Thom Rainer, president of LifeWay Christian Resources, presented the inaugural Holman Christian Standard Bible Award to Frederick Winters, the late pastor of First Baptist Church, Maryville, Ill., during the agency’s report to the Southern Baptist Convention on June 23.
The new award, which celebrates LifeWay’s most recent Bible translation, recognizes “a man or woman who has demonstrated a level of commitment to preaching or teaching the Word of God,” Rainer said.
Winters, pastor of the Maryville congregation for nearly 22 years, was killed March 8 when a gunman entered his church’s worship center and shot him while he was preaching. The church grew from a few dozen members to thousands under his leadership.
Following a video presentation about Winters’ ministry, his widow, Cindy, and two daughters, Alysia and Cassidy, accepted the award on his behalf. Calling the award “a fitting recognition” for her husband, Cindy Winters said the award “in so many ways encapsulates his life and the legacy he leaves behind.”
In his remarks that followed the award presentation, Rainer told messengers about his high school football coach in Union Springs, Ala., who some 40 years ago called Rainer into his office one day to share the gospel with him.
Citing such passages as Romans 3:23 and John 14:6 and 3:16, Rainer said the Holman Christian Standard Bible is faithful to the oldest manuscripts as well as clear and readable.
“We are convinced that as the more faithful reader of the Word begins to read this translation and understands how truly faithful it is to the manuscript, the more he or she will love it.” (Editor’s Network)
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