In 2009, Fred
Winters, Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Maryville, Illinois, was shot
& killed during a Sunday morning service by a disturbed young man.
The tragedy shocked
the church & the pastor’s family, but it did not destroy their faith. The
next week the newly-widowed Cindy Winters was interviewed on a national news
broadcast.
When asked about her
husband’s killer, she said, “I do not have any hatred or even hard feelings
toward him. We have been praying for him. One of the first things that my
daughter said to me after this happened was, ‘You know, I hope that he comes to
learn to love Jesus through all of this.’ We are not angry at all, & we
really firmly believe that he can find hope & forgiveness & peace
through this, by coming to know Jesus. And we hope that that happens for him.”
Source: cbsnews.com,
March 16, 2009 (ministry127.com)
Jesus said:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your friends, and hate your
enemies.' But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who
persecute you, so that you may become the children of your Father in heaven…..
Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you?.... " (Mat
5:43–46).
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