Recently, Rev. Sam Worley, pastor of the Village Church at the Advent Christian Village in Dowling Park, Florida, presented a 50-year service award to Rev. Donald Wrigley. This small bronze medallion, entitled “The Divine Servant,” is a relief of Jesus washing his disciples’ feet at the last supper. It is intended to celebrate and honor a life surrendered to Christ and his church in pastoral ministry.
Rev. Wrigley graduated from Berkshire Christian College in May 1975 and began ministry on June 1, 1975, at the Simond’s Advent Christian Church in New Brunswick, Canada. He received his minister’s license in 1976 and was ordained in 1977. During these early years of ministry, he and Penny Middleton became the parents of two sons, Stephen and David.
In May 1979, Rev. Wrigley and his family moved to Southlake, Texas, where he began serving at the Pleasant Hill Advent Christian Church. He remained there until November 1983. During this time, he served as president of the Texas Conference and served on the Central Region board.
In November 1983, the family moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, where Rev. Wrigley accepted a bi-vocational position at First Advent Christian Church. He served there until August 1985, when he felt called to return to full-time ministry at Central Advent Christian Church in Clifton Forge, Virginia. He ministered there until January 1992. During his years in Virginia, he served as president of the Virginia Advent Christian Conference and also served on the Appalachian Regional board.
In January 1992, Rev. Wrigley moved to Holly Grove Advent Christian Church in Benson, North Carolina, where he served until 1994. After that, he stepped away from the full-time pastorate but continued in ministry by filling in for pastors across North Carolina, Virginia and Florida when they were away or unable to preach. He also regularly led prayer meetings, evening services, and conducted a men’s Bible Study in Garner, North Carolina, on Wednesday mornings for approximately 13 years. In addition, he served as a deacon at Garner Advent Christian Church.
In March 2020, Rev. Wrigley and his wife moved to the Advent Christian Village. Since that time, he has continued to serve faithfully by filling the pulpit as needed, speaking occasionally at the Good Samaritan Center, teaching two weekly Bible studies and serving as an elder of the Village Church.
