Hands to the Work – Ron & Bonnie Winter

Dear Friends in Christ,
 
Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.     1 Corinthians 3:8

Missions Conferences: In April I had the privilege to preach in Missions conferences in Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri.

High School Reunion: It was good to reconnect with some that I graduated with 50 years ago in Akron, Colorado.  That Sunday, Bro. Mike Young, a longtime friend, invited me to teach Sunday School and present the “Hands to the Work” ministry at the Bible Baptist Church in Yuma, CO.

In-laws:  James and Madelyn Carroll had a huge part in directing my future in ministry; as  we worked several years with them.  My Father-in-law went to be with the Lord in December 2024, then my Mother-in-law in May 2025.  They ran their race well, and are missed!

San Luis Potosí: The first week of June, My pastor, Michael Scott, went with me to take pews, a pulpit, doors, windows and other materials to 4 churches, 3 of them to the Tenec and Nahuactl native peoples in the jungles of the state of San Luis, Potosí. On the way back to the border he preached with a translator in Anáhuac and Camargo, in the state of Chihuahua.  It was a great trip of 3,700 miles in 8 days, with no problems! 

Wedding:  On June 28, Bonnie Woolsey and I were married at the Fundamental Bible Baptist Church outside of Summersville, MO, by Bro. Bob Reagan, her pastor and a longtime friend of mine. We were thankful for our kids, grandkids, several family members and friends who attended!

Health:  I just had a follow-up appointment with my cardiologist to review a CT scan of my heart done in May.  The aortic valve is compromised, with the ascending aorta measuring 4.7 cm.  The doctor thinks he should install an aortic valve, but insurance won’t cover it until the aorta measures 5 cm.  I’m scheduled for an angiogram to measure the blood flow and rule out blockages.

Praise: Safety traveling; Opportunities to preach; 2 new supporting churches; 3 of my class of high school graduates also saved since graduating; In-laws are home; Great trip to Mexico; My wife, Bonnie and our new life!

Prayer: Souls to be saved by this ministry; Angiogram, heart valve; Ministry & Mexico trips

Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear friends in Christ,
 
 “And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.”     Psalms 90:17
 
Ejido la Fe Coahuila: January 2, 2025:  I took some things to the Bearing Precious Seed ministry in El Paso, then pianos to Chihuahua. On Sunday I preached in Camargo, to the last church we started, then on Monday took pews, tables and chairs, etc. to Coahuila.  Praise the Lord it was a great trip, with no problems on this shorter, 7 day, 2,500 mile trip.
 
Atotonilco El Alto, Jalisco:  March 1 through 4 José Velasco, pastor of a Hispanic church in Duncan, OK, went with me, to pull another trailer to the border at Alamo, TX.  We crossed one trailer, then the next day crossed the second load into Reynosa, Tamaulipas.
The pastor in Jalisco discovered a Christian trucking company in Reynosa that hauled the 70 pews 12 hours to Atotonilco el Alto for $1,000, one-fourth of what it would cost me to make 2 trips! 
The trucker wants to help us in the future and can even pick up loads in the US, cross the border and haul them on down into Mexico!  Please pray for wisdom to perhaps hire them to haul materials from the warehouse in OK, to a warehouse in central Mexico, where many churches could pick up items, and we could also take them from there to churches that are farther away.  It would be so much more cost and time effective with less border crossings!
 
House:  I finally got a small duplex fixed up to live in, and got out of my son Josh and his family’s house!  Thankfully we’re still friends!
 
Health:  An echocardiogram a year ago and then another this year are showing that my aortic heart valve is failing, though I still feel well!  They are doing several tests now to show the severity of it and to determine when they might need to replace the heart valve.
 
Engaged!  The Lord brought a wonderful lady into my life, who loves the Lord and loves me!  Bonnie Woolsey’s family obtained some church pews for a granddaughter’s wedding, in eastern Missouri.  This past September her pastor, Bob Reagan called and asked if I would want the pews to take them to Mexico.  That very next week I was scheduled to pick up pews in Kentucky and Illinois and on my way home, would pass within an hour and a half from them! The rest is history!  Bonnie and I are to be married the last of June, in MO!
 
