Bill Winston

Bill Winston
Born William Samuel Winston [1]
(1943-05-06) May 6, 1943[1]
Tuskeegee, Alabama, U.S.
Residence Westchester, Illinois, U.S.
Nationality United States
Occupation Televanglist, Preacher, Visionary leader and business entrepreneur
Spouse(s) Veronica Irene Brown, 1983-present
Children 3, Melody, Allegra and David, with Brown
Website http://www.billwinston.org

William Samuel Winston [1](also known as Dr. Bill Winston or Bill Winston; born May 6, 1943) is an American televanglist, preacher, author, visionary leader and business entrepreneur. He is the founder and Senior Pastor of Living Word Christian Center, a non-denominational church located in Forest Park, Illinois with over 22,000 members.[2][3] His teachings, writings, weekly television and radio outreach are circulated through his ministry outreach, Bill Winston Ministries (BWM)[2][4] and are aired around the world via his broadcast program Believer’s Walk of Faith (BWOF). His sermons are also aired on several radio networks within the United States.[5]

Early life

Bill Winston was born and raised in Tuskegee, Alabama. Winston says he was inspired by the Tuskegee airmen and other aviators in the area, who affected him.[6]

Family life

Bill Winston met his future wife, Veronica Irene Brown, while working at IBM Corporation. They were married in 1983[3] and Veronica Winston is now the first lady of Living Word Christian Center. She is also a teacher, preacher, intercessor and author. The Winstons are the parents of three children: Melody, Allegra and David; and the grandparents of eight.[4]

Education and career

Bill Winston graduated from Tuskegee Institute (now Tuskegee University) in Tuskegee, Alabama in 1967. He is a recognized “Distinguished Alumni of Tuskegee University” awardee.[7]

Growing up, Winston was inspired by Tuskegee airmen and their historic aviation accomplishments. These airmen served as his role models and later influenced his six-year career in the United States Air Force.[6][8] After graduating from Tuskegee University, Winston joined the United States Air Force and served as a fighter pilot in Vietnam. In March 1971 he piloted an F-4E Phantom that struck anti-aircraft batteries deep within North Vietnamese territory. The mission won him the Distinguished Flying Cross.[3]

In January 1973, Winston joined the IBM Corporation as a Marketer. His outstanding leadership skills and high performance paved the way for his success and swift advancement within the organization, rising to the level of Regional Marketing Manager in IBM’s Midwest Region. It was during his time at IBM that Winston became spiritually "born again" and felt called by God into full-time ministry. He resigned from IBM in 1985 to fulfill this divine call and direction.[3] He attended Logos Bible School and in 1996 briefly attended Oral Roberts University.[3]

In 2006, Friends International Christian University in Florida awarded Bill Winston an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters in acknowledgment of his teachings.[3][5][9][10]

History of Living Word Christian Center

In 1988 (while residing in Minneapolis, Minnesota), Bill Winston and his wife started the ministry on a very small scale. They traveled to Chicago from their residence in Minnesota as they organized two-day Faith Crusades every weekend with an attendance of less than 20 people. By December 1988, Winston moved to Chicago with his young family by the direction of God with only $200 to continue his calling.[4][11] Living Word Christian Center started out with the name “Living Word Church”. It began as a Bible training school, with services held at the Quality Inn Hotel at Madison and Halsted Streets in Chicago, Illinois. In 1989 the name of the church was changed to “Living Word Church of Chicago.” In 1990 it took on its present name, “Living Word Christian Center”.

From 1994 through 1997, the church rented space for services at the Chez Roué Banquet Hall in Forest Park, Illinois. Then as the ministry grew the Forest Park Mall, a 33-acre shopping mall, was purchased and the church held its first worship service at the mall on New Year’s Eve of 1997. Since then, the church and its worship facility has expanded into a multimillion-dollar, state-of-the-art worship center.[4] The church’s auditorium is notable for its forward architectural design.[12]

Book Publishing

Bill Winston has written, authored, and self-published over 15 motivational Christian and Business books (such as Transform Your Thinking, Transform Your Life, Law of Confession, Power of the Tongue, Divine Favor amongst others), mini-books and multimedia resources.[13][14] Three of his books have been published by Christian book publisher and distributor, Harrison House.[15]

Awards and Recognitions

Bill Winston has received the following awards and recognitions:

  • Recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross Award by the United States Air Force for his exceptional success in aerial flight while serving as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.[9][16]
  • Recipient of the Air Medal Award by the United States Air Force for performance in combat, and the Squadron Top Gun Award while serving as a fighter pilot in the United States Air Force.[8][16]
  • Recognized as a Distinguished Alumni of Tuskegee University.[7]
  • Recipient of the Chicago Tuskegee Club, Incorporated Heritage Award by Tuskegee University.[17][18]
  • Recipient of an award from the Chicago DoDo chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.[17]
  • Recipient of an Honorary Doctorate degree in Humane Letters from Friends International Christian University, Florida.[3][5][9][10]

Achievements

Bill Winston has achieved the following:

