William Raies

Will Raies

Worship Minister

Life Story

I was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, but soon moved to Midland, Texas, where my father had accepted a senior pastor role at a local church. Being raised as a pastor's kid, I remember my parents faithfully teaching me about the saving work of Christ. The Lord saved me at a very young age, but I did not fully understand what it meant to make my faith my own until I attended a youth camp in junior high.


Throughout high school and college, I struggled deeply. I carried the burden of earning the approval of others to feel self-worth. Instead of finding my identity in Christ, I found it in people’s opinions, and when I was not receiving the attention I thought I deserved, it led to discouragement, depression, and anger. At my lowest, I experienced thoughts of suicide. It wasn’t until the end of my sophomore year of college that the Lord graciously picked me up and showed me that I had been made acceptable to God in Christ alone. I learned that God heals and restores His children when they cling to Him. He turned my desperate need for approval into a desperate desire for people to feel the same love and comfort I experienced through the gospel.

I began serving in my church’s worship ministry while in high school, and I was given the opportunity to grow in my calling as a worship leader by working with other vocalists and musicians at Dallas Baptist University. During this time, I started serving as a worship volunteer at The Village’s Dallas Northway campus (now Northway Church). After graduating from college, I had the privilege of interning at the Flower Mound campus for two years, where I met my wife, Kellie.

For the longest time, I lived thinking that because I was saved at a young age, my testimony was finished. As I get older, I see more and more that the Lord's sanctification in my life is all part of my story as well. He is faithful to complete the work He begins in His children.

Hope for The Village Church

My hope is that we would fulfill our calling as the chosen people of God by proclaiming the excellencies of Christ to the lost, that they may be called out of darkness into His marvelous light.