John was born in Guatemala to missionary parents and was raised on the mission field, primarily in Bolivia and Uruguay.
Mary Ann is from Boise, Idaho, and is a registered nurse.
John and Mary Ann pastored for five years before entering missions in 1971 as missionary evangelists. They planted churches in Chile and Ecuador before taking regular appointment and being assigned to Ecuador. From 1976 to 1996 they served as appointed missionaries in Ecuador. John was the Missionary-in-Residence at Northwest College from 1996 to 1998 where he taught full time in the Church Ministries Division.
Bible School has been a major ministry all terms; but they have also pastored, pioneered three churches, and held national offices in the Ecuadorian church. They have worked in a variety of ministries such as correspondence classes, radio work, jail ministries, television follow-up, and with Latin America Child Care in building schools and providing meals to underprivileged children. A primary focus has been developing leadership with mentoring program, seminars, and working closely with national leadership.
In July, 1998, they began their first assignment on the Latin America Strategic Task Force which included two assignments in Bolivia where they spent two years. They continue to serve on the Task Force and it is in that capacity that John teaches in Peru.
They pioneered IBMM which is a video ministry that produces Bible Institute Programs for the isolated student and pastor in Latin America. During their time at IBMM, they produced seven six and one-half hour video classes as well as translated the corresponding textbook. There were five more courses in production. Gary Kirchoff is now directing this ministry and the website is: http://ibmmedu.org/ We encourage you to visit the website and pray for this ministry.
The Wilkies are the parents of two married children who live in the Seattle area. Their son, Mark, is a computer programmer and active in church ministries. Mark and Jennie have two sons. Anne Marie and her husband are graduates of Northwest University. Anne is a stay-at-home Mom to their four children and a foster daughter. She and Christian Brockl continue to touch many with the gospel.