You are urged to click on https://youtu.be/AfUBY11DXHY. Any of us, right now, can see and hear the late Pastor Fred Winters’ five-minute video, “Why do we Exist?” He shares this important and warm message from the couch in his office, the large picture of his bride Cindy on the end table on his left.
You should be “moved” by seeing it. It is like Fred is personally talking to each of us!
Shortly thereafter Fred Winters would be in heaven! Because the Bible promises that for those who have received Jesus Christ in repentance and faith, “… we … prefer rather to be absent in the flesh and to be present with the Lord.” (II Corinthians 5:8)
In 2009 a demented gunman walked down the church aisle while Pastor Fred Winters was preaching in their Sunday Morning early service … and shot him dead! It made world-wide news.
The properties of the church he led, First Baptist of Maryville, IL, are located ½ hour northeast of the St. Louis, MO Arch.
Joan and I were having our first and only Mexican vacation and were on the 10th floor of a Cancun Hotel. The news came on the television of an Illinois pastor who was murdered in his pulpit on a Sunday Morning. I nearly “fell over” when a family picture appeared on the television of Fred Winters, his terrific wife Cindy, and their two daughters! I had just seen him at the 2009 “Rock the River” ministry event under the St. Louis Arch of which he was a part. It was aimed at young people, was attended by tens of thousands, and led by Franklin Graham, the son of the late Evangelist Billy Graham.
A few years earlier, Pastor Winters announced that a choir of Zambian children was to visit their church in concert, and volunteers were needed to house them overnight. Bob and Judi Bertels were among the volunteers.
That church visit from the Zambian Choir visit was the “spark” that began the great ministry, African Vision of Hope (See www.africanvisionofhope.com). It is a powerful story of God can do when we listening to Him and obey.
Still impacting me today, Jesus said, “He who has my commandments and keeps them is the one that loves Me; and the one who loves me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself to him.” (John 14:21 … a verse I memorized in the Navigator Scripture Memory System 65 years ago!) (See www.navigators.org)
Below are earlier links to recordings on similar subjects …
To hear … “Judi Bertels, co-founder of ‘African Vision of Hope,’ provides more inspiration and insights into the great ministry that cares for, protects, and educates 3,140 Zambian children in Zambia, Africa” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/11/01/judi-bertels-co-founder-of-african-vision-of-hope-provides-more-inspiration-and-insights-into-the-great-ministry-that-cares-for-protects-and-educates-3140-zambian-children-in-za/
To hear … “Widow Cindy Winters and FBC Maryville, IL, present a 10th anniversary memorial service for husband, Pastor Fred Winters, martyred in his Sun AM pulpit” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/03/07/widow-cindy-winters-re-fbc-maryville-il-10th-anniversary-memorial-service-for-husband-murdered-martyred-pastor-fred-winters-in-his-sun-am-pulpit/
To hear … “Bob & Judi Bertels of STL area founded ‘African Vision of Hope,’ caring daily for 3,140 precious Zambian children! Bob and Zambian ‘Haward of the jungle’ tell a remarkable story, invite us to AVH’s ‘GALA!’” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/10/24/bob-judi-bertels-of-stl-area-founded-african-vision-of-hope-caring-daily-for-3140-precious-zambian-children-bob-and-zambian-haward-of-the-jungle-tell-a-remark/
To hear … “Cindy Winters: regarding pastor husband shot dead while preaching; Cindy talks about it, has written a book” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2013/03/08/cindy-winters-re-pastor-husband-shot-dead-while-preaching-cindy-talks-about-it-has-written-a-book/
To hear … “AVH Pastor Kennedy Hakobwa and Bob Bertels caring, protecting, feeding 3,000 Zambian Children daily” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2019/01/02/avh-pastor-kennedy-hakobwa-and-bob-bertels-caring-protecting-feeding-3000-zambian-children-daily/
To hear … “Pastor Fred Winters murdered in his pulpit. Widow Cindy Winters talks about it.” … click on … https://harold-hendrick.com/2009/03/26/winters-cindy/