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 Church, Maryville (Ill.), along with other Christian believers, share this conviction — that foundation is God’s Word,” a statement on the church’s Web site reads. “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.”
And it is in this hope that First, Maryville, stands after the March 8 murder of Pastor Fred Winters, 45, as he preached at the early morning service.
News reports confirm that Terry Joe Sedlacek, 27, of Troy, Ill., entered the St. Louis-area church Sunday morning and opened fire, shooting Winters in the chest before his gun jammed. Sedlacek drew a knife and injured himself and two church members as they wrestled him to the ground.
Sedlacek, who was hospitalized for knife wounds, was charged with first-degree murder and aggravated battery.
It is through faith in Christ and the example set by Winters that the members of First, Maryville, continue to move forward, said Larry Barnes, director of missions for Fayette Baptist Association (Ala.) and father-in-law of First, Maryville, Children’s Minister Rich Cochran.
Barnes, who spent time with the Cochrans in the Maryville area following the tragedy, said grief counselors and others have been present to speak with members of First, Maryville, and its staff during their time of recovery.
One of those present was Al Meredith, pastor of Wedgewood Baptist Church, Fort Worth, Texas, whose church experienced a gunman tragedy more than 10 years ago.
“The people there have been a good witness for Christ,” Barnes said. “They have been ministering to the family of the shooter … as they come to grips with what their son has done, and they have been witnessing to media people who are there. … But mostly, they have been faithful in their Christian professions of faith and ministry to one another.”
And there has been a great outpouring from the community, he added, from churches, municipalities and neighboring residents.
In addition, church members have been active in practicing New Testament “one another ministries” — comfort one another, encourage one another, care for one another and pray for one anther, Barnes said.
“I think they are just trying to be faithful in a very tough time, and I think that is an example they learned from Brother Fred — to be faithful and use the opportunities God gives them,” he said.
A native of Kansas City, Mo., Winters served as pastor of First, Maryville, for 22 years, helping grow the church from its 30 members in 1987 to its now more than 1,200.
Holding degrees from Southwest Baptist University in Bolivar, Mo.; Wheaton Graduate School in Illinois; Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, Mo.; and Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky., Winters served as a president of the Illinois Baptist State Association in 2006 and 2007 and served on the Southern Baptist Convention Committee on Committees in 2004. Presently he was serving as adjunct professor and national alumni president at Midwestern Seminary.
He is survived by his wife of 21 years, Cindy, and daughters Alysia, 14, and Cassidy, 12. (TAB, BP, ABP)
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