my prayers go out to the family, friends and congregation in which this man of God lead… let’s not make this a should of- would of… issue… truly we as believers and fellow laborers do go in mourning with our fellow brother beloved… (we never know when our dismise would come)

in concurrence with Todd, I like to say like my old seminary teacher in homilitics always stated at the end of each class, “preach every message as though it’s your last...”

To the wife and children of Pastor Winters, keep your heads up and keep your faith in God… your husband and father is present with The Lord… He has finished his race...now is laid up for him a crown…

Todd - Thank yo so much for approaching this story from a personal standpoint. I agree, save the security talk for another day. Let’s pray for this family and congregation. Also a good reminder that today may be our last… will we allow this to impact how we live it?

Very thought provoking and sobering.  Thank you for your commentary.

“We do not know what will come. But we know who will come. And if the last hour belongs to us, we do not need to fear the next minute.” (Helmut Thielicke, on the comforting hope of Christ’s second coming.)

Let us hear apostle Paul attentively: “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.” (1Tess. 4:13-18)

May this message comfort Fred’s wife and daughters, and we all.

Don’t forget that this tragedy is not the last word about Fred. The last word about him will be pronounced by God?: “Fred, come out!”

Great article, Todd.  I agree… we do need to have these convos about security but maybe not today.  This is so tragic. Very sobering for the church. My prayers are with the people of Maryville, ILL.

Some ten years ago I heard Fred tell the story of the transition of FBC Maryville from what it was to what it was becoming. As I left the meeting I thought here is a man who never took credit for the transition. He gave the credit to God and to the good people of FBC.

I use the story of FBC’s transition when I
teach on what God is capable of if his people will just ask what do we need to do now?

Todd - thank you for giving us some real perspective and chance to reflect personally about this tragedy.  Ministry is such a privilege, and godly men like Fred Winters knew that.  May we never fail to realize that each day may be our last, and that the opportunity for us to be Jesus to others is alway right in front of us. 

Like Joseph’s brothers who caused him great harm we are reminded to trust in the power of God. “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."Genesis 50:20 (NIV) May that be the case in the surrounding communities of this fellowship in the days ahead.

The prayers of our church here in Colorado are with the Winter’s family and surrounding this dear congregation - especially right now.

Dear family and friends of First Baptist Church Maryville; may God richly bless and comfort you during this tragic time in your lives. 

When I first heard the news, I felt shock and disbelief but that quickly changed to sad resignation when I learned of all that Pastor Winters had accomplished during his tenure at First Baptist Church.  Let me explain, who more than Satan wanted to see Pastor Winters stopped dead in his tracks? 

Pastor Winters and his leadership team at First Baptist Church have spent the last twenty years bucking the trend that now indicates that of the 350 to 400,000 churches in America, 75-90% are now plateaued or in a state of decline; while another 3000 per year are closing their doors permanently; but not so in Maryville, Illinois; in a community of only 7000 people Pastor Winter’s did what I’m sure hundred; maybe even thousands said couldn’t be done: “He lead a traditional well established church through a transformational process that can only be described as a gift from God Himself.” Think about: “When was the last time you saw or heard of a community with a population of only 7000 boast that 1200 per Sunday regularly attended church?”

Pastor Winters and his leadership team have done what every pastor needs to do; we need to do everything in our power to keep “The Great Commission” “Great” and restore the place of the “Ten Commandments” in our lives; if we will commit ourselves to this task then Pastor Winters will not have died in vain.

I have never thought of either having the policy that “John” recommends or telling the congregation about it.  I think that that is very wise.  Thanks Todd for the reflection and thanks “John” for you input.

My prayers also go out to the family and congregation. I would like to acknowledge on this public forum that I was wrong when I minimized church security on various blogs and sermons.  Please disregard my past advice.  Thanks and God bless you.

Arkansas just failed to pass a concealed weapons law for churches. Maybe they need to reconsider. Lets all remember this family in our prayers. It might do good for us to pray the 91st Psalm over ourselves before to stand to preach.

