In Memoriam

William "Bill" Stinson
September 25, 1923 - August 9, 2007

Bill Stinson passed on to Glory on Thursday Morning August 9, 2007.
Bill was the president of the FGBMFI San Diego South Bay Chapter.
He had been the founding and active president for over 25 years.
Please keep the family in your prayers.

Memorial service was held on Wednesday August 15, 2007 at
Greenwood Memorial Park - Salli Lynn Chapel, San Diego, California

Internment with Military Honors was on Friday August 17, 2007 at
Riverside National Cemetary, Riverside, California

San Diego South Bay Chapter 1881

I have been asked to write and describe how this chapter was started and is now celebrating the beginning of its 25th year. I frankly didn't know what to write so I asked God.

By Bill Stinson

These are the thoughts he brought to me. In late 1976 I moved to San Diego. In 1977 I became a Director with the San Diego Evangelical Association; at this same time I also spent two years in a street ministry, "Operation Nigh Watch" in downtown San Diego. Simultaneously, I was trained and served two years in a prison ministry, The God Squad at the Federal Prison downtown. Also, during this period, I became the Chairman of two Billy Graham movies for the South Bay area. That little Vogue Theater in Chula Vista saw God save several hundred people during the second film.

I did not realize that God could use a personal testimony for His purposes. During this same two-year period another Director of the San Diego Evangelical Association, who was a pastor in La Jolla, talked me into sharing the testimony God has given me at his church. I even tried to get out of it, but God held me to my commitment. I was scared, nervous and could not believe the response when I finished. This pastor shared what happened with another pastor and I later shared at this other church. There were many young people there that Wednesday night and they were excited as I shared. I then saw God heal a man, in spite of me, who was going deaf.

I was later invited to share the testimony at a chapter of FGBMFI in Mission Valley and again I was stunned by the reaction and the healings and salvations that resulted. That evening I met Frank Foglio, an International Director for FGBMFI. He walked out to the car with me and talked to me about writing a book and that he wanted me to begin traveling and sharing with other chapters what God had done in my life. I was amazed as I saw God save, deliver, heal and bless many, many people. Frank (who has gone on to be with the Lord), began to talk to me about starting a chapter. I said "NO." I traveled over most of California and parts of Arizona for some two years all the while Frank was urging me to start a chapter. I had been told while still in Oklahoma, "Bill, you were a leader in General Aviation for several years, but now you need to back off and let God lead." Thus God was going to have to tell me if He wanted me to start a chapter. Frank was also insisting that I should incorporate as a 501(c)3, non-profit Evangelical Corporation. Again I didn't see any reason to do so, and besides God hadn't told me to do it. I finally prayed about that and asked God to give me a sign if this was His idea and not man's. On Apri115, 1980, The Fisherman Foundation was approved, exactly 7 years to the day that I had given my life to God, April 15, 1973. I had my sign. I had no idea that God was going to lead me into full-time ministry.

In the late spring of 1980, the Lord brought a new pastor to our church, AOG at 4th & D in Chula Vista. This was Dwaine E. Lee. Within one month of his coming, he took me aside and said I should start a chapter of FGBMFI. I again said, "NO." Then I realized that Frank and Pastor Lee were both continuing to tell me I should start a chapter. One of them, Pastor Lee, I think, asked me if I had prayed and asked God. Well, I had not. I really didn't want to do it and what if God said "YES?" I then put out a three-part fleece to God and told no one about it. In July 1980, Pastor Lee invited an International Director of FGBMFI to come and share at our church one Sunday morning. Ed Hutka had just written a book on Tithing and he came and spoke to us about Tithing. Pastor Lee introduced Ed and me and after he finished speaking we visited for a couple of moments in the center aisle about Tithing, and then he went out to the lobby to sell his books. We never mentioned FGBMFI. I never saw Ed again since he had flown back to Oakland that afternoon. On Thursday of that week I received a letter from Ed (we had exchanged cards so he had my address) and in the center paragraph it went # I, #2, #3, the fleece I had laid out to God. I knew then that God wanted me to start a chapter. I had never told anyone about this fleece.

The following Wednesday evening just before the service began I asked Pastor Lee if I could go through the people quickly and see if 10 men wanted to come together to form a chapter. He told me to go for it. This had to be God. I don't think it took even 10 minutes and it was done. Every man I spoke to immediately said "YES." It was almost as if they were waiting for someone to ask them. We had our foundation meeting in August, and with the FGBMFI Field Representative there to conduct the meeting, we elected officers. We met again in September and October and had our first dinner meeting on Thursday November 13, 1980. Stan Bell was the speaker. We met at the Relay Station on Broadway and K St. in Chula Vista.

