Bio

Kenneth D. Willis "Kenturion"

Kenneth D. Willis is an Fundamental Independent Baptist preacher, historian, educator, and author whose work centers upon two lifelong interests: the Word of God and the study of history. Having had the opportunity to study the Bible for most of his life, his chief desire is to read, understand, teach, defend, and live according to the precious Word of God.

In 2015, Kenneth was ordained as an Independent Baptist minister at Gospel Baptist Church in Greenville, South Carolina. Bible teaching and Christian ministry have remained an important part of his life ever since. His theological convictions are rooted in historic Baptist doctrine and an unwavering commitment to the inspiration, preservation, authority, and sufficiency of Scripture and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Alongside his ministry, Kenneth has spent much of his professional life in education. He has taught Bible, history, government, economics, English, literature, and other subjects at the elementary, secondary, and college levels. Today, he continues teaching and tutoring students online, with a particular emphasis on History, Social Studies, and Literature.

Education

Kenneth's education has included formal studies in history as well as additional study in theology, biblical languages, church history, apologetics, counseling, and the historical world of the Bible.

Bob Jones Academy — High School Diploma, 2007
Bob Jones University — B.A. in History, 2011
Geneva Reformed Seminary — Church History, 2010
Tabernacle Baptist College — Old Testament, 2012
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem — Biblical Hebrew, 2016
Danieltown Bible Institute — New Testament, 2018
Reformed Theological Seminary — Apologetics, 2019
Dallas Theological Seminary — Historical Judaea, 2024
Dallas Theological Seminary — Biblical Counseling, 2024

His studies in history and theology have naturally complemented one another, particularly in his interests in biblical history, the ancient Near East, historical Judaea, church history, and the historical backgrounds of Scripture.

Teaching Experience

Kenneth has taught students across a wide range of grade levels and subjects during his educational career.

At Fountain Inn Christian School, he taught English to seventh and eighth grade and upper-level high school students.

At Vanguard Christian Academy, he taught U.S. History, World History, American Literature, British Literature, and Military History.

At Sue Cleveland Elementary School, he worked in afterschool tutoring and served as a program instructor.

At Easley Christian School, his teaching responsibilities included seventh through twelfth-grade Bible, U.S. History, World History, Government and Economics, and Consumer Math.

Kenneth has also served as an Adjunct Professor of Elementary Biblical Hebrew at both Danieltown Bible Institute and Heritage Baptist Bible College, providing him with opportunities to teach biblical language studies at the college level.

At Conestee Baptist Day School, he worked in secondary special education and taught English Composition.

He currently works with At Home Academy, providing secondary-level Social Studies instruction and tutoring.

Throughout these different positions, Kenneth's approach to education has emphasized understanding rather than simple memorization. History becomes far more meaningful when students understand the beliefs, decisions, conflicts, cultures, and individuals behind historical events. Likewise, the study of literature becomes richer when students understand the historical world in which it was produced.

Historian & Historical Interpreter

Kenneth's involvement with history has extended far beyond the traditional classroom.

For nearly seven years, he participated actively in War Between the States reenacting and living history. As a historical interpreter, he portrayed soldiers associated with the 16th South Carolina Infantry as well as the 69th New York Infantry, providing experience interpreting the history of soldiers from both sides of the conflict.

He has served as a Museum Tour Guide at the Museum and Library of Confederate History in Greenville, South Carolina, where he helped communicate nineteenth-century history to visitors through historical artifacts, exhibits, and interpretation.

Kenneth has also been a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and has served as a historical speaker for both the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Children of the Confederacy.

His historical speaking experience has extended into the academic setting as well, including service as a guest presenter at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

His work in public history has also included material culture and historical reproduction. He has served as a consultant and artifact replicator for the Simpsonville American Revolutionary War Museum and as a historical consultant for Printibles 3D Replicas, assisting with historically informed reproductions and interpretation.

These experiences have allowed him to approach history from several perspectives—as a teacher, researcher, writer, speaker, museum guide, reenactor, historical interpreter, and consultant.

Author

Writing books is one of Kenneth's favorite pursuits. He has published more than a dozen books, with subjects ranging across theology, history, and historical fiction.

His historical works grow out of his interest in researching and communicating the people, events, cultures, and controversies of the past. His theological writing reflects years spent studying and teaching Scripture. His historical fiction combines these interests by seeking to bring past eras to life through historically grounded storytelling.

His published works are available through Amazon and include books written for readers interested in biblical studies, Christian doctrine, history, and historical fiction.

For Kenneth, writing is an extension of teaching. Both provide an opportunity to take years of research and study and transform that knowledge into something that can educate, challenge, encourage, and inspire others.

Christian Ministry

Above his academic and historical interests stands Kenneth's commitment to Jesus Christ and the Word of God.

Ordained to the Baptist ministry in 2015, he has continued studying and teaching Scripture with a particular interest in Bible doctrine, apologetics, church history, biblical history, and the historical background of the Scriptures.

He believes serious Bible study should produce more than intellectual knowledge. Its ultimate purpose is to bring the believer into a deeper knowledge of God, greater conformity to Jesus Christ, and faithful Christian living.

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” — 2 Timothy 2:15, KJV

Kenturion

Kenturion brings together the major areas of Kenneth's life's work: Scripture, history, education, and writing.

The purpose of Kenturion is to make years of study, research, teaching, and writing available to a wider audience through books, articles, Bible studies, historical resources, teaching materials, videos, graphics, charts, and other educational content.

The name Kenturion reflects Kenneth's longstanding interest in the world of the Bible and the Roman Empire, while the image of the Roman centurion kneeling before the Cross represents something still more important: human knowledge, achievement, and strength ultimately bowing before Jesus Christ.

Whether examining an ancient civilization, exploring the battlefield of a past war, studying the development of a theological doctrine, teaching a classroom of students, or opening the pages of Scripture, Kenneth's goal remains the same:

To study faithfully, teach clearly, preserve the lessons of the past, proclaim the truth of Scripture, and glorify Jesus Christ through the opportunities God provides.