Join us for the 2026 Willson-Johnson Lecture!
The annual Willson-Johnson Lecture will take place Wednesday, October 14 from 2-3:30 p.m. at the Harrell Memorial Chapel located on the Methodist Children’s Home Waco campus at 1111 Herring Avenue.
We are excited to welcome Rob Kenney, the creator of the “Dad, How Do I?” YouTube channel, as this year’s keynote speaker. Registration is now open for this free, public event.
Meet Our Keynote Speaker
Rob Kenney is the creator of the “Dad, How Do I?” YouTube channel, which launched in April of 2020. He started the channel believing he might have 30 or 40 followers and simply wanted to help people learn basic life skills while offering encouragement and guidance through life’s challenges.
Just a month and a half later, the channel went viral and quickly grew to over 1 million subscribers. Six years later, Rob has written a book and built a community of more than 7 million followers across YouTube, Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. He is affectionately known around the world as the “Internet’s Dad.”
Rob is one of eight children and the seventh in his family. Although his family started out well, things became difficult during his teenage years. At 14, after his family situation changed, Rob went to live with his older brother. Those experiences shaped his desire to encourage others who may feel alone, forgotten, or uncertain about their future.
Through his videos, speaking engagements, and faith-based content, Rob shares practical wisdom, personal stories, and encouragement designed to help people overcome challenges, discover their worth, and understand that their past does not have to define their future.
History of the Willson-Johnson Lectures
Established in 1957 through a gift from Dr. J.M. and Dr. Mavis Terry Willson, the Willson-Johnson Lectures have reflected a long-standing commitment at Methodist Children’s Home to foster excellence among child welfare professionals. Launched initially to provide in-service staff training, the lectures expanded to include nationally recognized leaders sharing best practices and emerging research for MCH staff and like-minded peers. Renamed in 1967 to honor longtime administrator Dr. Hubert Johnson, the series inspired and equipped countless professionals dedicated to meeting the evolving needs of children and families.
The series was paused many years ago, and was relaunched in 2025 as part of a goal in our “Imagine 2028” strategic plan to “increase investment of resources in collaboration with like-minded, transformative organizations.” Read more of the conversation with MCH leadership about the Willson-Johnson Lecture Series and CORE Conference in the 2025 summer Sunshine Magazine here.
2025 PHOTOS
