History
Evangelist/Pastor Derick E. Wilkes is the Founder and President of “The Congregation of Churches”. He was born in Greenville North Carolina, where as a child he occasionally traveled ministering healing to the sick, chaperoned by elders that recognized the call of God on his life. Raised in Philadelphia, PA., Mr. Derick E. Wilkes worked in Marketing, with companies, such as, The Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, and The Better Business Bureau of Philadelphia, before responding to the call of God into full time ministry.
On June 25th 1993, Derick met his wife Natalie, at a business card exchange function in Philadelphia. They were engaged within three months and were married on May 14th 1994. Although, Derick and Natalie, come from two different denominational backgrounds, they became united in their cultural beliefs through the ministry of Kenneth and Gloria Copeland, who has had the greatest impact upon their lives, and their understanding of the Word.
Although, Derick and Natalie have several mentors, they recognize Kenneth and Gloria Copeland as their spiritual parents. Derick and Natalie responded to the call of ministry, together in 1994, with a feeding and clothing ministry to the homeless community.
They worked with organizations such as Project Home, The Philadelphia Coalition to End Homelessness, The Temple Brotherhood Mission Ministries, The Sunday Breakfast Rescue Mission, Homeless shelters in Washington DC, and more.
In 1996, Derick and Natalie Wilkes organized a team of mission minded Christians, to attend, an annual “World Missions Conference” in Green Lake Wisconsin., where hundreds of Christians from various races, cultures and denominations attended.
It was at this mission’s conference that they received a vision of “Christians Working Together”.
Christians Working Together Ministries – is a philathropic ministry located in Philadelphia PA., which places emphasis on making provision for those in need. His wife, Prophet Natalie A. W. Wilkes, presently oversees this ministry.
In 1997, Derick and Natalie, had an opportunity to serve as volunteer missionaries to Washington DC. This opportunity was presented to them by “National Ministries” of Valley Forge, PA. While in Washington, they authored a mini resource book for the homeless community, of which 100,000 were published, by a local company.
Evangelist/Pastor Derick E. Wilkes, is a graduate of “World Harvest Bible Training Center” in Pennsauken NJ, and has ministered to thousands of people throughout the United States and in Canada, on the saving and healing power of Christ.
Upon graduation from The “World Harvest Bible Training Center” Derick E. Wilkes was exposed to an established Healing Evangelist, Angelos Metropolis, who taught him how to effectively minister healing to the sick. Through this God ordained connection, the healing anointing increased upon Derick’s life, as he meditated and practiced the principles and methods learned.
In July of 1999, Derick E. Wilkes began to function as a Healing Evangelist. Derick’s calling to function in this capacity was further validated in the same year, through the following prophetic words to him from the Lord: “Christians Don’t get sick! You have never known a sick Christian, but Christians that have sick bodies”.
On October 11, 2003, Evangelists Derick and Prophet Natalie Wilkes, were set apart as ordained Elders and affirmed into the Pastorate, through the laying on of hands and prayer, through “Another Touch of Glory Ministries”, of Waldorf, MD., under the leadership of it’s Founder, Bishop R.S. Walker, of whom Derick and Natalie Wilkes has been covenant connected with since 2001.
In the spring of 2007, “Congregation of Churches” began hosting “Word of Faith Conferences” which are held each year, in our Worship Center. The “Word of Faith” Conferences provide a season of refreshing in the Word of God, to all that attend.
In 2009, Natalie A. W. Wilkes, entered into a new season of ministry, on her 40th birthday during our annual Word of Faith Conference.
On April 24th 2009, Pastor Natalie A.W. Wilkes was called into the office of the Prophet, through Bishop R. S. Walker, an established Prophet of God, and the Founder of Another Touch of Glory Ministries in Waldorf, MD.
In 2009, The Congregation of Churches was established by Evangelist & Pastor Derick E. Wilkes, to bring leadership and accountability to partnering ministries churches and businesses.
The “The Congregation of Churches” provides partnering churches, ministries and businesses with leadership training, mentoring, and accountability, through our Leadership Empowerment Group Ministry seminars, The Center for Ministry Development, and Annual Leadership Conferences, Internet Church.TV, and Personal counsel as necessary.
In 2009, The Congregation of Churches became covenant connected to the
“International Fellowship of Churches”, founded by Dr. Audrey F. Bronson of Philadelphia, who is also the Pastor of “The Sanctuary Church of The Open Door”.
In 2011, Evangelist Derick E. Wilkes, founded, Internet Church.TV, a ministry of Congregation of Churches, designed to provide worship opportunities to the Church outside of the four walls of the traditional worship facility.
In 2009, Derick and Natalie Wilkes authored several Books, DVD’s & CD’s, which are being used by established and emerging ministries around the world. Book titles, include: Dividing the Word – Workbook, Rhema, Times and Seasons, The Servant-Leader, Mapping out God’s Plan for Your Family, The Prophetic Nature of Faith, and God's Health Care Plan.
DVD & CD titles include: 7 Keys To Divine Healing, Keys to Activating Your Faith, The Fruit of the Reborn Spirit, The Blessing, Mapping Out God’s Plan for Your Family, Revival of Righteousness Consciousness & Resurrection Power, The Authority of the New Man, and more…