The Wilkes Team

This year’s Thanksgiving celebration abounded with blessings! Grandpa & Grandma and all four of their children with spouses and total of 19 Grandchildren gathered in wild, wonderful (and snowy) West Virginia for what we count as our best Thanksgiving celebration ever.

In between the traditional Turkey Bowl and a full fledge snow ball fight, everyone enjoyed warm fellowship as memories of the year were recounted. Grandma lead her team of cooks in the preparation of a tasty Thanksgiving feast complete with Grandma’s world famous sweet potatoes and 3 different gravies…..scrum-dilly-licious! Grandpa lead in prayer and the dining began.

Following dinner and clean-up, the family gathered in the living room for a season of singing and gratefulness.

What fun everyone had writing out on a foam leaf one or two things to be grateful for. These were later hung on the ‘Count Your Blessing Tree.’

Singing and giving of thanks have a way of bringing a group close together. Thursday evening was no different.

The powerful spirit of one accord continued and before ending our time together we were able to gather around as a whole family (29 in all), lay hands upon, and lift up in prayer a family member who is undergoing some trying health conditions.

There were many blessings to count from this years Thanksgiving. We rejoice in how the Lord worked in our midst as He was praised and received the glory due unto His name (Ps. 96:8).

4 Comments » | posted in Family News

Leaves are almost all off the trees, hints of winter are settling in across the landscape with pockets of snow and touches of frost. Final produce has been harvested, the winter jackets are out of their  boxes, and chimneys can be spotted far and wide billowing with puffs of grayish white smoke – the season set aside to thankfulness is upon us.

Now in our lives, is thankfulness a once a year event or a way of life? Perhaps one would rejoice over being thankful for a couple days here and there throughout the year, but does gratefulness define our lives?

The key lies in recognizing that whatever God sends our way, good or bad, has been Providentially allowed for. When we choose to rejoice, the result is satisfaction in our hearts and great glory unto God. As this joy abounds, the result is a love for others.

Recently, Markie wrote the following paragraph as part of his penmanship.

May you be blessed this Happy Thanksgiving with great joy that overflows into abundant love one towards another. Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!

“Sweet is the shout of joy which is heard at the farm when the last load of corn is brought home, and the tables are spread for the harvest feast. But far more sweet than any of these is the love of brothers and sisters for each other. It talks away many a sad tear from grief. And, oh with what joy is it seen.”

We would also encourage you to browse through the stories, poems, facts, and recipes especially chosen for this wonderful Thanksgiving season in Project Remember.

Resources include:

Five Kernels of Corn by Hezekiah Butterworth

The Official Thanksgiving Proclamations of Presidents Washington & Lincoln

When the Thanksgiving tradition of 5 Kernels of Corn began

and much, much more!

3 Comments » | posted in Family News, Tid Bits

This past Tuesday Joshua and I had an exciting opportunity present itself. Mrs. Gomez, a staff member of the Indianapolis Training Center runs an hour long radio program once a week. She was going to be on a trip and so requested for some substitutes. Now the interesting dynamic about this radio program is that it is targeted towards Hispanic listeners. Her son, however, was going to act as translator and therefore, all she needed was willing participants.

The participants ended up being Robert and Michael Staddon, Nate Paine, and Joshua & I. The topic for the radio show was how to develop successful families through honoring parents and building relationship with siblings. Speaking for myself, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. I had prepared something to share but was slightly nervous about the whole process. Praise the Lord, he doesn’t need able vessels but just available vessels. Not persons who are confident in themselves but rather those that lack, make mistakes, but all the while depend on Christ for fulfillment in all things.

The radio show started with a couple minutes of melodious music and then Ernesto Gomez opened the show…

He turned to us and began with questions: How old are you? Are you bored with life? How do you and your family face challenges in life? He had given us the questions before hand, so that we knew which order they came in even though they were asked of us in Spanish .

Nate shared about some Family experiences in his past which God used to teach him patience and love for his siblings.

Robert and Michael also shared on similar levels but then Michael delved into how God changed his perspective with his siblings relationships. At first they were his enemies but God changed his heart and therefore developed in him a true love for his siblings to the point where they were his best friends.

