Bill Winston facts for kids

William Samuel Winston, also known as Dr. Bill Winston, was born on May 6, 1943. He is an American preacher, author, and businessman. He shares his messages through television and radio. Dr. Winston is the founder and Senior Pastor of Living Word Christian Center. This is a large church in Forest Park, Illinois, with over 22,000 members.

His teachings and writings are shared worldwide. This happens through his ministry, Bill Winston Ministries. His broadcast program, Believer’s Walk of Faith, airs on TV and radio.

Early Life and Career

Bill Winston grew up in Tuskegee, Alabama. He says he was inspired by the famous Tuskegee Airmen. These were brave African-American military pilots.

He met his wife, Veronica Irene Brown, while working at IBM Corporation. They married in 1983. Veronica Winston is also a leader and author at Living Word Christian Center. They have three children: Melody, Allegra, and David. They are also grandparents to eight children.

Winston graduated from Tuskegee Institute in 1967. After college, he joined the US Air Force. He served for six years as a fighter pilot. He flew during the Vietnam War. In 1971, he flew a mission that earned him the Distinguished Flying Cross. This is a special award for bravery in flight.

In 1973, Winston started working at IBM. He became a Regional Marketing Manager. During his time there, he felt a strong calling to become a full-time minister. He left IBM in 1985 to study at Logos Bible School. He also briefly attended Oral Roberts University in 1996.

Starting His Ministry

In 1988, Bill Winston and his wife started a small ministry. They lived in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at the time. They traveled to Chicago every weekend. There, they held two-day "Faith Crusades." Less than 20 people attended these early meetings.

By December 1988, the Winstons moved to Chicago. He began a Bible training school. Services were held in a hotel. In 1989, it became the "Living Word Church of Chicago." The name changed to "Living Word Christian Center" in 1990.

As the church grew, they needed more space. From 1994 to 1997, they rented a banquet hall. In 1997, they bought the Forest Park Mall. This was a 33-acre shopping mall. The church held its first service there on New Year’s Eve. Since then, the church has grown into a large, modern worship center.

Books and Achievements

Bill Winston has written many books. He has self-published over 15 Christian and business books. Some of his popular titles include Transform Your Thinking, Transform Your Life, Law of Confession, and Power of the Tongue. He also creates mini-books and other helpful resources.

Awards and Recognitions

Bill Winston has received several important awards:

• Distinguished Flying Cross from the United States Air Force.
• Air Medal Award from the USAF.
• Squadron Top Gun Award from the USAF.
• Distinguished Alumni of Tuskegee University.
• Chicago Tuskegee Club, Incorporated Heritage Award.
• Award from the Chicago DoDo chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen.
• Honorary Doctorate degree from Friends International Christian University.

Key Achievements

• He founded the Joseph Business School and The Joseph Center. This is a business school in Forest Park. It offers classes on campus and online.
• His church choir, Bill Winston Presents Living Word, was nominated for an award. They were nominated at the 28th Annual Stellar Gospel Music Awards. This was for their first music album, Released.

Related Ministries

Bill Winston is involved with several other ministries:

• Bill Winston Ministries (BWM): This is a global ministry. It has its main office in the U.S. and another in South Africa.
• Living Word Christian Center: This is his main church in Forest Park, Illinois.
• Tuskegee Christian Center: Located in Tuskegee, Alabama.
• Faith Ministries Alliance: Winston founded this group. It helps churches and ministries work together.
• Bible Training Center: This center offers Bible classes and training for ministers.