The Journey – Dan Winters
Carl Richardson
Carl Richardson Ministries
The Story of My Relationship with Carl Richardson
Carl Richardson grew up in Ohio, and as a teenager he attended the church where my uncle, Rev. William (Bill) Winters, served as his pastor. After graduating from college, Carl became the pastor of a Church of God in Ashland, Ohio. At the age of 24, he moved to Lakeland, Florida.
My earliest memory of Carl was when I accompanied my uncle, Bill Winters, to visit him at the Lake Wire Church of God. Carl was actively involved in youth ministry, working with young people including Donnie and Teri. At that time, I knew him primarily for his ministerial work.
When Carl was 31 years old, he became the speaker for the Forward in Faith International Radio Broadcast and relocated to Cleveland, Tennessee. Although I knew who Carl was and recognized his reputation as an important minister, international speaker, and singer, I did not yet know him personally. He was widely respected and had many friends around the world.
In 1976, Vision Foundation was formed (readers may refer to the Vision Foundation page for more information).
After serving 12 years with Forward in Faith, Carl resigned on April 10, 1984, at the age of 44. As he was leaving headquarters in Cleveland, he and his wife Beverly came to my home in Winter Haven to share their decision with Mary Nell and me. From that point forward, our relationship deepened into a close and meaningful friendship.
Carl has often said that since that time we became a vital and important part of all that he achieved for the Lord, and that God granted more souls saved during this later season of his ministry than during any previous period.
After relocating to Brandon, Florida, Carl opened Media Central. However, he lacked office equipment to fully establish the business. I had recently closed my Southern Guaranty office in Houston and offered him the choice of modern office equipment to furnish his new facility. On January 20, 1985, Carl Richardson Ministries acknowledged receipt of approximately 20 pieces of office equipment valued at about $20,000.
In March 1988, Carl asked about my recent trip to the Philippines. I informed him of Eduardo Tinsay’s agreement to donate land there (see attached document).
In March 1989, Carl completed the Media Central Recording Studios at 304 East Lumsden Road in Brandon.
That same year, on April 7, 1989, Carl Richardson Ministries acknowledged a $2,000 gift to cover the cost of a South Africa evangelistic crusade for Mary Nell and me. Carl invited us to join him in June, and Teri and Tami were also planning to attend to lead worship.
However, before departure, Mary Nell began feeling unwell and decided to remain in the United States. After we arrived in South Africa, she phoned to inform us that doctors had removed three liters of fluid and recommended surgery scheduled for July 5. I immediately returned to the United States on the next available flight.
In January 1990, Mary Nell underwent cancer surgery. During that same period (January 12 – April 28, 1990), $10,140 in contributions to Carl Richardson Ministries were reported for the year 1989.
In May 1990, Carl experienced a serious health challenge when his right leg became semi-paralyzed. He spent two months on crutches and was unable to travel and minister during that time.
The Ministers Tape Network
Between January and February 1988, Carl shared his vision to launch a network providing sermon tapes for pastors. He had tested a direct-mail marketing strategy with promising results and had developed a mailing list of pastors who would likely subscribe. He projected a net income between $18,000 and $45,000 per year.
This ministry idea greatly excited me. In September 1989, I recommended to Pastor Karl Strader that the Mary Nell Winters Foundation advance $50,000 to fund this initiative, called Ministers Tape Network. Ultimately, the Carpenters Home Church provided a $60,000 grant.
On November 3, 1989, Carl acknowledged our support of his worldwide ministries and expressed appreciation for our prayers during Mary Nell’s chemotherapy treatments. He also reimbursed me $15,000 that I had personally advanced.
On February 10, 1990, Carl wrote an encouraging letter stating that the mailings had surpassed expectations. However, by December 3, 1990, he reported that substantial results were not being realized. At that time, I requested that any unused portion of the $50,000 be returned to the Mary Nell Winters Foundation. No funds were returned. I was disappointed that the effort did not produce satisfactory results.
