A LIFETIME OF JOY CONTINUES

by Gladys Neigel
What do evangelists do when they retire? Do they move from their house on wheels to a permanent place in a retirement community? Do they move to a desert island?
Upon their retirement in December 2014, Florida Conference Evangelists Bill and Sunshine Waters chose to reduce the number of series they conduct, yet continue the work they love. On a contract basis, they will still hold evangelistic presentations throughout the Southern Union.
“Any conference or church would be blessed to contract Bill and Sunshine in their semi-retirement for a series of meetings,” says Ralph Ringer, Director of Church Growth/Evangelism Training for Southern Union Conference.
The Waters began their ministry in college by assisting Pastors Douglas Bennett and Smuts Van Rooyen with evangelistic meetings. “During this experience,” says Sunshine, “we felt the Lord calling us to our passion for souls, which has brought us a lifetime of joy.”
They began this ministry 45 years ago using a blackboard to illustrate the finer points of the Adventist message. Since an evangelist must be on the cutting edge of technology to draw an audience, Bill added a slide projector and screen. He later upgraded to three screens with nine slide projectors and a movie film projector, and currently uses computerized projections. Bill and Sunshine also use social media to further connect to audiences.
The Waters have changed lives relationally as well as through technology. They have planned weddings, organized youth departments, initiated outreach ministries, and started mentoring programs.
Out of their evangelistic meetings, they have saved lives both spiritually as well as physically. Temple Tips and Happy Heart Humor became part of the program with Bill presenting food demonstrations. During a routine blood pressure check before a meeting, a man was immediately sent to the hospital and most likely avoided suffering a stroke.
Even with baptizing thousands of people through the years, there are still faces and places that come to mind. One example is when Bill baptized Keith Morrison, Fernando Munilla, and Josie Oates who made a difference in their churches serving as head elders. Josie, who serves on the Florida Conference Executive Committee, says, “I thank God for an evangelist like Pastor Waters and his wife, Sunshine, who are mentors to me.”
Another example is when the Waters arrived at a church of 10 members and exercised their faith by setting up 200 chairs in an auditorium. Police had to help direct traffic after 659 people came to the opening meeting. From that series, 61 were baptized. Later, one member started a radio program and another was chosen as Layperson of the Year.
To schedule this highly qualified evangelistic team on a contract basis for your conference or church or to order DVDs of past presentations, e-mail evangbill@me.com or call (888) 684-7172.