The Wilkes Team

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time… (Eccl. 3:11)."

How I rejoice over the faithful prayers of parents for their children. Oh the precious thoughts of a father and mother towards their newly born baby. The vision and desires they hold for this new life. Such love for the dear little one turns their hearts to fervent prayer – prayers for salvation, a tender heart, a love for God’s Word. These prayers continue as the baby grows. They realize the day will come when their precious son or daughter follows the leading of the Lord unto the establishment of the next generation. The day seems so distant, but the loving father & mother lift their hearts in prayer for the future spouse and children of this little one who now sits upon their lap.

The Scriptures say that, ‘Except the Lord build the house they labor in vain that build it (Ps. 127:1).’ ‘For he established a testimony……that they should make them known to their children: That the generation to come might know them…. (Ps. 78:5-6).’

Several months ago, I had the joy of approaching a father and sharing with him my heart and how I believed it was the Lord’s will for me to marry his daughter. This began a season of waiting on the Lord’s direction and His perfect timing. His daughter – she had desires but rather than leaning upon her own understanding, she purposed to rest in the loving arms of her Savior. She was at peace with how the Lord would guide and direct.

In God’s timing, He makes everything beautiful. We rejoice to say that through the leading of the Lord and our precious parents, the Lord has confirmed that it is His will for Lisa Butler and I to be united together in marriage.

We are grateful for the way our parents fervently seek the will of the Lord and for the way they have faithfully prayed for their children and the generations to come.

Thank you for the legacy you are laying for the future generations.

25 Comments » | posted in Family News, HIS-story, Photography, Tid Bits

Time was passing quickly by. The deadline fast approaching. We were less than two weeks away, yet the 2010 VA Family Encouragement Weekend had no conference location. Door after door closed. Many prayers were lifted up. Without a location, the conference would inevitably be canceled. Travel plans were being made….should the conference be canceled?

The Lord had lead us thus far – He was trustworthy.

"And therefore will the LORD wait, that he may be gracious unto you…(Is. 30:18)." "Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee… (Ps. 31:19)." His goodness and graciousness towards us is so undeserved.

His goodness and graciousness may involve more waiting or circumstances contrary to our desires but oh the joy of knowing we are in the center of His will though our emotions be unsettled.

Just in God’s time, He directed our steps and guided us to call a local church. Our phone call was answered by the man who we later discovered was the Pastor of the church. When he heard the vision behind the conference and of our pressing need, he graciously offered us the use of the faciliy, even before we had met face to face. This clear testimony of God’s direct action further confirmed the hand of the Lord upon the conference. In His perfect timing, he opened the doors of this precious church and so provided an avenue unto the needful encouragement of families.

He is trustworthy – praise be to God!

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

…Come ye yourselves apart…and rest a while… (Mark 6:31). Oh the blessing of those times of rest and refreshment. They are needful. And when accompanied by abounding joy, ministry opportunities, and uplifting fellowship, the result is a season of refreshment. Such was the case when our family had the joy of spending a weekend in Wild, Wonderful West Virginia with the Staddons (click here for their report)!

Whether we were working together, ministering with each other, or planning for the upcoming FEW Conference, wholesome conversations, memorable moments, and joyous sounds abounded.

An unexpected blessing was the opportunity to meet and fellowship with the Fleshman family from southern West Virginia. Hearing the testimony of Christ at work in their family was of great encouragement.

What a joy it is to hear of every day families who take joy in following the leading of the Lord to be salt and light in the communities they have been called to live in.

3 Comments » | posted in Family News

There is no doubt that America stands currently under the judgment of God. For too long, we have neglected those Biblical principles upon which our nation was founded. God will not be mocked, and sin has its consequences.

Nevertheless, amidst the great atrocities of evil and the oppressive power of darkness, there are signs of reformation within our land.

During the month of June, our family had the joy of attending a day conference hosted by the Scott Brown of the NCFIC.

He came bearing a message of hope and a challenge to the Biblical family. It is time for families to live Biblically. As Thomas Manton once put it, ‘family is the seminary of church and state.’ Lawful worldly amusements must be exchanged for intense family worship. Our time is an indicator of where our priorities lie. Lukewarm Christian families are unsavory to our Lord. But amidst these challenging words, the hope comes from focusing not upon our failure but upon repentance and following our Savior. The steps will be little at first but through perseverance it shall yield the peaceable fruit of righteousness.