I just want to express my sadness.  I have been confronted by a person with “issues” and delusions from the past in church.  I delicately stepped around doing anything that would cause the man to react violently.  He was probably bi-polar but a lot of other things, too.  I believe demons search for weak souls to use as weapons against the churches.  There have been many in my 27 years in Fort Worth and another in Waxahachie.  I am thankful for the Devine Protection and now feel guilty that this pastor took the bullet for so many others.  There may be more to come, brethren!  Are we ready?  Thank God for the great work this man did.  For the many souls he influenced where he was.  Now, we must be more determined than ever to fight in the face of the enemy.  Our prayers are spoken for the family and for the congregation and community.

Dear Fellow Followers of Christ: As I turned on FOX News on Sunday morning I was met with the tragic story of the murder of Pastor Fred Winters while he stood in front of his congregation to deliver the word of God’s salvation....  the “preparedness plan” that He put in place before time began to redeem the human race from the “homeland security breach” called sin. 

God is the original emergency preparedness planner.  He made Noah for the flood, Joseph for famine, Moses for evacuation and Christ for redemption. 

Today, the world faces the threat of terrorism.  However, terrorism has been waged against the Kingdom of God by Satan since before recorded time.  The memory of Pastor Winters should not be allowed to fade away.  His family and his faith must be remebered in our prayers… AND in our actions.  If ‘we’ as a people of faith had seriously discussed and acted on security concerns “yesterday” would we continue to mourn those who are lost in tragic events like this today or tomorrow?

Many of you quoted scripture to comfort and reassure. I share that “Unless a seed fall into the earth and die, it bears no fruit.” As we remember and mourn our fallen brother, can we also contemplate that this “seed” did not die in vain and can be the one that brings security concerns to the forefront? Could this be God guiding His followers to prepare for greater personal threat in more dangerous times ahead as was face a national crisis? 

I noticed that one of the posts was by Sharon Prather in Silver Spring where a lady was shot to death by her husband while county police were inside nearby.  This occurred in Montgomery County, MD where I live.  Several weeks prior on Sunday, at another Montgomery County church a teen driver attempted to run down a police officer.  The officer opened fire at the vehicle. 

I am former military.  I also served ten years in law enforcement during which time I experienced the loss of officers in the line-of duty.  As an officer, I responded to crimes against churches and assaults on church staff.  I also live in the Washington, DC area and experienced 9/11 and the DC sniper killing-spree.  Many people do not know that during the killing-spree, the teenage shooter, Malvo, knew what he was doing was wrong and called a church in Virginia to speak to a pastor but only got the answering machine. 

Our congregations can become involed directly as victims of an incident or drawn in by someone seeking to stop terrorizing a community. 

It is not about paranoia.  It is about preparedness.  God prepared Christ for salvation. God prepared a manger (shelter) for Christ’s birth. God sent John the Baptist ahead to prepare the people for Christ and God gave us brave men of courage and conviction like Pastor Winters who assumed the risk of sharing the Gospel and not wanting to be greater than others, gave himself freely even unto death. 

In the end, those that elect not to put off the discussion of the security of those they shepherd can gain strength and encouragement from the example of Gideon when he narrowed down his select to those who chose to scoop up the water and and drink while they kept moving forward and focused on the mission of great importance. 

Our places of worship must not become armed fortresses.  But we can reach more and be more effective if we can assure their eternal security beyond the grave and their personal security before it. The mindset that “because it happened there it won’t happen here” must be reconsidered to “because it happened there, it can happen anytime, anywhere or here.” Just recall the two incidents at the Crystal Cathedral, the church in Tennessee or the Amish school in PA or Goole “church, assaults, burnings, shootings, stabbings, poisioning” to see what the Lord would have you to do. We can forgive the shooter, but let’s not forget to have this serious conversation and act.  Is there a leader of a congregation willing to host this forum in the name of Pastor Winters? 

Lord, thank you for showing your likeness in the presence of Fred Winters.  His leadership legacy follows in your footprints as his congregation forgives and prays for the one who did him harm.