Witnessing True Love: Bruce and Darlene Wilkinson

He was walking gingerly while holding on to his wife's arm. Walking like he was recovering from a stroke. They were headed to the row of chairs for the guests at the rear of the ballroom.

This was Bruce Wilkinson.

He founded Walk Thru the Bible, Teach Every Nation, and multiple other evangelical and missions organizations. He is a God-led visionary and entrepreneur. He is a starter, a master fundraiser, a leader, and an influencer.

He is an icon to all of us in the marketplace ministry movement. He was the first Christian preacher to partner with business leaders searching for the answer to the question, "Since God owns my business and I am the steward of it, what now?"

Other Christian preachers and pastors were slow to endorse this movement. Churches and independent ministries at the time were only focused on the family. They understood the family, God's plan for society's health. They didn't understand business and business people.

Then, back in the early 1980s, the media discovered business leaders, people like Lee Iacocca. He saved Chrysler and Jeep and became a household name. We now think this is normal, but back then, no one knew who was running public companies.

These business leaders became influencers, and Bruce recognized this.

They approached Bruce.

Bruce was invited to speak to business leaders at a newly formed organization called Fellowship of Companies for Christ International. FCCI was created by Bobby Mitchell, a Georgia Tech Alum, expert in ceramic engineering, and entrepreneur. He was joined by Bill Leonard and a host of other Christian business leaders whom God called to this new marketplace ministry movement.

At the time, Bruce was leading the international organization Walk Thru the Bible. In addition to being an entrepreneur, he was an author, teacher, and speaker. Bruce said, "What do I know about business leaders and their businesses?"

He asked them to allow him to pray about it. A week later, he said, "Yes." Bruce created a series of topics that became the core philosophy of marketplace ministry. He went deep on this topic for over ten years. Bruce became the thought leader of this movement and changed how Christian business leaders viewed their business, money, employees, vendors, and other relationships surrounding their businesses.

It was radical, new teaching that changed mindsets. It resulted in radical, new ownership and leadership. He changed the world of business forever.

Bruce was, and still is, the greatest teacher I have ever experienced. And I was not alone. He was recognized by many for this skill. He was often encouraged to share how he learned to become such a great teacher and to teach us the skills to become great teachers and communicators ourselves.

Bruce said, “I asked God to tell me the secret to becoming an effective teacher.” He then told this story, “I was sitting on a beach, reading the Bible, and it hit me. The answer is right here in front of me. The Bible authors were my teachers. These ancient authors exemplified the principles of the greatest teachers ever.”

And then, like a great teacher, he shared the secrets with us. Bruce is the complete package. Whatever subject he speaks on, he will nail it. You’ll get it and never forget it. He is a master. His specialty is Jesus and the Bible. In this, he is the subject expert.

Back to the ballroom.

I watched Bruce as his wife, Darlene, led him to an available chair. I was struck by how they interacted. How attentive she was to Bruce. How he accepted her assistance so graciously.

And then something happened I didn’t expect.

Bruce looked away from Darlene. His eyes swept the ballroom of attendees. Sitting erect on the edge of her chair, Darlene was canted toward Bruce. She looked at Bruce like no one else was in the room. And the look on her face captured me. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.

The look embodied true love and admiration. She was delighting in him. And it was only a look, an expression. No words. Nothing unusual. You would have glanced past them. It was intimate. And I was fortunate enough to see it. To witness it. I felt privileged at that moment.

I never saw a wife look at her husband that way.

Bruce once told a room full of business owners and their spouses at an FCCI conference how crazy in love he was after he met Darlene.

He told us of a Christmas early in their relationship. Her parents invited him to their house to celebrate Christmas with them. He was still in seminary and would have to travel a hundred miles for this visit. A day before he was to leave for the visit, a snowstorm like few others hit the northeast where they were living. There was no way to get to Darlene. No way.

But he was determined not to miss his first Christmas with Darlene. He said, “I missed her. All I could think about was how I wanted to be with her during this special time of year.”

Bruce got in his car and braved the snow and sleet. His car broke down fifty miles from her home. He got out and started hitchhiking. Cars, trucks, whatever. He was going to make it to her home for Christmas. Hours later, an unexpected knock came at Darlene’s parents’ home. They opened the door, and a snow-encrusted Bruce Wilkenson wished them a Merry Christmas. He made it. He was with Darlene, his true love.

He told us that story over twenty-five years ago. It stuck with me.

Love stories always do.

And now, in this ballroom, Darlene looked at her fragile husband, her white knight. Bruce did have a stroke. He told me later he had been in the hospital for months. The recovery was difficult, but he was determined to talk, walk, and gain as much function as possible.

But I witnessed Darlene’s expression that afternoon. She was looking at the man who loved her so much that he braved snow, wind, ice, and treacherous conditions to be with her for their first Christmas over fifty years ago.

She loved him then. She still loves him, but now it is different. She loves him for who he was. Who he became. Who he is. And who he forever will be. A great man of God, yes. And a great entrepreneur and teacher. But, most importantly, her husband.

And her eyes said it all!