About Bill Ott

I was born and raised in Southern California in a loving family environment. In junior high school I experienced a personal encounter of faith, accepting Christ into my heart and life. What a journey our walk of faith can be!

The blessings we encounter in life are pleasurable, but it has been through the pain, sorrow and sadness that God has truly been at work molding this lump of clay into the creation that He desires me to be. Through the process of divorce, heartbreak, loss, frustration, etc., I have found myself crying out to God “why” (amongst other things) and, at times, questioning the wisdom of His plan. At times in crying out to God, it has not made sense in the human realm as to the “whys” of what has happened.

And then, in May 2004 I joined my friend of 25 years or so, John Taylorson, and I experienced Lighting The Way at Venice for the first time. I have been involved ever since. I’m thankful that on my weekends with my kids, they join me as well.

It wasn’t evidenced at the very beginning, but gradually God showed me that every painful and heartbreaking event that He had allowed to happen in my life has been in preparation for being involved in this ministry. If I hadn’t personally experienced and suffered through so many of the challenges that the people face, how could I relate to them? Why would they believe the words of someone talking to them, if that person hadn’t walked in the same shoes of life as they have?

I have been humbled at the way that God works. I have been blessed by being able to provide food to those in need, to listen to those with hurting hearts, to pray with those who seek God’s guidance, and to share God’s love for those who don’t know Him yet.

Proverbs 3:5-6: Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.