Fr. William Wilson was born in the Philadelphia ghetto in 1937. After a difficult childhhood, he fled to a Trappist Monastery at age 19. During the next twenty-five years, he ascended the ranks of the monastery and was ordained to the priesthood in 1967. He was for seven years a hermit monk, living in solitude until 1974. Fr. William was also a chaplain to the Trappistine nuns, and in 1981 became novice master for the monks. That same year, he became a missionary in Bolivia, and lived there for seven years.

Aided by B.J. Weber and the NY Fellowship, Fr. William founded the Amistad Mission there to serve destitute indigenous peoples. In 1991, he fell in love and married. Later, he received two children from God by adoption in 1996 and 1998. Fr. William completed his Doctorate of Ministry degree at Drew University where he served as adjunct facility in the theological school. For three years he served as a chaplain to senior citizens, and today he serves as associate rector at St. Luke's Episcopal Church in Birmingham, Alabama. He hopes to publish a book on contemplative spirituality by the end of this year.