The Window Volume 70, Issue 9 September 2018 w w w.w i n b a p . o rg Check out our Facebook page and download the Winstanley app for more information on services, events, and opportunities to serve. Sign up for events & Sunday bulletins by texting “WINBAP” to 22828
Winstanley Baptist Church 9471 W. Hwy. 161 Fairview Heights, IL 62208 618-397-2010 July Financial Report Checkbook Bal. $89,400.06 Receipts $41,431.06 Expenditures $27,240.23 Ending Bal. $103,590.89
Search Committee Jim Bryant, Chairman Paul Flahan Ian Harrier Sally Horstmann Laura Osborn Dave Rochleau Linda Spradling Rick Haverman, alt.
Welcome New Member! Mike Brown 7709 N. Illinois Caseyville, IL 62232
Winstanley Family, On Sunday, September 9, we will celebrate our 111th anniversary as a church. That is a great time for remembering our heritage and thanking God for all the faithful servants who dedicated themselves to be used by God to build His church. What little I have been able to learn of Winstanley’s history is an amazing story of God’s grace. But an anniversary Sunday like this is not only a time to remember our heritage, it is a time to celebrate what God is doing in our midst today and recommit ourselves to being as faithful and active in this generation as we were in previous days. As we think about our present and future, you might want to ponder some vital questions: Are there more lost and unchurched people within a 15-mile radius of Winstanley than there were 20 years ago? Do we have more resources for reaching a lost world than were available 30 years ago? Are we as passionate about sharing the gospel with the lost as previous generations of Winstanley people were? Are we willing to sacrifice time, resources, talents and comfort to reach the lost and unchurched around us? Winstanley has a great history and has done some wonderful things in the past 111 years. We can be proud of what has been accomplished. As I have mentioned several times, Twila and I honestly feel there is a unique spirit at Winstanley Baptist Church. There is a love, unity, sense of encouragement and faithfulness among you that is special. But how successful are we in communicating this to our community? Winstanley is celebrating 111 years of ministering to the community. But the question still remains: If for some reason Winstanley Baptist Church would cease to exist tomorrow, how long would it take for our community to notice? Winstanley Baptist Church has a great heritage, a wonderful present and I believe it has an outstanding future. Will we recommit ourselves to truly “being the church”? Will we recommit ourselves to being a church of irresistible influence in our community? Will we do whatever it takes to share the love, forgiveness and grace of God with our lost and unchurched neighbors? Blessings, Pastor Derald
As a former high school teacher, I remember gathering with faculty members at the end of each school year for a time of recognition. Teachers were celebrated for their years of faithful service in increments of five years, reaching as high as 30 or more. I was amazed to discover how long some of the teachers had been teaching in the same school. As a church, it is appropriate that we take time to pause and reflect on the faithful service of our Sunday school teachers. They take the time each week to study and prepare Bible lessons in order that we would learn God’s Word and grow in our faith. Our teachers show excellent stewardship as they utilize their gift for our edification and God’s glory. As we head into a new year of Sunday school, we ought to acknowledge Jim Bryant for his faithful service as a teacher at Winstanley for the past 18 years. I trust that his teaching has had an enormous impact on the spiritual lives of those under his instruction. May we all be found faithful in using the gifts God has given us as we seek to glorify Him. Fielding