Biography for Vernal Ralph Wilkinson, Jr.
Facts:
· Born July 15, 1947 in San Diego, CA
· Public Schools through Junior College
· Westmont College graduating in 1969
· Married Sept. 14, 1968
· Teacher 1969 – 1973, Willow Creek, CA
· Talbot Seminary in La Mirada, CA 1973 – 1976
· Fields with Village Missions – Lakehead, CA, Montezuma, KS, Redland, OR, Edgewood, WA
· Village Missions District Representative for the Northwest District 1999 to present
Family: Born July 15, 1947 the oldest child of Vernal Ralph Wilkinson, Sr. and Belva (Emmerick) Wilkinson. Lived the first four years in Spring Valley, CA. Then moved to a home in Lemon Grove, CA and attended public schools. Two sisters were born afterward, Kristen 1949 and Francis 1951. Vernal Sr. worked for Naval Civil Service and Belva for the county library system. Extended family lived in San Diego area. The family attended La Mesa First United Methodist Church and was active in its programs. Became active in sports like Little League. Became a distance runner in High School and competed at High School and college levels receiving local and national honors. Met Cindy Marsden at Westmont College. We were married September 14, 1968. We have two children Bethanie and Andrew. Both Bethanie and Andrew accepted Christ as children and attended Christian liberal arts colleges. Bethanie and Andrew and their spouses each have two children and live near us in Pierce County, WA.
Education: Graduated from Mt. Miguel High School in 1969. Participated in choir, student government and chaired the baccalaureate program. Ran track and cross country becoming a three year letterman in both sports. Continued on to Grossmont Junior College. Ran Track and Cross Country for the collegelettering in both sports for two years and becoming team captain. Graduated in 1967 with an Associate of Arts degree. Received scholarships to attend Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA. This is a Christian liberal arts college. One Scholarship was for academics and the other for athletics. Ran Track and Cross Country for two years receiving both district and national recognition. Also, was team captain. Graduated in 1969 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in the Social Sciences. After being hired to teach public school in Willow Creek, CA I worked on classes toward a teaching credential at Humboldt State, Chico State, University of California at Berkeley, San Francisco State and California State College in Fullerton. Became credentialed in grades k – 9 and Community College level instruction in California. Returned to Talbot Theological Seminary in 1973 and began work on a Master of Divinity majoring in Bible Exposition. Graduated in 1976. After entering service with Village Missions I received certification in suicide prevention, small group administration, critical incident stress, farmer-lender and family mediation. While serving as District Representative I earned a D. Min in Expositional Communication from Faith Evangelical Seminary.
Career: After graduating from Westmont College I was hired to teach sixth grade at Trinity Valley Elementary School in Willow Creek, CA. A division of responsibility with the seventh grade teacher resulted in teaching sixth and seventh grade social sciences and humanities. For the next three years I taught fourth grade. During studies at Talbot Seminary in La Mirada, CA I worked for Buena Park Lumber and Hardware and taught extension classes for the Orange County Community College District. I taught gardening and various history classes. During the summer between my Junior and Senior year of seminary I served as an intern with Village Missionary Rol Burg at Ten Mile, ID. Upon completion of the Master of Divinity degree at Talbot Seminary we were assigned by Village Missions as the missionaries to Shasta Lake, CA where we served for eight years. During this time I taught as a volunteer adjunct for Northern California Bible Institute. After eight years at Shasta Lake we were assigned by Village Missions to Montezuma, KS. During three years there I became a farmer-lender mediator during farm crisis and received training as a suicide prevention counselor. Following our term of service in Montezuma we were assigned to serve as Village Missionaries at Redland, OR. During this time I took course work at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland as a small group administrator. I also received training in critical incident stress and served as a volunteer public relations officer for Clackamas County Fire District One. After four years of service at Redland, we were assigned as Village Missionaries to Edgewood, WA. Here I received training in family and divorce from pacific Family Mediation and Christian Mediation Services with whom I served as a mediator and board member. I also began work on a Doctor of Ministry by taking courses at the extension site for California Graduate School of Ministry. I also taught a Christian Education class for them in learning. During this time I also took a class in Ethics from Faith Evangelical Seminary. After seven and a half years as Village Missionaries at Edgewood we were assigned as District Representatives for Village Missions in the Northwest. At first the district was western Washington and north western Oregon but expanded to include all of Washington and Alaska, north Idaho and part of western Montana. During this time I completed my D. Min studies at Faith Evangelical Seminary and wrote a book on preaching in small churches entitled, The Bible, Live. I also have served as an adjunct professor at Contenders School of the Bible teaching Pastoral Ministries and New Testament Introduction. I have also taught Evangelism and Discipleship for Alaska Christian College in Soldotna, AK. I am currently an adjunct professor at Moody Bible Institute in Spokane, WA teaching Communications and New Testament Survey.
Spiritual Story: I was raised in a Christian home with parents who were active in the church. We regularly attended Sunday School, worship and youth activities where my parents served as leaders. While many of the lay leaders and teachers were born again and gave witness to their faith, the denomination and its publications were liberal. I grew up knowing about Christianity but unbelieving. By the time I reached community college I doubted the truth of Christianity but began a search for spiritual reality. The death of high school and college friends in the Viet Nam war caused me to question the personal involvement of God in the human situation. At the time I was accepted to Westmont College I had a record of active involvement and leadership in my local church but was personally practicing Buddhism. Several friends at Westmont College challenged me with the gospel along with Bible courses I was required to take. Foremost among those friends was my wife to be Cindy Marsden. She and her family were a strong witness. The question that became most important for me to answer became, “Is God personal?” If he was then the Christian story would be the truth but if not then Buddhism seemed more reasonable. On the night of August 17, 1968 that question was answered through a series of unusual circumstances and I accepted all that I had known of Christianity and the Christ Jesus it taught about. I had much to learn and I eagerly pursued that. Prayer became part of my life and friends and professors became spiritual counselors. When we moved to Willow Creek to teach public school, the Village Missionary there, Elmer Smith became my mentor and disciple. After four years at Willow Creek Bible Church I wanted to know the Bible how to teach it to others. Through Elmer’s advice I applied and was accepted to Talbot Theological Seminary. There, fellow students and professors, most notably Dr. Glenn O’Neal provided continuing learning and counsel. My spiritual growth has accelerated at times and slowed at times through the practice of various disciplines. The Lord has sustained me through all the years of ministry with moral and theological integrity.