We were off and running. Within two months Pastor Lee was again after me, this time to start a Bible Study. Again I said "NO." The thought scared me and besides I felt I was not qualified. I had always believed that a person should be trained beyond what they would ever be asked to do. I stuck to that during my 33 years of flying. I had my Airline Transport Rating when all I'd have needed would have been a Commercial License. Thus I felt that since I had not gone to Bible School I was not qualified to teach. Pastor Lee stayed on my case, and finally one day he said, "How about a Singles Bible Study?" I was single at the time, Carol, my wife now, and I were dating but this seemed a possible thing, except I still had reservations for lack of training. I called a good friend, Dr. Ben Griffith, who was pastoring a church downtown at the time to ask his opinion and he said "Bill, I've been going to call you to come and start a Singles Bible Study in our church." Both of these pastors encouraged me that I was so into God's Word that I should be teaching. We started two Bible Studies at the same time. After about two years, we merged into one Bible Study, Believer's Bible Study Fellowship.

Why did I mention this? God reminded me of all of this. You see, God was using the FGBMFI to teach me to work with His people in His ministry and on the other hand, through the Bible Study He was teaching me who HE IS and HOW TO USE HIS WORD ACCURATELY AND CORRECTLY TO WITNESS THE SIGNS AND WONDERS. I did not realize for four years that the Bible Study was God's idea also, I thought it was just Pastors Lee and Griffith that had talked me into it. The two ministries FGBMFI and the Bible Study complement each other, but I didn't realize that for some time.

Having spoken at many, many chapters at the rate of one to two per week for over two years I had, without realizing it, some very definite ideas on how a chapter should be run. As I shared some thoughts with our founding members we were all in agreement on these points. We were going to create an atmosphere where businessmen and any non-believer would be comfortable in attending our meeting. In fact, our VP of PR and Advertising,Jerry Warsaw, went so far as to insist we have an ash tray on every table (this was when smoking was still in). We agreed to support all Bible believing Churches but we would not be a church ourselves, so we do not, as an example, have group singing at our dinner meetings. However, knowing that God loves to be praised, we immediately organized a breakfast meeting to be the 2nd and 4th Saturday, each month. There we would sing and praise the Lord. We would also then pray for the next dinner meeting. The first three breakfasts only two guys showed up, Jerry Warsaw and me. I wondered if we should just forget the breakfast idea, so Jerry and I prayed. God answered and the breakfasts began to grow rapidly.

The Lord also put it on my heart to have an accounting of all offerings that came in. He had the Apostle Paul speak to this in 2 Corinthians 8:20-21. He said they wanted to handle the offering in such a way that it would be right not only in God's eyes but also in those of men. So we also have a business meeting each month, 3rd Monday. I have had other chapter Presidents call me to ask just what we do at our business meetings. We conduct it just like a business meeting, with the Lord in charge. We open in prayer and ask Him for wisdom and to help us do what is right in His sight. The Secretary reads the minutes of the last meeting, we discuss and vote to accept or not as read. The Treasurer them gives us a detailed accounting of every cent that has come in to us with each member present receiving a copy of that month's financial statement. Each Director then can report on the activities in his respective area. We also receive an offering from those with a willing heart and we pray over every check that goes out and the incoming offering. First we Tithe, since that belongs to the Lord. We then take prayer requests, then pray and dismiss with a song.

I have heard both Dr Lee and Dr Griffith speak that there have been times when the enemy tried to stop us or slow us down. I don't know how they knew because we don't talk about any of that; I believe the Lord impressed these thoughts on them. Yes, a few of us can remember three major efforts of the enemy to stop us, but God saw us through to victory. There were many small battles but the God we serve is the God of victory. I know Bill Hoover and Don Clark remember some of these times. The first big attack came even as Satan was trying to destroy the credibility of our founder Demos Shakarian in the mid to late 80's.

I believe that today we are stronger and better prepared than at any time in our history. In the past couple of years God has brought two highly skilled men into our chapter who are in the television ministry and have the talents and desire to put us on TV We have been so blessed by the Lord who has brought to us over 250 very anointed men and women during these 24 years. We have been not only audio taping all testimonies but for many years now we have also been video taping. There are thousands of people in this area who have never heard of us or the power of testimonies when God anoints and whose lives will be changed as we go on TV I understand that is to happen in the next month or so and will be a weekly program. We are claiming souls for His Kingdom.

God has truly blessed me. He brought me a beautiful Spirit filled wife. He allowed me to fly professionally for 33 years. I loved to fly and I got paid for doing it. As exciting as that was though I must confess, this is the most exciting time of my life. To see people saved, filled with the Holy Spirit, healed, delivered from whatever, and see the poor prospered right out of being poor by acting on the Word of God with faith in Him and His Word.

I had the privilege of working with some of the most talented men and women in aviation but I have to say that today the men and women in this chapter are without a doubt the most dedicated, talented and anointed people I have had the plea- sure to work with. I believe that our best days are ahead of us. I find it interesting to note that those who are leaders and workers in this chapter are also the ones who are leaders and workers in their respective churches. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU!! May I now thank each of you for being a part of my life.