Lovell Cary has been my friend for more than 65 years. He has been a great influence and inspiration to me.
The Cary family has honored me by requesting I share with you the Heritage of the Cary Family and the Winters’ family. We are not blood kin; however, we share a wonderful kinship in proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Love of Jesus and the desire to proclaim His gospel to all people has been the binding relationship between the Cary Family and the Winters Family.
Our family history, started about 100 years ago as the railroads were being built in the mountainous regions of the Southern part of West Virginia to deliver the coal being mined in Logan and surrounding counties.
This region had been Indian country; our county and our county seat had both been named after the Indian Chief Logan. Our village located about 2 miles west of Logan was named Aracoma, after Chief Logan’s daughter, Princess Aracoma.
Aracoma was conveniently located near the railroad terminal and one of the large coal mines. Most of the residents worked in either the coal mines or on the railroad.
Earning a living had been difficult in those mountains; Dad Cary and My Granddad Winters both joined the Railroad crew to earn a living for their families.
Before Lovell or I were born in Aracoma; the Church of God from Cleveland TN sent pioneer ministers into that mountain region and organized the Aracoma Church of God and built a beautiful red brick church building. There must have been at least a hundred steps you had to climb to get to the church on the side of the steep mountain. This was a true Pentecostal church where people often prayed, cried and spoke in tongues at they were filled with the Holy Spirit at the altar.
The Cary’s and the Winters’ families were part of that Pentecostal movement that developed in Logan County, West Virginia. Lovell’s grandmother, Georgia Cary and my grandmother, Addie Winters were two of the ladies attending the Aracoma Church. They worshiped together, prayed together; God blessed the people in that church and several of them became ministers.
Two of Addie Winters’ sons became ordained ministers in the Church of God. Three of Georgia Cary’s sons plus one grandson, were ordained and became overseas missionaries. Lovell to Asia and the Far East; Bob to the Caribbean, Ernest and Ernest Jr. to the Philippines. Together three of these sons served in ministry for the church of God a total of 167 years; 120 of those years were in World Missions. Also with us today is another grandson Mark Cary who is serving as State Youth Director of Virginia . Several other members of the Cary & Winters families have spent much of their life proclaiming the gospel including my Uncle Bill Winters who served on the staff here at Westmore, after his retirement. What a Cary/Winters heritage from the Aracoma Church of God, all for the Glory of the Lord Jesus.
When Lovell Cary was 15 years of age he accepted Jesus Christ as his personal Lord and Saviour, breaking the yoke of sin, and began winning souls to Jesus. Within a few days Lovell’s father became his first convert.
Shortly afterwards God gave Lovell a vision calling him to Asia to work with the masses of people.
A few months later during a mission service at the Aracoma Church of God Lovell and my Aunt Lois Winters committed their lives to missions. After Lovell graduated from high school he went to Bible Training School to prepare for his missionary calling.
I will never forget that during his break from BTS, Lovell came to Aracoma and taught the young boys Sunday school class. His passion for the unsaved was very evident as he compelled each of us young boys to get on our knees and become a Christian before he would dismiss the class and let us out the door.
While Lovell was at BTS he met the “Love of His Life” Virginia Glass from Winter Haven, FL. Love blossomed and they soon married knowing their life was committed to be missionaries.
After Lovell and Ginny married, this teenage couple came to the mountainous region of West Virginia proclaiming the gospel. My mother, Virginia loved God and also shared the passion to proclaim the gospel with whosoever would listen. For six weeks Lovell and Ginny lived with my family as they held revivals throughout the region sharing Jesus in a school house, a chicken house, and under the apple trees. Ginny and Lovell did not have a car but somehow they got from place to place to preach the gospel. There were times when they walked many miles in the deep snow to win the lost.
Ginny Cary often testifies about the many ways my mother expressed her love for Jesus and the great lifelong friendship that developed between Lovell, Ginny and my mother Virginia Winters.
In 1950 Ginny and Lovell relocated to Ginny’s hometown in Winter Haven, Florida and several of the Winters and Cary families soon followed. Lovell and Ginny pioneered and built a new church in West Winter Haven, FL. My parents and other family members eventually were involved in this church for many years.
Lovell and Jenny went overseas in 1954. My family was concerned about them taking their five and three year old daughters to follow the calling that Jesus had placed on their hearts as a missionary family.
Some of those years were difficult times for raising their two daughters; however they never complained. They only rejoiced that God was doing a great work in each country where they were assigned.
When Sharon enrolled in Lee College she spent most of her free time with my family in Winter Haven. She was the big sister to my three children, Ed, Donnie and Teri.
On Suzie’s wedding day, I had the honor of walking her down the aisle here in the chapel at the International Offices, and Lovell preformed the wedding ceremony.
Lovell and my family caused several churches to be built in the Philippines. When my mother Virginia died 50 years ago, a men’s dormitory was built for the Bible School in the Philippines in remembrance of her. Ten years later, in 1970 during a visit to Davao City with Lovell, he requested I address the congregation for one of the services. He assigned a 17 year old Simon Valenzuela as my interpreter. That was the beginning of another missionary venture for Jesus Christ and the kingdom of God as a result of Lovell Cary and his work.
Simeon was the 10th of 14 children and his parents considered him as tithe to the Lord. As a young teenage he rebelled against God and joined the street gangs in the Philippines. Lovell’s ministry rescued Simon and sent him to Bible School in the Philippines. He then came to Lee College and my family took him in to be a big brother to my three children. Today Simon continues winning souls as a missionary in the Far East ; his oldest daughter, Dona is a missionary in Cambodia working with the “Build a City” program for People for Care and Learning and a daughter Lois is a missionary in Australia.
During recent years my daughter Teri and I have made several trips to the Philippines to share the gospel. We have scheduled an online service for the Philippines on Easter Sunday and Lovell was scheduled to participate in this on line crusade; however …, now, I believe he and other members of the heavenly host will be cheering us on from heaven above.
The passion for souls never left Lovell and Jenny; our friendship and our desire to tell the world about Jesus has endured these more than 65 years.
A few weeks ago, as Lovell was concluding his missionary work, he rejoiced as he won one more soul to the Lord. He baptized his granddaughter-in -law (Tiffany) in the bath tub in his home.
The Cary /Winters family friendship continues… Earlier this week as God transferred Lovell from the presence of those of us on Earth I believe he was greeted by a host of the Cary and Winters’ family member who preceded him on his arrival in Heaven. On the other shore I believe they cheered Lovell on as he united with the Heavenly host in one of the mansions Jesus has prepared for those who have faithfully served him. This past weekend as Lovell lay on his bed in his home; we worshipped, talked about Jesus, our families, and the heavenly journey. I gave Lovell some special messages to deliver to our relatives if he got to Heaven before I did. He smiled and agreed.
The Heritage of the Cary Family and the Winters’ family is all about our love for Jesus and our desire to tell the world about His love and saving grace.
On behalf of the entire Winters’ family, we have been inspired and blessed by the life of Lovell and Ginny Cary. To God be the Glory.
May we all share Brother Cary’s compassion for “winning souls to Jesus” and may we look forward to joining Lovell and our other Christian friends in Heaven.
