When I was a senior at Spartanburg High School, my father came home one day and told me that our
family was going to England during the summer for a Ministerial Exchange. My initial response was,
“No way - not my Senior year!” Given time, I realized I was not being asked if I wanted to go, 
but rather told that we were indeed going. In retrospect, I am thankful for what became a life 
changing experience for me, and opened my eyes to see a larger world than I had ever imagined. 
The people of the United Kingdom, and specifically Eastbourne, England, were some of the nicest 
people I have ever met, and we felt the outpouring of their love from the moment we landed until 
the moment we left.

Now in 2010, 25 years later, my own family is scheduled to participate in a Pastoral Exchange, 
through the World Methodist Council. We are planning to fly to England in mid July, spending our 
summer vacation week touring as much as possible before I begin work with 5 churches in the Rugby 
Deventry Circuit. We will be staying in middle England, about 15 miles south of Nottingham and the 
Sherwood Forest. The Manse (parsonage) is located in Lutterworth. I have a lot to learn about how 
the Methodist Church operates in England, but I feel that God has placed this venture on my heart 
for a reason.

About three years ago, during an Emmaus Weekend, my friend, the Rev. Doris Crocker, who has 
herself spoken in Red Bank’s pulpit, began telling me about her family in England, and how many 
of them had lost touch with the church. She shared with me that some of them don’t even know the 
Lord. Amidst her tears, I felt my heart pulled once again to respond to an earlier yearning to 
reach out to England with the gospel of Jesus Christ, in whatever way possible.

This desire was again fueled during our Truth Project study last fall, and has been lifted in 
prayer groups throughout the church over the past year. I, thank you for your prayers and for 
your continued support in our ministry together here in Red Bank, and now in this venture to 
England. We will MISS our church family, but will return in mid August before school starts.

This is an awesome experience for my family, but also for our RBUMC family. We will have the 
English Pastor in our pulpit for four Sundays! The Rev. John Anderson and his wife, Mary, will 
be staying in the parsonage, driving the Wilkes cars (probably not Luke’s truck) and sharing 
life with our wonderful people while we are away. Rev. John will also be visiting our sick and 
shut-ins, preaching, teaching, and attending various functions during his time here in the USA. 
Your Sunday School class might even like to invite him to lead a lesson.

This is Reverend John’s first visit ever to the United States! Part of the Pastoral Exchange 
program is to help bridge cultures around the world, and to share ideas about worship, the 
Gospel and mission among the churches around this world. My hope for John, is that he will 
be able to return to England with some of the special Love and Passion that Red Bank has for 
Christ, and that you, too, will receive a blessing with the Love and unique view he brings 
from England.

Thank you to the SPRC, the Ad Council, our District Superintendent, and the Bishop for 
helping this to happen. We are still awaiting passport numbers and a temporary Visa for 
Religious Work, required in the UK. We ask for your prayers. I have been tenuous about this, 
and still am somewhat, as there are many hoops still to jump through, including trying to 
secure flights and the many details for such a big undertaking.

In the exchange agreement, the US pastor is responsible for paying $900 of the other pastor’s 
travel expenses to America, due to the differences in compensation between US and UK pastors. 
We are planning one church-wide fundraiser, July 7th, to help afford this extra expense. The
 proceeds from that evening’s Family Fellowship Meal, along with an offering during a concert 
 following, will help to cover the cost of Rev Anderson’s plane ticket. More details will be 
 in the July Newsletter.

Thank you, in advance for the love, support, and care I know you will offer John and Mary during 
their visit, and always, for your passionate work in the journey for Christ and His Church.

                                                 Joy and Peace ~ Rev. Tommy Wilkes