Dear Congregation and Friends ~

For nine years many of you have received newsletters and sermons from me and returned your
thanks and appreciation is so many ways. I am most thankful for your prayers, but also for your
support and for your effort to build the kingdom through Red Bank United Methodist Church.

It has been a privilege to serve with you over the past years and engage each of you through
preaching, visitation, writing, teaching, Christian conversation and life’s transitions like 
marriages, baptisms and funerals. As I stated on May 22nd in Worship, our time with you as Pastor/
Congregation is coming to an end this month. I celebrate with you some of the fruit of our labor
together with God’s increase. 1) Membership from 587 to 800 2) Worship from 199 to 280 average
each Sunday and 3) our general budget of $164,539 in 2002 to $321,037 in 2011. These actual
statistics from the Charge Conference Reports represent our journey in moving into a larger facility,
increase of use within that facility, a larger staff to handle the ministries and many of your efforts 
to step it up and move forward. The above figures do not include increases to our Building Fund or
Missions Fund which have also increased dramatically. During our time together we have moved
from a small quaint Chapel to a beautiful large new Sanctuary. During our time we have moved
from a pastoral/house size church to a medium program/mansion size church. No, bigger is not
always better, but if God sends the people to Red Bank, our goal should be to reach them.
Thankfully, we now have a host of committed families from various backgrounds moving together,
sharing the load of leadership and ministry through and beyond the church.

I thank those long time members that were able to have vision and move forward with the church for
a brighter day and a larger mission and I thank the new folks for giving me and the church a chance
to grow and thrive under the direction of the Holy Spirit. All God needs is faithful Sowers and a
Fruitful Field. His Seed (Word) does not come back void.

I understand that change is hard, but all living things change. Change is part of God’s Creation
Process, but He promises to be with us along the journey and by Faith we proclaim every Sunday
that God is Good, All the Time.

Remember, He has a plan for us, if we can but remain faithful and focused on Christ Jesus!
My hope is that Red Bank UMC continues to thrive and grow and bear the most fruit possible for the
kingdom. Remember, God will provide the financial help, the Missional Call, Protection, Guidance,
Joy and Peace along the journey. May we never forget who we have been and where we have
come from, but always find ourselves with Open Hearts, Open Minds to God’s Leading, Open Doors
and full of His Love as he leads us forward.

I am so thankful for the Reverend Russell Freeman, your new Pastor and for his wife Lia and their
three beautiful young children for leading you on the next phase of your journey as a church.
I personally know Russell, Lia and family and believe they will be a wonderful match and blessing for
this congregation. We should all be thankful to God, the District Superintendent, the Cabinet
and the Bishop for this appointment. I look forward to hearing great things about the work of the
Kingdom in this place called Red Bank UMC. May God continue to bless and keep you in His will
and grace.

Joy and Peace ~ Rev. Tommy Wilkes

PS. Our Family has been appointed to First Clover UMC, in Clover, SC which is a wonderful
appointment for us and in a wonderful location for our family. Though we are sad to go, we are
thankful for the next chapter of our lives and for the friendships / memories we have made while in
Lexington. We love you all and look forward to celebrating with you on June 5th at the Picnic.