Raised in Florida, Wilde moved to Illinois in 1971, were he attended Trinity College in Deerfield, receiving his A.A. degree. From there he went on to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, and received his B.A. degree in Pastoral Training and Greek.From 1975-1978 Wilde served as associate pastor at Irving Park Free Methodist Church in Chicago, then from 1978-1985 as senior pastor of St. Charles Free Methodist Church in St. Charles. During that time Wilde also attended graduate school at Wheaton College in Wheaton, taking courses in educational ministry, then got his M.Div. degree from Bethany Theological Seminary.

In 1986 Wilde wrote a short series of biblical commentaries, thus starting his career as a writer. By 1988 Wilde had become an instructor in the Religion/Humanities Department at Elgin Community College, a position he held until 1991. He also became the Books and Curriculum Editor for the David C. Cook Publishing Company in Elgin. In 1990 he developed his own company, Wilde Creative Services, and began contracting himself out as an author/editor. Between 1990 and 2005, working as a freelancer Wilde wrote, collaborated, and edited books, articles, and education materials for different Christian publishers. He is the creator of the Bible Wisdom series, the Encouragers for Men series for Victor Books and author-compiler of the 15 books in the Promises to Treasure series for Broadman & Holman.

By 1988 Wilde had left the Free Methodist Church, and started attending church in the Episcopal Diocese of Chicago. In late 1997 Wilde moved back to the Orlando suburb of Oviedo, and began going to the Cathedral Church of St. Luke. There he held various positions, including working with men's ministry, and the cathedral's Dean's Hour study groups.

From 2005-2006 Wilde attended Nashotah House Seminary, taking their Anglican Studies Program in preparation for the diaconate. On May 27, 2006 Wilde was ordained a transitional deacon in the Episcopal Diocese of Central Florida. In June he accepted a position as vicar of St. John's Episcopal Church, Moultrie, Georgia, in the Episcopal Diocese of Georgia. On December 13, 2006 Wilde was ordained a priest by the Rt. Rev. Henry Loutitt, and was installed as rector at St. John's.

Wilde is an Anglo-Catholic priest, and is inspired by John Mason Neale.

Since 1973 Wilde has been married to Carol McLean Wilde, and together they have several children.