I’ll die preaching this gospel.
Reverend Dr. James H. Wilkes Jr. has always been heavily involved in the church. He fondly remembers attending church with his father every Sunday during his childhood, and his adult life has been centered around the same faith and purpose he was raised with. The first time James came to preach at Elon First Baptist, he surpassed the expectations of the congregation and was invited to continue pastoring the church.
Ever since, James has led Elon First Baptist through challenging times, providing a source of hope for the Black community of Alamance County. A particularly tough moment for the church occurred in 2020 when James had joined a protest after the death of George Floyd. The following Sunday James was urged not to preach out of concern for his safety considering that he had been vocal about injustice, yet despite these concerns, James stood firm in his decision to advocate, and preached a message of hope to the congregation that day.
In the midst of the racial division and danger that Elon First Baptist has faced, James continues to encourage younger generations to enact societal change. He shares an important message to college students, saying, “You are the only hope that my four-year-old son has.” Though his story has been met with much difficulty, James holds on to the hope that the future teachers, principles, judges, senators, and leaders in general will pave the way for his son to experience a different story.