Adelaide North Chapter
Of
FGBMFI
A Modern Prodigal Son
By Rod Winter
How many have read the parable of the Prodigal Son in the Bible and wondered how any individual could stoop so low, or how it could happen, and then thanked God you did not have to go through that which the son did before he realised that 'father knows best'? I spent my early teenage years growing up in a small country town on the western side of South Australia. My family had about 3000 acres which they had carved from the bush. Besides cropping wheat and barley they ran cattle, sheep and a few pigs.
I led a sheltered life and kept myself busy looking after the animals and doing other farm work. I went to Sunday School and then did a Bible correspondence course, passing with honours and believing that in due time I would go into the ministry with the local church, having just preached my first sermon, on the loaves and the fishes.
Then one fateful day, I was gored by a bull. Some of the scars still remain on my body and I carried the emotional scars for 20 years before I was set free by the healing power of God.
Sometimes I still ask myself why I blamed God for that tragic accident. I should have praised Him for sparing my life. The survival rate from that form of attack is minimal, and yet there I was recovering in the local hospital with apparently only a broken wrist and damage to my abdomen.
It was years later that the extensive health problems became evident.
There may be people reading this now who have had a major crisis like I had, and blamed God for it. After all, isn't He a miracle-working God? Couldn't He have just waved a magic wand and made the bull disappear?. Then I wouldn't have had to go through what I did.
I decided that, after that, I didn't want anything to do with God. I even denied His existence for 20 years after the attack. I resolved that, in future, it was the good times for me.
To my mother's shame and horror I went swiftly from being a nice religious boy to being the local ratbag.
About that time, wheat quotas were introduced, so my father decided to go into the transport business to supplement our meagre income.
So here I was, driving around Australia for a living. But it wasn't just the driving, it was girls, the booze and the drugs that went with it. A rebellious sixteen-year-old's dream!
My health deteriorated during those six years on the road. So much so that soon after my 21st birthday I had to go to Adelaide for medical help. My back was so bad that I walked like a crab.
A specialist confirmed my fears. I would never drive a truck again so I was going to have to go on an invalid pension immediately.
One's drinking friends are very fickle
My life was shattered! No money, no health, no job. I was only surviving because of the support of my girlfriend (who is today my wife).
Looking back, I can see that God sent people to me to share His good news, but I didn't want to know about it.
Crazy, isn't it? Here I was telling God again (even though He didn't exist, remember) that it is all His fault that my best friend died in his twenties and then my uncle died in a tragic accident in Western Australia.
I looked in my uncle's coffin and asked, "Why him? Why not me, God? I'm nothing. Worthless?" Little did I know then that God had a plan for my life -- and He has one for yours, too.
About this time, I became violently ill with pancreatitis, but
miraculously I survived. The specialist told me, basically, "stop
drinking or die". So I stopped, and didn't have a drop for another
eight years.
Rod Winter
I found out quickly that one's drinking friends are very fickle. I also gave up smoking at this time, as cigarettes didn't agree with me at all.
Then I began visiting a chiropractor (who weren't recognised in those days) and my back began to improve.
Through a succession of events, I wound up seeing a Christian chiropractor named Bob Rose, who became a good friend of mine. But more than that, I found he was a great man of God.
He would share with me the testimonies of other men he had met. He would fly around the country to speak at meetings of the Full Gospel Business Men's Fellowship.
This was my first encounter with the organisation and I learned that one of its main functions was to tell other men about the life-changing power of Jesus Christ.
I remember telling my wife Lorna that Bob was strange and that he did work for these people without charge. I thought he definitely had a problem. I had learned the hard way that you did nothing for nothing and you looked after number One first.
During these years, my back had improved but needed on-going attention. One leg was a centimetre or more shorter than the other due to a twisted pelvis. Also, I had misaligned vertabrae that caused continual discomfort.
I was back driving again for a major transport company. It was the only trade I knew. I was making good money which gave me the opportunity to get into the horses.
In my spare time I worked for a bookmaker and I decided I wanted to own my own racehorses. I had trotters at first, then gallopers. All I got for my trouble was a few photos for the wall and a lot of useless betting tickets, as well as the disfavour of my family.
During 1985 I was invited to a home fellowship meeting where God challenged me through the testimony of Allan Davies, an evangelist with the Anglican Church.
I was so challenged that I set up another meeting for the benefit of my wife, friends and neighbors, since I decided that they needed "saving" and I didn't.
My wife Lorna accepted Jesus as her Saviour at that meeting and then two weeks later I made a commitment to the Lord that I would go wherever He sent me.
Within a month, both Lorna and I were baptised with the Holy Spirit and our three children all received Christ and were Baptised with the Holy Spirit also.
Two years after receiving the Lord, my wife Lorna and I attended a revivsl meeting in Adelaide. Unbeknown to us, Derek Prince, the speaker was well renowned as on God used in healing. At this time we knew nothing about the gifts of the Holy Spirit let alone healing. Even before the call was given for people to come forth for prayer there was an expectation and excitement in my spirit. And then, as I sat in the chair, Derek and his wife prayed for me and before my eyes in utter amazement my leg grew 12mm.
My wife, who was a nursing sister at that time, later confirmed that not only did my leg grow, but my lower spine was now straight and the vertebrae were back in place. It was interesting to note thet there were two chiropractors present who had treated me over the years and they were able to confirm the master surgeon had been at work.
"God is alive and he does heal today"
But God's plan for our lives led me into the insurance business where I am employed today as partner in Northern Financial Centre and a director of Rod Winter Pty Ltd.
In the turmoil of the insurance and finance industry we have not just survived but have been blessed more than we have even asked for.
We have always put God first in our business and tried at all times to be obedient to His will, which means always having the time to minister to His people and being available when called upon.
A lot of our time is spent within the FGBMFI as a Regional Director for South Australia and as a member of the Adelaide North Chapter.
I thank God for this fellowship. I am just one of millions who have come into the kingdom of God through one man's testimony.
Eight years ago, just before God healed my body and gave me a love for people, I remember asking Him why He had left me all those years ago. His reply was, "Son, I never left you. You left me!"
God loves you and he is waiting for you to come to Him now. Don't be like me and leave it for 20 years.
Rod Winter, his wife Lorna and their three children lived
in the Adelaide suburb of Surrey Downs, and attended the Salisbury Family
Church.
Article reprinted from
Australian Voice magazine Number 5
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