Celebrating 132 Years!
We bring you greetings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! The Homecoming Committee is excited to host the 132nd anniversary this year! This year’s theme is “Expanding Our Reach: Reaching Up, Down, Out, In and Over.”
This year’s Anniversary/Homecoming colors are pink (in honor of breast cancer awareness month), along with accents of black and white. We have an exciting Homecoming lineup planned this year that includes volunteerism, fundraising, and of course fellowship! See our slate of homecoming happenings below:
RAINBOW TEA & SUNDAY BEST FASHION SHOW
Saturday, August 2, 2024 – 3pm
An in-person fellowship and fundraising event. Coupled with beautifully decorated tables and delicious foods, this year’s Rainbow Tea will feature a Sunday Best Fashion Show, open to all age groups (adults and youth). Tickets for this event are $20.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DAY
Saturday, September 14, 2024 – 9am – 2pm
WDBC will serve members of the community at Urban Ministries of Durham, located at 410 Liberty St., Durham, NC 27701. Member volunteers will gather at the church’s fellowship hall at 9am to assemble toiletry bags for 160-200 people, followed by travel to Urban Ministries’ Community Café to distribute the bags. Volunteers would also be needed to help serve community attendees a spaghetti lunch, prepared by our Kitchen Ministry. Lunch will be served from 12:30pm-1:30pm at the facility; cleanup will follow. If desired, community attendees can receive prayer with representatives from our Deacon Board, Associate Ministers, and Zacharias Prayer Ministry.
SUGGESTED TOILETRY ITEMS NEEDED are below:
• Hand sanitizer
• Sunscreen
• Soap
• Mouthwash
• Toothpaste
• Sanitary napkins
• Socks
• Toe nail clippers
• Lotion
• Deoderant
• Toothbrush
Place toiletry items in the boxes located in the church vestibule.
COMMUNITY OUTREACH DAY SCHEDULE
ANNIVERSARY/HOMECOMING GALA
Friday, October 11, 2024 – 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Come and enjoy an evening formal affair filled with entertainment and inspiration. Our Anniversary/Homecoming Gala will be held at the Blue Hill Event Center at Extraordinary Ventures, located at 200 S. Elliott Road, Chapel Hill, NC 27514. Adult tickets are $40, and youth tickets are $5! We hope to see you there in your formal best!
Click the link to view the flyer for more information:
CHURCH REVIVAL
Monday, 10/21/2024—Wednesday, 10/23/2024, 7pm nightly
Services will begin at 7pm nightly, in person and online.
REVEREND DR. JAMES H. WILKES, JR.
Guest Revivalist
Rev. Dr. James H. Wilkes, Jr. is a native of Gastonia, North Carolina, and he is the only child of the late Mr. James H. Wilkes, Sr. and the late Mrs. Deborah Wright Wilkes. On September 23, 2017, he married Miss Melia Olivia Burris, also of Gastonia and they have one son, Master James H. Wilkes, III.
Rev. Dr. Wilkes is a graduate of the Gaston County Public School System. He graduated from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Business Management. Rev. Wilkes is also a graduate of Wake Forest University where he received his Master of Divinity degree (MDiv). On April 5, 2022, he successfully defended his doctoral dissertation while in pursuit of his Doctor of Ministry degree (D.Min.) in Transformational Leadership at Boston University.
Rev. Dr. Wilkes answered the call to ministry at the age of 13. In July 2007, he was licensed to preach the Gospel while at the historic Mount Calvary Baptist Church (Gastonia) and was ordained in 2011. He served at the church of his childhood under the impactful leadership of Pastor James Burris, while simultaneously serving as President of the Youth Missionary Department, a member of the Evangelistic Ministry and Youth Adviser. He is also the Founder of Youth Connected 4 Christ Ministries.
Later, Rev. Dr. Wilkes served as the Assistant to the Pastor of the Genesis Church in Gastonia, North Carolina where Rev. Johnny D. Brown, III is the current pastor. He also served as a ministerial staff member at Union Baptist Church, Winston-Salem, NC, under the direction of Dr. Sir Walter L. Mack II.
On Monday, July 25, 2016, Rev. Dr. Wilkes was voted unanimously as Senior Pastor of Elon First Baptist Church in Elon, NC and was officially installed as the church’s eighth pastor on October 16, 2016.
The ministry of Pastor James H. Wilkes, Jr. can be described as a unique theological blend. Each Sunday morning, he mounts the pulpit as a seasoned minister of the gospel, utilizing his dynamic gift of preaching to unearth biblical truths to save, set free and renew the people of God. He unapologetically emphasizes the importance of holy living. While at the same time, he energetically pursues nontraditional ministry avenues by collaborating with the people of Elon to present relevant ministry opportunities which have intergenerational appeal. He also partners with diverse community groups to meet the needs of people who are underserved and underrepresented in Alamance County.
Most importantly, Pastor Wilkes loves the Lord and firmly stands on the word of God. He knows that Jeremiah 29:11 remains true: “For I know the plans that I have for you saith the Lord, plans to prosper you and give an expected future.”
ANNIVERSARY/HOMECOMING WORSHIP SERVICE &
FELLOWSHIP DINNER
Sunday, 10/27/2024 – 10am
Service will be held in person and online, starting at 10am. Dinner will follow in the church’s fellowship hall.
