Willie O'Burke has been in ministry since 1994 and a pastor since the year 2000. His wife Lisa is an incredible partner and helpmate to Willie, and they are both deeply committed and in love with one another as they serve Jesus as husband & wife.
They have 3 sons, two of whom are married. All 3 boys love Jesus and love His people, and they each serve Him as they live their lives and love their families.
Pastor Willie was raised in Houston, TX. He was a music education major in college, and it was the pursuit of a graduate degree in music that led him and Lisa to Northern Colorado in 1993. Shortly after their arrival in Colorado, Lisa was born-again, and they began to be part of Mountain View Community Church (MVC) in Ft. Collins, CO. This church was still in its infancy stage when they began to attend in early 1994.
While he was a graduate student in music at the University of Northern Colorado, God led Willie to start a “musicians Bible study” with a few young musicians in 1994. As this study continued to grow, Willie’s pastor at MVC began to mentor and coach him on discipling these young students. During the 4 years of its existence, the Lord touched the lives of several young college musicians. It was during these years (1994-1998) that Willie began to sense the call of God to pastoral ministry.
In 1998, MVC teamed up with the Missionary Church, USA and began an “on-site” seminary program for men in ministry. This was a 3-year training program for men who sensed the call of God for shepherding His people. The program was facilitated by the MVC pastoral staff and organized/overseen by the Missionary Church. Willie graduated from the program in 2000 and became a licensed pastor that same year.
From 2000 to 2001, Willie was on staff at MVC, lending oversight to the small group ministry, worship ministry, children’s ministry and I helped teach in the pulpit about 5-8 times per year. It was during this timeframe that a growing number of people from Windsor and Greeley, CO were attending MVC, and Willie was asked to consider leading a church plant in Windsor. After seeking the Lord with Lisa, they sensed the Lord was leading them to move forward with the church plant. On September 9, 2001 Windsor Community Church (WCC) had its first worship service. Willie’s role was that of lead pastor---a role he held for the next 5 years. When we left to plant a new church in Greeley in 2006, there were between 250 and 275 people who called WCC home. WCC is still going strong today.
After being the lead pastor in Greeley from 2006 to 2017, Willie and Lisa took a sabbatical from ministry for a short period. Willie took on a full-time job at Group Publishing in Loveland, CO and eventually would lend a hand to a church plant in Surprise, AZ in 2019.
During this time, a small group of people began to meet in Willie and Lisa’s home. As this group slowly began to grow, it was obvious that God was starting another church family in Windsor, CO and this group is what became Commission Church.
Willie loves being part of the Commission Church family. He also loves collecting vintage Mego action figures and football cards from the 70’s and 80’s. But more than anything, he loves to help people come to know their Risen Savior, Jesus---and if you ever get time with him over coffee, he’ll be so glad to hear your heart and help you meet Him!