I was enrolled in Bible study before I was ever born.  Our church, as many back then, had a cradle roll, and I was enrolled in my future nursery class as “baby Wilbanks”.  My parents were very faithful church members, and church was a big part of my life growing up. So I was brought up in an environment that allowed me to be saved at an early age.

Also, in “those days”, Billy Graham movies came out in theatres as full feature releases…and churches would always gather a busload to go as a group to the newest one.  When I was 8 years old, we were at another of those, “For Pete’s Sake”, and at the end of the movie an invitation was given. My sister and I were in a row several rows down from my parents and I remember standing up before I knew what was happening, and I was crying.  Later that week, I went to speak to my pastor, and after confirming that I knew what I was responding to, I accepted Jesus into my heart and as Lord of my life.  I was baptized on Easter Sunday night, in 1969.

Since that time, I have had periods of great growth spiritually, and have also had periods of downfall.  But I know without a doubt that I am a child of God, and that He loves me beyond measure.

To my great delight, in 1986 God called my husband and myself into mission work, and we immediately enrolled in seminary.  In 1997, we were commissioned as church planters through the North American Mission Board’s Service Corp, and we spent 2 years in Denver, Colorado, helping establish the first Southern Baptist Church for Native Americans in the Denver area.

In 1999, we moved back to Georgia, and became missionaries to the Hispanic population in Moultrie, and we worked in a Hispanic mission church here.  My primary ministry was teaching the migrant workers English as a second language in our home.

In 2001, God moved us to our current church, Temple Baptist Church, and we served there as Associate Pastor and wife until 2018.  We are now serving in various volunteer positions at our church.

It is so amazing to see what God has accomplished in me, and through me, and in spite of me, in the 52 years since that Billy Graham movie.  But I am blessed beyond measure and pray that He will continue His good work for a long time to come!