Yesterday, I attended the funeral of Floretta Darby Winfield, the mother of my dear friend Pastor Angelo Winfield. The funeral was at Grant Hill Chapel AME Church in Albuquerque, NM where Floretta attended.
I did not know Angelo was going to deliver the eulogy. WOW! Did he ever! It was a glorious celebration of the Godly life of Flo. So many of the grand kids sang songs! It was awesome! I called Angelo this morning to thank him for such a powerful message.
The message centered on our relationship with Jesus Christ! Angelo said that his mother would want everyone to have a personal relationship with Jesus. The same can be said for my Mom, Ruth, she wrote out what she wanted said at her funeral, and it was preaching to us kid’s and all those in attendance that you must have Jesus at the head of your life.
At the end of Angelo’s message he said, “We are going to open up the casket now, and for some of you it will be the last time you will see my Mom Flo, but for those of you that know Jesus, you will see her once again in heaven for eternity.” Do you know Jesus? Angelo’s message was one filled not just with hope, but with the promises of our Lord, the promises of eternal life, but he also reminded all of us there is a hell.
Something that get’s lost in the American church, that there is a hell. I don’t think Billy Graham ever preached a sermon without preaching on heaven and hell. Angelo shared with us that his Mother carried out the Great Commission on a daily basis, telling others about Jesus at the supermarket, gas station, bowling alley, at sporting events, and everywhere she went.
Flo wanted all to know about Jesus Christ and so should you and me. One of the great messages that comes out of Resurrection Sunday is that we are to carry out the Great Commission. Angelo said that his Mom taught him and his brothers and sisters the love of Jesus and to respect your parents and elders. A respect that has dwindled in America, resulting in the ripping apart of far too many families.
It was so refreshing to hear Angelo’s message, it was powerful, I could sense a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit come over the service. He preached Jesus and Mom, nothing better than that! Amen! Flo was born in 1939 and leaves behind her cherished husband of over 56 years Clinton M. Winfield Sr. Their children; Clinton, Goulton, Angelo (Patricia) and Michael, Daughters; Marion and Wendy; 17 grandchildren; 6 great grandchildren.
Mark Twain once said, “Live your life so that at your funeral even the undertaker cries.” Flo certainly lived that kind of life for Jesus Christ.
Let us keep the Winfield family in our prayers.
Picture is from yesterday of Pastor Angelo Winfield preaching for God’s Glory Alone at his Mom’s funeral!
The Great Commission, Matthew 28: 16-20
16 Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. 17 When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
How will you carry out the Great Commission today and all days?
What is your testimony to the world?
Do others see Jesus when looking at you?
What will be said about you at your funeral?
Great tribute Dewey!