A Seat at His Table
In 1926, a faithful group of Christ followers gathered for Highland Park Presbyterian Church’s very first worship service. Among them was one-year old George Wilkin Jr. who would go on to grow up alongside the church, watching HP Pres grow and change over the decades as his own life did the same. Looking back 100 years later, he shares, “We’ve always been very active in the church. It has meant a lot to our family to be a part of this place.”
Serving as an elder alongside the leadership of Dr. Elliott, George spent many Sundays meeting with other church members to encourage them to take the next step in their faith. He recalls going door to door to church member’s homes to discuss yearly pledges and how their extravagant generosity can have an impact in the Kingdom of God. Because of the groundwork laid by these church members during the early years of HP Pres, our campus and its reach has continued to grow, expanding its walls to accommodate for increasing attendance, and its reach to share the love of Christ with our city and beyond.
When conversations about planting churches in the Dallas area and across the globe began, George answered God’s call to participate. He had been an active elder and deacon for many years when he became the President of the Presbyterian Extension Committee of Dallas, sharing “We met regularly to raise money and find places to plant churches. Our church has been very active in that process, and it’s been very important work.”
Over the decades, George witnessed God’s faithfulness throughout changes in leadership, the construction of new buildings, and the ebb and flow of attendance on Sunday mornings. Through it all, George’s own family grew and changed with all four of his daughters following in their parent’s footsteps and have all been involved in the life of the church over the years. George shares, “We love our church and never miss a Sunday if we’re able. All of our children attend here, so it’s been wonderful for our family.”
As we look back on the last 100 years of HP Pres through George’s eyes, we are reminded of how personal God’s faithfulness is to His people. No matter our backgrounds, age, or differences, we all have a place in the Kingdom of God.
