Special Blog

Gentlemen,

By now you have heard about the shooting that took place just outside of St. Louis in Maryville, IL at First Baptist Church. This really hits home with it being only a little over 100 miles from where I pastor. I ask that this week we keep this church and Pastor Winters' family in our prayers.

Pastor Winters was gunned down while in the pulpit this morning just after 8am in front of his 8am service congregation. He has Pastored this church for more than 22 years bringing it from 32 people to over 1200 in attendance. As i sent out the blog this morning to you concerning my overwhelming urge to pray for you, I did not know the magnitude of the need for that prayer. We never know why God speaks certain things to us and to what degree that the prayer could be needed.

I ask you to set aside some special time this week to pray for this church and Pastor's family. A man that is now enjoying his eternal home in heaven but leaving behind questions of why and a family to suffer the blow of the cost of ministry. A church to ask themselves how could this happen here. We lift them up in our prayers.