Joshua and I presented the Five Love Languages: Encouraging words, Physical touch, Act of service, Quality time, and Gift giving.

It was truly encouraging to be ambassadors for Christ on the radio. The radio is so full of evil and wickedness; I praise the Lord we were able to play a part in combating it. This incredible opportunity has motivated me to continue playing a dynamic role in combating against the evil in our culture.

6 Comments » | posted in Family News, Ministry Reports

Life Focus XVI came to a close Saturday evening. 11 students commenced in what we pray will be a launch pad that propels each one onto greater works for the kingdom of God.

The final days leading up to Commencement were full of memories, practice, and charges.

Mrs. Ritchie graciously gave up a full day to accompany our class on a day trip to Turkey Run State Park. She was camp cook and my what taste ticklers she had planned – thank you Mrs. Ritchie!

In between meals, the guys participated in an all out game of ‘Fox & Hound’ and 45 minutes of capture the flag in terrain full of valleys, gullies, cliffs, creeks, trees, outcroppings of rock, & a large river (Turkey Run).

Final video sessions were watched and much practice on both verses and our class song, “When God is Near.” Anticipation continued to build all week.

By Thursday afternoon, all 10 fathers had arrived along with our surprise, guest speaker, Dr. Larry Guthrie. These final days were to be full of exhortations from Dr. Guthrie and lots of father/son time. Dr. Guthrie shared so many key principles including:

- The mark of maturity for a man is that he receives instruction.

- If you are full of yourself, there is no room for God.

- Those who are busy seeking financial security, reputation, sports, etc. will often miss the big things of life: family, faith, church, and relationships.

As Malachi 4:6 exhorts, the hearts of sons were turned towards their fathers and the hearts of fathers to their sons. A powerful spirit of ‘One Accord’ rested on our midst all weekend, culminating in an awe-inspiring Commencement ceremony Saturday night.

The book of James was quoted with power and they sang ‘When God is Near’ with meaning and understanding. Dr. Guthrie spoke on the 10 marks of a real man (the first one being that a ‘real man sings’) and told each parent to make ready for a new man in their household.

The ceremony closed with each leader delivering a powerful 3-8 minute charge to the students. What passion! What love! What inspiration was contained within each charge given.

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at his appearing and his kingdom….watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For (you are) now ready to be offered, and the time of (your) departure is at hand. (You) have fought a good fight, (you) have finished my course, (you) have kept the faith:Henceforth there is laid up for (you) a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give (you) at that day: and not to (you) only, but unto all them also that love his appearing (2 Tim. 4:1,5-8).

4 Comments » | posted in Ministry Reports

Weeks 5 and 6 of Life Focus XVI centered around ministry. An objective of Life Focus is to give the students a vision for centering their life around Christ while focusing on the needs of others.

Through the teachings of Mr. Richard Ritchie, Ray Comfort, Dr. Del Tackett, and Pastor John Piper, we received great inspiration along with practical skills for presenting the gospel.

Having now ‘heard the Word,’ the time came to be a ‘doer of the word (James 1:22). Monday afternoon of week 6, everyone piled into two vans for a trip to downtown Indianapolis. Breaking off in small groups, we spent over an hour walking the streets engaging bystanders in thought provoking conversation.

One of the most difficult aspects of witnessing is starting up a conversation and then moving from the ‘chit, chat’ to topics of spiritual significance. Two tools we found of great benefit were Ray Comfort’s Intelligence Test (here is one of several such tests) and a questionnaire used by college campus soul winners.

Witnessing Questionnaire:

Walk up to the next available bystander and say…

“Hi there. We are with a student organization here in Indy and we have a questionnaire about people’s philosophy, religious background and preference. Would you mind helping us by giving your response to some brief questions?”

1. What group or church are you currently involved with on campus?

2. Why do you think some people do not attend church?

3. If you were looking for a church, what kind of things would you look for?

4. Have you come to a place in your thinking where you know that you have eternal life? That is, if you were to die today, how sure are you that you would go to Heaven? 100%, 90%, 70%?

5. If you could ask God any question, what would it be?

6. Have you thought much about Spiritual things like life after death and whether or not you’d go to heaven when you die?