Praise:  God’s protection and intervention with the trips & “Hands to the Work” Ministry; My house; I feel well; Upcoming wedding and life, ministering together with Bonnie
 Prayer: Souls to be saved; Wisdom for material shipments and distribution; Heart; New life
 
Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear friends in Christ,

Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing heever liveth to make intercession for them.          Hebrews 7:25

Happy New Year!

I’m thankful for every one of you, and I pray the Lord will bless you as you serve Him in this New Year, 2025! I appreciate your prayers and support for me and for the “Hands to the Work” ministry! A special thank you to all the churches who sent special love offerings for Christmas!  It was very thoughtful and they were a blessing!

Tabasco: In October I took a load of pews, pianos, windows, etc. to a church in San Luis Potosí and to 3 churches in the state of Tabasco, within 9 hours from the country of Guatemala.  I preached in 3 churches, and the altars were full every time, all glory to God!  José Alvarado from San Ygnacio, TX helped me cross the border and I paid a fair duty.  Praise the Lord for His protection and for a great 5,500 mile, 16 day trip!

Atotonilco El Alto in the state of Jalisco is the destination of 70 pews for a conference center. Lord willing we can get to the border and cross them to a church in Reynosa, Tamaulipas, in the extreme north east.  I plan to hire a trucking company to haul them to the opposite, south west corner of Mexico at about a 50% savings from me taking them in two trips with my truck and trailer.  Please pray we can get them down there early in 2025 and for the Lord to provide and work out all the details!

Health: I’ve had bad pain in both feet, but I’m seeing some relief with better shoes!  A very special supporting church in NM sent me a wonderful offering to get the shoes and a pair of much needed hearing aids! Praise the Lord!  I’m getting accustomed to them!
In October I had my annual wellness visit with my primary care doctor. He said the cardiologist should have called me a year ago, after having an Echocardiogram that showed the aortic heart valve is “regurgitating”.  He says I need a valve replacement. On January 14 I have a consultation with the cardiologist, I’d appreciate your prayers!

Praise: New opportunities to serve and glorify God! All of God’s goodness, blessings, protection and provision during 2024; Souls saved!

Prayer: Taking materials to Mexican churches and for souls to be saved because of them; Feet recovery & Cardiologist apt. heart / treatment

Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear Friends in Christ, 

Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong. Let all your things be done with charity.                          1 Corinthians 16:13-14

     Please pray for wisdom for the “Hands to the Work” ministry, to prepare, plan and execute all of the opportunities and take on the challenges!
     I’m often asked how often I take trips to Mexico.  I take trips when Mexican churches ask and pray for materials and God has provided them, and when I have money to make the trip!  I need to raise more support to be able to pick up and deliver the materials.  My support is almost entirely spent on the ministry, as I live off of my Social Security and love offerings.

     From October 11 to 30, I’m planning to take pews, pianos, chairs, etc. to 2 churches in the state of San Luis Potosí, in the indigenes Huasteca Potosina region; then to 4 churches in the state of Tabasco, below the Gulf of Mexico.  Please pray, as I’ve never been that far south on the east side of Mexico!      I’m to preach in a mission conference in Fredonia Kansas November 8 – 10 and a week later, take pews, pianos, etc. to churches in Chihuahua and Coahuila.
     I’ve been picking up pews, pulpits, tables, chairs, etc. in Texas, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and just got back from a 1,750 mile trip to pick up pews in Kentucky, Illinois and Missouri.  Praise the Lord, some folks also bring things to me!
     There are 70 pews being warehoused in Edmond, OK, that still need to be disassembled, and gotten to Atotonilco el Alto, Jalisco, Mexico.  The duty and more than $500 for tolls plus fuel, etc. for 2 trips with my truck and trailer for more than 5,000 miles, would be very expensive!  We’re looking at the possibility of hiring a Mexican trucking company to pick up the pews on the US border and take them to Jalisco.  Of course I would still have to get them to El Paso, and hopefully go down there to help assemble them.   