Ministry in Russia and Around the World
In October 1990, Carl wrote that he and Dr. Lamar Vest would be ministering in Moscow. In December 1991, the communist flag was lowered in Moscow, marking a historic turning point.
In June 1991, Victor Belykh and Sergei Ryahovski visited Carl and Beverly for four days. Belykh had spent 26 years in prison for the so-called crime of preaching the Gospel.
On February 7, 1992, Carl acknowledged my report of more than 1,700 new converts in our first month in Russia. On March 20, 1992, he wrote of his desire to train 1,000 Russian pastors and evangelists through a Moscow School of Ministry.
On May 8, 1992, Carl confirmed that Dr. Yung Chul Han in Seoul, Korea, would host Dan and Teri and escort them to Pray Mountain and to Paul Yonggi Cho’s church in Seoul.
On June 5, 1992, Carl sent $2,000 in support of the Moscow Embassy Project.
On October 7, 1992, Carl wrote that he and Lamar Vest planned to complete negotiations with leaders of the unregistered Pentecostal churches. On November 1, 1992, the dedication of the first Church of God in Moscow took place. A letter dated November 4, 1992, from Al Taylor, President of Vision, reported 4,137 conversions during that first week.
In December 1992, the Mary Nell Winters Endowment Fund sent support to Carl Richardson Ministries for Christmas gifts to children in a Moscow orphanage. On December 11, I also requested that $2,500 be sent from the Mary Nell Winters Fund to support orphans in Moscow.
On February 1, 1993, Carl wrote of plans to conduct ten simultaneous church plantings in Russia during the week of May 24, 1993.
On February 14, 1994, Carl Richardson Ministries acknowledged a $12,500 gift for ministry inside mainland China. On May 26, 1994, they acknowledged the construction of three full-time ministry facilities inside mainland China in honor of Mary Nell.
Carl once said, “We have a history together of more than 25 years.”
Reflection
As of March 13, 2024, I find myself reminiscing about the many years Carl and I have shared in ministry. We have both endured health challenges over time, yet we remain the very best of friends. Knowing Carl has greatly enriched my life.
Freedom Celebration in Constitution Hall 1976
I felt highly honored when Carl invited my family to participate in the April 9, 1976, Freedom Celebration in Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. My family enjoyed the special box seating for the special occasion. I was 43 and Mary Nell was 39. Attending this event we became aware of the wonderful singers and other talented people who partner with Carl, he made my family feel highly honored to have him as our personal friend. Carl and his wife Beverly became a real friends to me and my wife Mary Nell and remain some of our best friends. Watch celebration here.
Vision Foundation formed September 23, 1976
When I was 46 years old.
(page 51 of Catching Your Second Wind To Finish Well by Carl Richardson) ” in 1979, upon my return from yet another ministry trip to South Africa, Hugh Statum calmly announced, ‘Brother Carl, while you were in Africa, your friends in Vision Foundation bought you a building and will sponsor the constuction of new production studios.'”
“In 1980, our team built and dedicated new state-of-the art recording facility on land purchased by Vision Foundation and donated for that express purpose. This grop of successful businessmen and women blest man ministries over the years — including ours.” (page 51)
(Following article was written by Peggy Scarborough and published in The Power of Vision.)
When Carl Richardson founded Vision Foundation in Gatlinburg in 1977, Dan and Mary Nell became charter members. Being a member of the board of Vision Foundation has had a great effect on Dan’s life. Vision provided Christian friends, fellowship and a vehicle to utilize his talent and resources for the Kingdom of God. When you operate a large business, sometimes friends who don’t understand money tend to set you aside or make a difference in you. Dan did not want his local church brethren to exalt him or treat him differently because of his giving or business success. It had become awkward making large financial contribution in a small local church. He desired a place through which he could channel his contributions without being so visible. He knew the money that God had blessed him with could help to pave the way for sinners to hear the gospel message. Giving brought such joy to His heart, and he wanted to sow into good ground. Vision provided a niche for businessmen to minister without being spotlighted by their local brethren. Being able to fellowship with other successful Christian businessmen who were a part of Vision Foundation was a tremendous experience that was not available with any other group he knew. He felt the spirit of the Lord was present and blessed him in a special way at every Vision meeting.
