Bill Thornton was raised in a Christian family, making the first decision to follow Christ at six. He was baptized in water and the spirit at a summer camp, and has followed God with varying levels of success through school, university, and life. Bill married his high school sweetheart, Laurie Anne, and they have been blessed with four children (all grown and married) and 10 grandchildren. After about 40 years in engineering, Bill went to Ambrose University to complete an MDiv and is now a licensed worker with the Alliance Church and a chaplain at Foothills Medical Centre. Bill and Laurie Anne attend the Bearspaw site and have been involved with RockPointe and one of its predecessors for nearly 30 years.