7. Do you think heaven is something we can earn or is it a free gift (Rom. 6:23)?

These two simple approaches to sharing the gospel resulted in a couple dozen witnessing opportunities over the course of the week and the salvation of one young man by the name of Charlie. Praise the Lord for great things He hath done!

A couple other ministry opportunities included a trip to the Wheeler Mission & a stop by Highland Manor Retirement Home.

1 Comment » | posted in Ministry Reports

Last Saturday evening during staff meeting, we had the privilege of hearing a profound testimony from a man who truly understands the Providential hand of God. This is his story.

Imagine living in a small mud hut, not much larger than a hotel room. You are one of 10 children born to parents belonging to one of India’s lowest castes, the Banjaras. As a member of the Banjaras, your future will entail serving as a servant/slave to upper caste Indians. Though your father is a chief in the town, your family has only enough resources to provide food for maybe one meal a day. Malnutrition and hunger run rampant. Such were the circumstances of young Christopher Boda.

One day a kindhearted minister entered the town, saw the depravation, and offered to take young Christopher to a nearby boarding school for education & food. Father Boda agreed, relieved that he no longer had to provide additional food. No religious teaching was to be taught, simply academics. All went well for a time. Until one day when, while playing soccer, Christopher was severely kicked in his right leg and thereby afflicted with a grave wound. Poor treatment resulted in a terrorizing case of gangrene.

Through the Providential hand of God, Christopher was taken to a Christian doctor. For the first time in Christopher’s life, he experienced true love at the hand of this dear doctor. Through the prayers and love of his new found friend, Christopher not only received Christ as his Savior but was miraculously saved from the “incurable” gangrene. He walked away from the hospital with two legs and a cleansed heart.

Overjoyed by this new peace, hope, and relationship with Christ, he returns home as an older young man. However, his family’s response was one of rejection. Not long after arriving home, Christopher was forcefully placed on a train with his family destined for one of India’s false temples. He could not fathom worshipping this false god and so jumped off the moving train.

Enraged, Christopher’s father tied him to a whipping post and brutally whipped him. No pity was offered by fellow siblings. When his mother sought mercy for him, the father’s wrath emerged upon his wife. With wrists and ankles firmly attached to the polls, he stood resurrect for hours. Unless he recanted and stopped following Jesus, Christopher was to be killed by his own father the very next day. Risking her life, however, Christopher’s mother slipped silently out to the whipping post, severed the ropes, wished her son a warm farewell, and urged him onward: warning Christopher not to return.

A dear lady from America, whom Christopher never had the opportunity to meet, began supporting young Christopher with $7 a month through a program much like World Vision. Doors for ministry began to open as Mr. Christopher Boda took the opportunity to serve the Lord & preach His Word. Many difficulties continued to cross Christopher’s path. With hardly any income, he had to depend upon His all sufficient Savior for daily needs. A dear lady

One day, Rambai (Christopher’s wife) brought home 5 orphan children. Christopher was quite surprised and a bit perplexed over the prospect of providing food for 5 additional children. Imagine his response when she brought several more children a couple days later. Their one room home (not much larger than a hotel room) was filling up fast. He would come home from work and have to gingerly step around all the sleeping bodies spread across the floor. Christopher told his wife that for now these would be all they could take care of. However, a couple days later Rambai pleaded with her husband to allow a few more. Weeks began ticking by and months turned into years. Trusting the Providential hand of God, the Boda’s continued welcoming children to their home. The Lord provided more space. Now 14 years later, the Boda’s have over 80 staff who assist in caring for almost 2500 orphaned children. The children receive two meals a day (rice, 1 piece of fruit every week, & 1 piece of meat every two weeks), a full education up unto the age of 18 when they have to leave, and an opportunity to receive Christ as their Savior.

The Bodas have a goal of eventually housing 5000 orphans. They live by faith and constantly see the Providential hand of God at work in their midst. Click here for more info on this work – Banjara Tribal Ministries.

We never know the lives we may impact. The dear American lady who financially supported Mr. Boda in his younger years had no idea the impact her little act of faith would have. If the Lord should lead you to begin financially supporting His work across the world, either Banjara Tribal Ministries or World Vision would be two wonderful places to consider.

3 Comments » | posted in HIS-story, Ministry Reports