These are photos of the walls outside our sanctuary that we are calling our Healing Walls.
They are full of cards, letters, posters, etc. from people who have written to let us know
they are praying for us. There is also a section of the wall that was made available for our
church members to express their feelings.
Praising God Through the Storm
While our recent losses have been devastating and unthinkable, many awesome, amazing things
have also taken place. The total God-sized impact of recent events will not be fully known
this side of Heaven, but here are just a couple of wonderful things we can praise our Father for:
Over 2,500 people came to hear Don Piper, author of “90 Minutes in Heaven” speak.
This event was arranged by Pastor Fred two years ago. (More on Don Piper)
Between March 8 and May 17, average attendance for Sunday Morning Worship has grew by about 16% or
210 people, Sunday School attendance by about 8% or 80 people, and Sunday Evening attendance by 147% or
230 people!
Twenty-six people were baptized and 54 people joined the church between March 8 and May 17.
We have received thousands of cards, letters, posters, e-mails, etc. from people of all
denominations to express their sympathies and to remind us that they are lifting us up
in prayer. We have also received donations from individuals and other churches. (link to Healing Wall photo page)
We have seen a 13% increase in faithful tithing as well as an increase of 49% of sacrificial giving to
the building fund for an overall increase of about 19% in total giving.
If you wish to contribute to the Winters Family Memorial Fund, please contact Scott Credit Union
in Collinsville, IL - 1100 Beltline Rd., Collinsville, IL 62234 - Phone: (618) 345-1000 .
To donate to the FBCM Building Fund, please call (618) 667-8221 or donate online now using our
online giving page at fbmaryville.org/giving. You will be asked to register, whether a member
or not, for credit card processing purposes. After you complete registration, simply sign on
with your new username and password, and you will be redirected to the online giving page.
Please designate your gift to the “Building Fund”.
A Message About Our Loss
On Sunday, March 8, 2009, a little after our 8:15 service began, a man entered First Baptist
Church and fired several gunshots at our Senior Pastor, Dr. Fred Winters.
Pastor Winters was taken to the hospital but died of his wounds.
Please pray for Dr. Winter’s family, our two brave members who were injured
when they stopped the assailant, for the assailant himself and his family, and
for our church members as they deal with this tragic loss.
In this day, where uncertainty seems to abound creating an environment in
which people are vulnerable in doing things they might not do otherwise, one
thing is certain, we, as human beings need a foundation upon which we can live
our lives. We at First Baptist Maryville, along with other Christian believers,
share this conviction: that foundation is God’s Word. In the pages of the Book
we call the Bible, we find the pathway for peace, hope, and a quality of living life
despite what circumstances we find ourselves in.
To those who believe in the power of prayer, we covet your prayers right now.
