One Man’s Prayer for Laborers Answered
By Sarah Dixon Young
Wilbert Robertson became a believer while stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. After that, he knew he was called to share the Gospel with his family and friends on the Dakota Reservations of North and South Dakota.
Many recently gathered at his memorial service on the Spirit Lake Reservation in North Dakota to celebrate his service for the Lord and his passion for drawing others in as co-laborers.
“I remember a time when Pastor Wilbert said a prayer calling for the Lord to provide laborers, especially native leaders,” relative Rob Greywater shared at Pastor’s Robertson’s memorial service in May, “and I have been a witness to God answering that prayer. We have so many people who are answers to the prayer he made.”
Robertson knew about the need for Gospel witnesses on the reservation because of his own story. Ron, one of Robertson’s nephews, shared that Wilbert was not a saint during his early years. From practical jokes to months of binge drinking, Robertson drifted through life aimlessly.
Robertson’s niece Myra told the story about how Robertson’s mother, Mabel, was the first to become a Christian in the family. Mabel Robertson had purchased a painting of Jesus and hung it on the wall. One day, two single women missionaries were going door to door sharing the Gospel. They asked Mabel about the painting and then shared the Truth from scripture about who Jesus was. Mabel hadn’t known Jesus before that day, but she was changed from then on. She began to teach her seven children, including Wilbert, about Jesus and the Bible. This legacy saved his life while overseas, showed him the way to eternal life, and opened the door for him to lead others to Christ.
While in the military, Robertson continued in the downward spiral of alcoholism and despair, which led him to contemplate suicide. He went to the chapel to pray and suddenly remembered John 3:16. He had learned it from his mother. The Lord changed the trajectory of his life from that moment.
He became a missionary pastor, working among lepers in Cambodia and then returned to the United States to pastor a church on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Eventually, he planted First Baptist of Sisseton and, later, Bethany Baptist on the Lake Traverse Reservation. After one of his brothers passed away unexpectedly, Robertson moved to Ft. Totten, ND to plant Dakota Baptist Church on the Spirit Lake Reservation to reach his many nieces, nephews, and other relatives who needed the Good News.
Not only did he have a passion for reaching his people with the Gospel, he trained others to do the same. At his memorial service, many people shared about Pastor Robertson’s role in leading them to be laborers for the Lord Jesus.
His nephew Jerry Robertson, who serves as a deacon at Dakota Baptist Church in Ft. Totten, ND, shared about how his uncle spent time with him hunting and fishing.
“He always talked to me while we drove around hunting. I will miss him, but one day, I will be where he is,” Jerry Robertson shared, “A lot of people became Christians because of Wilbert, and I am one of them.”
Dr. Fred MacDonald, who currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dakota Baptist Convention, shared, “There are many ways you can measure the legacy of a man. For a preacher of the Gospel, it can be the men who come after him. This room is full of those who are in the ministry because of Pastor Wilbert’s influence. He gave me opportunities to preach when I was in college, and I am where I am today, doing what I’m doing today, in large part because of the work of Pastor Wilbert and his wife Judy in my life.”
Pastor Lon Cockerill read Hebrews 13:7-8, “Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the Word of God. Consider the outcome of their way of life, and imitate their faith. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” He shared about how Pastor Robertson mentored him and licensed him to preach the Gospel at Dakota Baptist. Cockerill also served the Lord at Temple Baptist in Fargo, through chaplaincy at the VA, and also as a missionary to a SE Asian people group.
“Wilbert’s heart for missions, for his native people, and for people all over the world inspired me to go and share the Gospel,” Cockerill said.
In addition to his missions and church work, Pastor Robertson teamed up with Pastor David Boyd of Brockton, MT to begin First Nations Baptist Fellowship (FNBF). Their goal was to disciple indigenous leaders who would continue to share the Gospel on reservations across the United States and Canada. Today, there are eleven participating churches in FNBF that still host family and youth camps, evangelism and leadership conferences, and carry on the work begun by Pastor Robertson.
Pastor Steve Osage, from Oklahoma, joined the work of FNBF and shared about his call to serve the Lord in the Dakotas: “Wilbert became my mentor from the first day I met him. When he shared his passion and sorrow over needing more laborers to reach our native people, I knew I was being called to share the Gospel in the Dakotas. When you step out in faith like Wilbert stepped out, the Lord shows up and does the impossible.”
Rob Greywater grew up in Ft. Totten and currently serves as a deacon at Dakota Baptist Church. “There were very few people in my life who knew Jesus. I knew there was something different about Pastor Wilbert even from when I was very young. He made much of Jesus.” Greywater pointed out that the seeds Robertson planted are still bearing fruit on the Spirit Lake Reservation today.
From Sunday Schools to Youth Camps, Pastor Wilbert and his wife Judy reached out to the children and teens on the reservation. In Ft. Totten, over half of the population is 18 years old or younger. This made reaching children with the Gospel an important part of ministry. Judy Robertson shared about a time when she and Pastor Robertson set up a tent by themselves so that they could do an outreach event.
“We always went everywhere together after he got out of the Air Force,” she said, “and He always followed wherever the Lord led.”
The current pastor of Dakota Baptist Church, Paul Young, shared about coming to Ft. Totten on mission trips as a teenager and being inspired by Pastor Wilbert’s ministry and passion. When Robertson retired from ministry in Ft. Totten in 2006, Young moved from South Florida to carry on the work. “Pastor Wilbert’s testimony encourages us to be ready for Jesus’ return,” Young said, “The last time I heard him preach, he spoke from 1 Thessalonians 4. He encouraged us not to grieve as those who have no hope but to be waiting and ready for Jesus’ return.”
Wilbert and Judy Robertson were married 58 years, and after Pastor Robertson was moved to a nursing home, they spent a lot of time praying together over the phone. Due to coronavirus, visits were limited, and Pastor Robertson became lonely. “But he is dancing up and down with the Lord in heaven now,” Judy shared, “He would be so joyful to see you all carrying on the work of sharing the Gospel.”
Today, through the work of First Nations Baptist Fellowship, individual believers, and the churches he planted, Robertson’s vision of the spread of the Gospel through indigenous leaders continues, and the hope of Jesus Christ shines brightly throughout the Dakotas and the world.
Sarah Dixon Young serves with her husband Pastor Paul Young at the Dakota Baptist Church in Fort Totten, ND. Sarah is also the author of several books designed to help strengthen women in their walk with Christ.