He always looked forward to attending the board meetings. One event that was special to him was traveling to Cleveland, TN and being there with Al Taylor to throw the switch for the new WQNE Radio Station on behalf of Vision Foundation. Knowing that he was a part of something so great was very important to him. He had dreams that the radio station would become a training center for Lee College students. Another exciting venture was participating in acquiring the Pan Southern Office Building in Cleveland in December 1978. It was then transferred to the Church of God International Headquarters and became the home of Forward in Faith and other ministries of the church. Members of Vision have become some of the most important friends in his life. Dan held the office of president of Vision Foundation from 1979 to 1983 and has served as chairman since that time.(end of Peggy’s writing)
A special plaque was awarded to Dan in 2002 for 25 years – scan and add to page.
Letters from Carl Richardson to be considered for scanning and posting on Dan Winters.net
1990 - Sending gospel to Russia with Jesus Film in russian la
In early 1990s the Life and Times of Jesus was filmed in the Russian-language. I purchased 3 copies of this Jesus Film and purchased a new vehicle and equipped it with a generator and electronic to travel and show the film.
I hired full-time Russian Russian evangelist and pastors to travel nightly showing the Jesus Film and winning souls to Jesus. The greatest havest field was the area where the prisioners had been sent to work in the salt mines. At every showing of the film many people accepted Jesus. For many months the workers sent me a report of the numbers. (Carl Richardson’s book page 164 reports more than 40,000 people accepted Christ).
I thank the Lord for allowing me to work in this harvest field.
May 1990 sending Karl Strader to Moscow
Our pastor Karl Strader of the Carpentein Home Church in Lakeland Florida would often speak of how he had studied the Russian Languge in college and expeccted to someday go to Russian. The door was beginning to open and Mary Nell and I visited Karl and told him we would pay his expenses to attend a meeting in Moscow. He gave glorious report that the “Door was finally open and he wanted to return with volunteers to plant a church.
Mary Nell and I voluntered to participate go and tell these unreached people the good news that Jesus Saves. On Dec2, 1990 we went on this missionary journey.
Dec 1990 Dan's first trip to Moscow with Rev. Karl Strader
I paid the expenses for Rev. Karl Strader and me to attend a meeing in Moscow.
Mary Nell and I felt our pastor Karl Strader should visit Moscow and provided funds for him to travel there with Terry Law and others in May 1990. His heart was very touched to witness the great revival and the hunger for Jesus in the hearts of the people.
Opportunity in the Soviet Union
1989-1990 Jesus Film taken to Moscow and Siberia
The door to Russia was opening some. To help proclaim the gospel to the people in Russia I heard that Jim Puhr and Don Sims from Calvary Ministries International in Jacksonville were visiting Moscow and telling some people about Jesus.
I heard that the Jesus Film was available in the Russian language. I wanted to be a part of proclaiming the gospel. I provided the necessary funds for Calvary Ministries International to order the Jesus Film in the Russian language from Campus Crusade for Christ so it could be shown in the unreached villages of Russia. I also purchased a new 15 passenger van with the seats remove. It was used to transport the video projector, speaker, generator, and other equipment. I paid a couple of the young Christian to show this Jesus Film in various communities. They also carried it to Siberia where there was great success in wining souls to Jesus. Thousand were saved from these efforts.
Jim Puhr wrote me a letter reporting that my Jesus Film had recently been shown by my evangelism team over 100 times and had registered over 20,000 conversions.
My First Trip to Russia
Pastor Strader was soon invited back to Moscow to teach the Russian ministers more about the Bible and how-to better minister. I was thrilled when he invited me to join him in his ministry effort.