Finding Freedom in Panama: The True Account of the Experiences of an American Pastor in the Prisons of Panama

Wilbur, William E.

ISBN 10: 1883928346 / ISBN 13: 9781883928346

Published by Longwood Communications, 2000

About this Item

pp.144 clean tight copy Size: 12mo - over 6¾" - 7¾" tall.

Seller Inventory # 015397

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Finding Freedom in Panama: The True Account of the Experiences of an American Pastor in the Prisons of Panama
• Publisher: Longwood Communications
• Publication Date: 2000
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1883928346
• ISBN 13: 9781883928346
• Binding: Soft cover
• Condition: Fine
• Signed: Signed by Author(s)
• Seller catalogs:
  • RELIGION
  • MEMOIR

About this title

Synopsis

FINDING FREEDOM IN PANAMA is the true account of the experiences of an American pastor in the prisons of Panama. William (Bill) Wilbur left the familiar surroundings of a small town in upstate New York to take his wife and five year old twins to pastor an English speaking congregation right on the Panama Canal. He was soon invited to start visiting the prisoners in the nearby Canal Zone Penitentiary which brought him face to face with many old and some new fears. This caused him to face a barrier in his life and ministry, that once it was crossed led to amazing experiences in the prisons, to see God make something good come out of something bad. This book is set in the era of tough times under dictator General Manuel Noriega and the invasion by the U.S. troops on December 20, 1989.

About the Author

William E. Wilbur was born June 6, 1941 in Lakeland, Florida where his father was an instructor pilot during WWII. After the war in 1945, his family moved to the small town of Dolgeville in the Adirondack mountains of New York State. After graduation from High School, he attended the University of Rochester for one year, and then enlisted in the U.S. Navy where he received a medical discharge after one year. He returned to the academic world and graduated with a BA in Physics from Utica College of Syracuse University in 1965. Wilbur went on to further training at the Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Philadelphia where he met Ann Hammonds. They were married shortly after graduation in 1968 and he was licensed by the Presbytery of Philadephia.

For two years, the young couple worked with college students in Eastern New York State on staff with the Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship. Their twins, David and Becky were born in June 1970 so Wilbur became the temporary pastor of a small church in Westerlo, N.Y just outside of Albany. This turned out to be a permanent situation and thus he was ordained in the Reformed Church in America in 1971.

Bill and Ann always had a concern for world missions and in January of 1976 left the cold of the north to move to the beautiful tropical town of Gamboa right next to the Panama Canal. There he became the pastor of the Gamboa Union Church, an English speaking congregation, where he continues to this present time.

In 1996, Wilbur earned the Doctor of Ministry degree, doing his thesis on coping with transition in light of the Panama Canal treaty.