgmental, storyteller and deep thinker, one of a kind guy.” Having a friend like him, serving, traveling, and dreaming together has been life impacting for me.”
-mission trip team “mom”“I wouldn’t have met my husband if it wasn’t for God leading Bill and Donna to start DYM.”
-former teen, now married with 2 children“He never let anyone—whether it was a businessman or cashier at Walmart—get away with saying they were “fine”. He would ask on a scale of 1-10 and keep digging for the full story.”
-former teenThanks for Bill who took care of us in our first couple years of marriage and first couple years of ministry.”
-former ministry staff“For several years I received Bill and his mission teams in Brazil. We had the opportunity to announce the gospel to thousands of kids and teens. I learned how to lead a mission trip with him, and when I led two teams to the Amazon area, I was inspired by his ministry.”
-former Brazil pastor“Bill always said ‘if you’re not living your life on the edge for God, you’re taking up too much room.’ Bill was one who was not taking up much room, always on the move doing something for the Lord from taking crazy teens on mission trips all over the world to taking teens to the lake for fun and Bible studies or performing weddings for some of those crazy teens when they got older. I am guessing I traveled on 100,000 miles of trips with Bill.
-former teen“I remember the impact it had on me as I watched Bill leave his lucrative construction company to go into full-time ministry to live sacrificially, serving those less fortunate.”
-KC businessman“Hours before he initially fell ill in Nicaragua, he was preparing for a Sunday sermon that never happened, and he said that he had been told once that every man should have his own sermon to share, not knowing when you’ll be called upon and to be ready.”
-adult mission team participant and donor“Bill impacted so many for God, including my kids through their high school years. No doubt he is the large reason they are all Christ followers.”
-former teen“Bill was the Walt Disney of local ministry…a wonder-filled dreamer of dreams who took your hand and shared Jesus with you. He seemed to love every story of every person he came across, no matter how much hurt they caused or received.”
-local pastor“Bill was a father to my kids and to me.”
-a mom“Thank you Bill Wilting for having such an impact on my son.”
-mom of Brazil mission teen
How You Can Join the Story
Celebrate the mentors and leaders who’ve shaped your life.
Serve students, families, and neighbors as Bill did—with joy and open hands.
Give to honor his legacy by fueling the mission he helped start.