Richard James Harold Willans

Rick Willans passed away on December 10, 2020, in hospice care in Pasadena, California.

Born in Detroit, Michigan, to parents, James “Cy” and Georgie Agnes Willans, Rick, along with his sister, Darlene, was brought up in the Christian faith in a loving home. He worshipped at a local Pentecostal Church and at Brightmoor Tabernacle, a large Assembly of God Church in Detroit. While in his youth, when his father, a successful lawyer, received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit and spoke in tongues, Rick and his mother followed suit that same morning.   

In 1964, Rick went to California to work for Trinity, an influential magazine "dedicated to maintaining the 'fullness of the faith.'" Edited by Jean Stone, the magazine spurred the early growth of the Charismatic movement. Jean and the Rev. Harald Bredesen had coined the term “charismatic renewal” to describe this movement of the Holy Spirit within the non-Pentecostal Churches.

Rick spoke about this time, “By this time, I was completely involved in the stimulating work on the growing edge of the charismatic renewal in the historic churches.” Later he said, “after finding my life’s work, I also found my life’s mate; to my surprise and delight it was my boss, Jean Stone. After just one year of marriage, again to my delighted surprise, we were given a new direction in our life and work together.”

Called to Asia in 1967, the Willanses ministered in Indonesia and Taiwan before settling in Hong Kong (1968-1981). There they founded the Society of Stephen, which became a primary regional fountainhead of the Charismatic Renewal, particularly among Roman Catholics. They pioneered, along with Jackie Pullinger, a ministry to drug addicts and gang members that drew international media attention due to the consistent pattern of painless withdrawal (without medication) through faith in Jesus and prayer in tongues. Years later, this ministry, and that of several other local and foreign missionaries, including Jackie Pullinger, was formally recognized by monuments placed on the site of the now-destroyed Walled City (an area where many of the drug addicts and Triad members lived). The Willans Rock is dedicated to the work of Rick and Jean Willans. 

On returning to the United States, they continued their ministry, based in Altadena, California.

Professionally, Rick built on his three-year Bachelor of Arts degree studies at Dartmouth College to successfully graduate from the University of San Francisco. During his working life, he held responsible positions in recruiting and human resources management in the United States and South East Asia. He started as a sales consultant with West Coast Carpet Corporation, Los Angeles; recruiter with RCM Services Ltd, a small but well-known firm in Hong Kong; Partner, Director-Executive Selection, Peat, Marwick, Mitchell & Co. Hong Kong; Assistant Vice President, Personnel Director, General Bank, Los Angeles; and Vice President of Human Resources, Union Bank of California.

Rick was a true champion of the Christian faith who, with Jean, was a key instrument whom God used to bring countless thousands to Christ and to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, as evidenced by speaking in tongues. Jean wrote of their experiences in the Acts of the Green Apples.         

Rick had a great zest for life, was kind, generous, and caring of others. He was extremely knowledgeable of the Word of God, a gifted Bible teacher, and a deeply loving pastor. A champion swimmer in his youth, Rick loved swimming. Like Jean, he enjoyed playing bridge, going to restaurants, and generously entertaining people in their home. For 54 years, he was a wonderful, devoted husband to Jean. During her final years, when her health had severely declined, he was constantly at her side caring for her.

He will be sorely missed by his daughter, Suzy Jagger and Hugh, his son in law; grandchildren, James and his wife, Helen; Jasmine and her husband, Douglas; Justin and his wife, Cristina; his sister, Darlene, her husband, Joe, and nephew, Cory; Sarah Craighead, who faithfully worked with the Willanses for half a century, and her husband, Geoff; the church in Hong Kong and the church that faithfully met for decades in the Willans’ Altadena home; and many others all over the world. 

Even in failing health, Rick was at his happiest when discussing the Lord with church members, friends, family, and caregivers.

Rick has now entered the joy of the Lord Jesus Christ whom he so dearly loved and faithfully served.