After pastoring for several years in Houston, Galveston, and San Antonio, I now teach Religion Courses at Southwestern Adventist University. My emphasis is New Testament, with a special interest in applying academic concepts to real life and ministry. Religious education always unfolds in two ways: You will learn from professors, from textbooks, from fellow students, class discussions, assignments, and guest speakers. But you will also learn from God–more slowly, but for sure longer lasting than what you studied for last week’s quiz. This “divine” education will be your most challenging, as you wrestle with existential questions, humility, purpose, service, and meaning. Let God mold you, bend you, grow you. You won’t regret it!
On a personal note: I did not grow up Seventh-day Adventist; in fact, I once wrote a friend that I would never become an Adventist! But a year in the U.S. as an exchange student from Germany changed my life forever. I discovered Jesus and the truths of the Bible while living with an Adventist family in Keene, Texas for a year, attending Cleburne High School. Upon returning to Germany, I graduated as a Biology major and started theological studies at a Lutheran Seminary in Germany. Needless to say, I am sensitive to people from all walks of life.
As you can see, here at Southwestern we’re real people with real life stories. In my spare time I enjoy family time (married since ‘93, 2 children), nature, and travel. And . . . when my boys and I come back from exploring God’s creation, we have to leave our shoes in the garage!

Bill Kilgore is passionate about preaching and assisting students on campus and church leaders in local congregations who believe God has called them to proclaim His love and His coming in these last days of earth’s history. His degrees in theology and ministry have strengthened Dr. Kilgore’s service as a pastor, professor, and chaplain.

John C. Peckham’s passion is studying and proclaiming the beauty of the biblical worldview and the incomparable love of God that it manifests. An undergraduate degree in accounting and business administration was redirected when God called him into full-time ministry. He completed the Masters of Divinity in 2005 and is currently a Ph.D. Candidate in Systematic Theology at the Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary in Berrien Springs, MI. Before coming to Southwestern, he pastored a three-church district in the Indiana Conference. John is married to a wonderful and very supportive woman, Brenda, who is a Registered Nurse.

Jorge E. Rico, an ordained minister, has served the Seventh-day Adventist church as a pastor, evangelist, conference ministerial secretary, academy teacher, and college professor and administrator. He has also conducted different meetings such as weeks of prayer, seminars, and workshops in such countries as Australia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Cuba, Indonesia, Mexico, Puerto Rico, and Poland as well as in different parts of the United States. Dr. Rico’s BA in Theology, M.Div. (with emphasis in New Testament), D.Min. (with emphasis in Pastoral Ministry), and Ph.D.in Religious Education inform and strengthen his classes at Southwestern. The Lord has blessed Jorge and his wife Elisabeth with two beautiful children, Michelle E. and Jorge E. III, both of whom are attending Southwestern. We are delighted that the Lord has given us the opportunity to serve Him in ministry.

Lloyd Willis, originally from Australia, and his wife Edith served as missionaries in India for more than 20 years. His special fields of interest include archaeology and biblical backgrounds. He has dug at Tall al-Umayri in Jordan since 1984 and participated in various study tours of the Bible lands, including Egypt, Greece and Turkey. He discovered a seal impression bearing the biblical name Baalis in 1984 (See Jer. 40:14). Classes taught include Old Testament, Biblical Hebrew, Origin and Development of the Bible, and Biblical Archaeology. All classes are enriched with archaeological and geographical insights from his experiences in the Middle East.