Pastor Brown exhorts that, “When the focus of our churches or our families is anything other than the glory of God we should expect them to be cursed rather than blessed.

If we change the focus of our families for our own sakes and because we want a better family, we have missed the mark…….

….Has God changed your heart so that it desires to glorify God? Do you believe He is your only hope? Is it He the one you truly admire? This is the heart of all true reformation.”

Pastor Brown and his team have purposed to travel across and around our nation to exhort, challenge, and edify the local body of believers. Our family left the day conference encouraged and with an even greater desire to reform through conforming our lives unto the image of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Comment » | posted in Ministry Reports, On the Issues, Proclaiming the Truth

During their childhood, Mom and her four siblings lived on a couple acres in the Maryland countryside. Throughout the years, we have enjoyed hearing the rich stories of the adventures they encountered – how a garden established a meaningful relationship between a pastor and Mom’s Dad, Mom’s successful produce stand along her busy little country road, caring for wild horses and crazy dogs , maintaining farm equipment, etc. Whenever Mom’s siblings are together, there is bound to be another memorable trip down history lane.

Such was the case just recently when several members from Mom’s family joined us for an afternoon down in Culpeper. We toured up and coming barn. While walking around the construction site and through the gardens and across the property, we were able to share the purpose for which God is moving us to Culpeper.

The blessing of extended family who love the Lord is not taken for granted. Our time together was full of much fellowship, laughing, eating, and encouraging one another in the Lord. It was our first of what we hope to be many family get-togethers here in Culpeper.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

An unexpected opportunity was recently afforded our family and a couple good friends to visit Jehovah Jireh farm – home of the Horst family – in Frederick Maryland. The Horsts are full time farmers who raise broiler hens, eggs, sheep, beef cattle, and honey bees. Like Joel Salatin, they farm contrary to conventional wisdom which encourages the use of chemicals, large unsanitary processing plants, and sub-marginal food.

With a similar desire to begin raising and selling farm fresh food, we looked forward with great anticipation to what was in store. The Horsts gave us a tour of their farm, stopping all along the way to explain, teach, and exhort. Mr. Horst has an earnest desire to farm in accordance with God’s principles insomuch that he frequently reminded us to ‘ask the Lord to teach you to farm (See Isaiah 28:23-29).’

The insights he is gleaning are of great encouragement, yet he consistently pointed all glory to the Creator. The Lord desires to impart wisdom and understanding. However, it is unto and for His glory. Countless times we were exhorted to turn to Scripture and the Lord for wisdom and understanding – what a refreshment!

So much could be shared on the nuts and bolts for raising egg layers, meat broilers, maintaining a high sugar (brix) level in your plants for utmost nutrition and good pest resistance, etc.

However, a lesson that was indelibly etched upon our minds was the powerful impact of a family working together in harmony, supporting the God given vision of their father. During the 3+ hours of our visit, farm operations continued. The Horst children did not need to be told what to do. They knew what was required and so performed it diligently. This freed their parents to invest into our family and so fulfill God’s call to disciple. Through the children’s diligence, our family received a great blessing of wisdom and a renewed vision for the powerful potential of families working together in harmony.

2 Comments » | posted in Family News

Oh the abundant blessing of mothers who love the Lord, love their family, and have a vision for raising up a generation to declare the glories of our Creator God. The culture has sought to undermine the blessed role of motherhood in exchange for the feministic ideas of independence, disdaining of Biblical womanhood, and living for self.

How quickly do we forget God’s principles. Only a couple generations ago, the founding fathers and beforetime leaders of our nation recognized the indispensable role of mothers for raising up a generation of Americans who would defend liberties of the United States. Yet sadly, amidst our highly refined, educated, industrialized, and wealthy culture we find a strong resistance to Biblical family life.

What a blessing to have a mother with a desire for raising up a Godly seed unto the proclamation of Christ before a lost and dying world.

This past Mothers Day, we had the joy of giving honor to whom honor is due – our mothers.

Each family at church worked together to make the day extra special and meaningful for our wonderful mothers.

Leave a Comment » | posted in Family News