     I was a missionary sent out of the First Baptist Church of Milford, OH for 37 years!  Thank you Pastor Keen, Pastor Duttry, Pastor Barclay & FBC!  
     I’ve joined the First Baptist Church of Del City, OK, to be closer to the Mexican border and because all my kids and grandkids live within 4 hours of Del City.  The church provides a warehouse for the materials and the bus garage to park and work on my truck and trailers.  My new pastor, Michael Scott, is very excited about this ministry and several of the men help unload and load the trailer, etc.!

Please continue sending my support to the First Baptist Church of Milford, as they continue to be my clearing house!

Praise:  Warehouse is about full; Safety on the trips picking up pews, etc.
Prayer:  Souls to be saved because of this ministry; Safety on the trips; Correct sizes of pews & needed materials; Trips to San Luis Potosí, Tabasco, Coahuila, Jalisco & etc.; Finances, support & organization

Please pray for the “Hands to the Work” ministry that God would be glorified by it!

Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico

Dear Friends in Christ,
     … ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.    1 Cor. 15:58
     The last of April, Pastor Russ Bishop went with me to the state of Chihuahua to take 5 pianos, a pulpit, chairs, doors and windows etc.  For the first time in 37 years, I was turned around at the border, because their estimated value of the load exceeded the maximum limit.  Unloading the windows and doors in El Paso, were able to import the rest of the load for $1,140! 
It was a great, trip and Bro. Russ was a blessing by driving and preaching in Camargo!
     On June 19, Randy Harrison from Valley Forge Baptist in Pennsylvania went with me to help me drive, to take materials to 5 churches in the states of Sonora and Sinaloa, but at the El Paso border we were turned around again!  Because Randy couldn’t stay an extended period of time, we left the trailer at BPS in El Paso and drove back to Oklahoma so he could drive home. 
     I returned 2 days later, towing a van to El Paso that was donated to a Mexican church and I crossed it into Mexico.  Though it had transmission problems, they will fix it at a minimal cost and it will be a huge blessing to them!  Mexican churches really need vans!
     I picked up my loaded trailer and headed to the border but had to pay $1,570 dollars to cross into Mexico with the materials!  When I got to Anáhuac, Chihuahua where we started our first church, my truck broke down.  We exchanged the 2 pianos and I limped the truck to Chihuahua City to a very good diesel mechanic.  I found the turbo actuator for $500 dollars, half the US price, and my friends paid the mechanic!  It runs great!
     On Sunday, June 30 I preached in Camargo, at the last church we started, and a 13 year old girl who had been attending for some time with her family, got saved!
     On Monday, 21 year old Cristian and I headed for Culiacan, Sinaloa, by way of Mazatlán and only had a flat tire en route.  We unloaded the pews, a piano and trumpets that night and assembled pews on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Pastor Saenz, his family and church were great hosts!
     Wednesday I had a root canal then 2 hours later preached in Las Brisas, a small town 2 hours north.  We enjoyed our stay with Pastor Efraín and his family!  On Thursday we assembled pews and Friday morning went back to Culiacan to get the crown on my tooth. 
     At noon Saturday we arrived at Jitzamuri, Sinaloa, where the natives call it “The end of the earth”, because the land ends at the Pacific Ocean.  We got the pews assembled, and Sunday morning I preached in about 100 degrees and 100% humidity!  Pastor José Gil and family shared their humble home with us!  I preached that evening in another village.
     We got to Navojoa, Sonora on Monday and the kids, helpers and workers from the children’s home unloaded all the pews, chairs, etc. in record time!  We got the pews assembled and loaded the trailer with some household belongings of Missionary David Scott who founded that church and two others.  On Wednesday I took the things up to him in Tucson, AZ.
      Before returning to OK July 13, I picked up chairs, tables, etc. in Bowie and Denton TX.
      It was a great trip that lasted 25 days instead of 14, which helped 5 Mexican churches!
      If you know of windows, doors, pews, pianos, chairs, musical instruments, vans, etc. please let me know!  Praise the Lord, several people are also getting materials and bringing them to me!  Thank you so much for your part in souls being saved and churches being helped in Mexico!
    Please pray for the “Hands to the Work” ministry that souls will be saved God would be glorified by it!
Ron Winter
Your Co-laborer, Ministering to Churches in Mexico