  • He is the founder of the Joseph Business School (JBS) and The Joseph Center®, a nationally accredited campus and online business school located in Forest Park, Illinois with partnership locations across the U.S. and internationally which specialize in business development for entrepreneurs and business leaders.[19][20][21]
  • Living Word Christian Center, pastored by Bill Winston, owns the Forest Park Plaza, a 33-acre outdoor shopping mall located in Forest Park, Illinois.[12][22]
  • Living Word Christian Center, pastored by Bill Winston owns Washington Plaza, a 13-acre shopping plaza located in Tuskegee, Alabama.[12][23]
  • Bill Winston and the Living Word Christian Center church choir received an award nomination at the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Award for their first church music album project titled "Bill Winston Presents Living Word: Released" in the category of Traditional Choir of the Year.[24][25][26]

Affiliated Ministries

  • Bill Winston Ministries (BWM): Bill Winston is the founder of BWM, a global partnership-based ministry with its headquarters in the United States and offices in South Africa.[2][4]
  • Living Word Christian Center (LWCC), Forest Park, IL[3][4]
  • Tuskegee Christian Center, Tuskegee, Alabama (LWCC-Tuskegee).[5][12][27][28]
  • Faith Ministries Alliance (FMA): Bill Winston is the founder of Faith Ministries Alliance which provides a forum for like-minded churches and ministries to come together in fellowship.[5]
  • Bible Training Center: Bill Winston is the founder of the Bible Training Center which consists of 8-week bible training classes and a 9-month ministerial school.[5][8]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Birth reference search results: Bill Winston". FamSearch.org. Retrieved July 4, 2018.
  2. 1 2 3 Holmes, Tom (October 4, 2005). "Mega-Church, mega-success". forestparkreview.com. Forest Park Review. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Various (May 7, 2007). "Chicago Tribune – What happened on May 1, 2007". articles.chicagotribune.com. Chicago Tribune. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Holmes, Tom (January 6, 2015). "From storefront to megachurch: Living Word Christian Center turns 25". forestparkreview.com. Forest Park Review. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Winston, Bill. "Resources for Christians". resourcesforchristians.net. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  6. 1 2 Piemonte, Mary C. (September 22, 2011). "Forgotten History: Lecture on Black Aviators". wethepeoplemedia.org. We the People Media – Residents' Journal. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  7. 1 2 "Distinguished Alumni". tuskegee.edu. Tuskegee University Office of Communications, Public Relations and Marketing. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  8. 1 2 3 "Visionary Leader Dr. Bill Winston Tours Tec-Masters' Facilities" (PDF). tecmasters.com. Tecmasters. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  9. 1 2 3 "FICU Alumni Pages – Dr. Bill Winston". ficuflorida.com. Friends International Christian University. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  10. 1 2 Winston, Bill (2006). The Kingdom of God in You: Discover the Greatness of God's Power Within. Harrison House Publishers. p. 243. ISBN 1577947967.
  11. ↑ Gunn, Deborah J. (November 29, 2007). "Church and family". abc7chicago.com. ABC 7 Eyewitness News. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  12. 1 2 3 4 "Living Word Christian Center - Forest Park, IL". waymarking.com. May 11, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  13. ↑ Winston, Bill (September 2, 2008). "Books by Bill Winston". amazon.com. Amazon. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  14. ↑ "Bill Winston Teachings Store". faithcenteredresources.com. Faith Centered Resources. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  15. ↑ Winston, Bill. "Dr. Bill Winston – Welcome to Harrison House". harrisionhouse.com. Harrison House Publishers. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Holmes, Tom (September 16, 2008). "Boot camp for the spiritual battle". oakpark.com. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  17. 1 2 "Students receive scholarships at Chicago Tuskegee Alumni Club's annual scholarship luncheon". tuskegee.edu. Tuskegee University. November 11, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  18. ↑ "A Great and Successful Event - Celebrating The Tuskegee Heritage Scholarship Luncheon 2013". ctcalum.org. Chicago Tuskegee Club. November 1, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Following God's path to prosperity in hard times". forestparkreview.com. Forest Park Review. July 17, 2012. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  20. ↑ "Joseph Business School Open House & Orientation this Fall". lasentinel.net. Sentinel News Service. September 10, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  21. ↑ "Joseph Business School Helps Local Economy by Hosting Free Career Fair". hr.com. Institute for Human Resources. October 25, 2009. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  22. ↑ Thompson, Jeff (November 8, 2007). "Tuskegee right on schedule for economic improvement". thetuskegeenews.com. The Tuskegee News. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  23. ↑ "Washington Plaza nears full retail occupancy". thetuskegeenews.com. The Tuskegee News. October 24, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  24. ↑ Brinson, Temia (October 8, 2012). "Pastor and Author Bill Winston's Latest Project, "Bill Winston Presents Living Word: Released"". rejoicemagazine.net. Rejoice News & Opinion. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  25. ↑ "2013 Stellar Awards – Complete List of Nominees". yeslordradio.com. YlR Gospel News. October 26, 2013. Archived from the original on November 11, 2013. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  26. ↑ Montgomery (May 14, 2015). "The Tuskegee Christian Center Tour" (PDF). brantwoodchildrenshome.org. Brentwood Children's Home. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
  27. ↑ Kennedy, Allison (November 27, 2010). "I Believe Faith Conference". ledger-enquirer.com. Ledger-Enquirer. Archived from the original on July 24, 2015. Retrieved July 24, 2015.
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