June 24, 2002
Old-fashioned love story with lots
of twists shows power of God's love
___By John Hall
___Texas Baptist Communications
___One man, two women, a divorce and a murder sentence. Just an old-fashioned love story.
___Terry and Bonnie Wilson had it all. They had been married more than 20 years, had two children and owned a house. They were happy; everything was good.
___The tide soon turned, however. Terry Wilson began traveling the country repairing computer networks to make more money. The Wilsons began to see each other less and less. He started having an extramarital affair with a woman 20 years his junior.
___The Wilsons also split spiritually. Although both were Christians, he began to "wander away from the path," while she continued her devotion to God.
___"I was very materialistic," Wilson said. "We had a good life, but I started bowling and golfing. As a Christian, my wife was spending more time at church. And you know the best day for playing golf is Sunday, because that's when the Baptists are in church."
___The Wilsons separated and divorced in 1981. Despite their problems, she prayed daily for reconciliation until her ex-husband married the woman with whom he had been having an affair.
___The former couple went their separate ways but stayed in touch with each other over the years, speaking of the children and events in their lives.
___His second marriage did not go smoothly, however. After 10 years, his second wife began having an affair with another man, he said. Enraged, Wilson hired two men to "break both his arms and both his legs," he said.
___The hired thugs went to the man's house, where one of the men got out of the car with a gun. He called the man out his house and told him to leave Wilson's wife alone. The man from the house pulled a gun and shots erupted. Both men died of gun wounds.
___The other hired hand drove away but later was arrested. That man was wired and used by the police to get a confession out of Wilson. In 1992, he was once again divorced and was sentenced to 10 years in prison on a first-degree murder charge.
___Meanwhile, he and his first wife began talking about reconciliation, but both were unsure, she said. The Holy Spirit told her they were to get back together, she reported, but she was hesitant to reunite. Then she saw God working in her ex-husband's life.
___"He began to read the Bible. He began to seek God," she said. "I was listening to him and thought, 'This is not the same man I divorced.'
___"I was amazed he was so sincere about the Lord. Every time we would get together, we would talk about the Bible. He was really excited."
___In 1993, they were engaged, and she returned to their old house and took care of his personal finances. He later was transferred to a prison in Tulia, more than 300 miles away. Although the move saddened her, it would work out for the best, she said.
___At Tulia, Wilson met H.L. Rowell and his wife, Jean, of First Baptist Church of Tulia. They run a prison ministry and came with other volunteer groups to teach the prisoners about the Bible.
___Wilson began studying the Bible eight hours a day while watching over the mess hall. He started taking classes in prison toward a bachelor's degree in theology from a college in Louisiana. He credits the Rowells with straightening out his life, as well as the lives of many others in the prison.
___"It was the best 21 months I ever spent, as far as my Christian life," he said. "It totally changed my life."
___The Wilsons remarried in 1994 by proxy, with their son standing in place of his imprisoned father.
___Wilson was released from prison June 15, 1999, after serving just over six years and two months. Upon his release, the couple had another wedding with both parties present.
___"My wife and I are so much in love and on fire for the Lord," he said.
___Wilson's turnaround has improved not only his life, but the lives of everyone in his family, he said. After seeing his father's change of heart, his son became a Christian as well.
___"I think he has made me a better person," the once-again Mrs. Wilson said. "I know I can't miss prayers. I can't not read the Bible."
___The Wilsons understand they do not have to rely on themselves to work through their problems but can turn to God.
___"If things don't go right, we can pray for each other, pray about it and work things out," she said.
___Wilson said he regrets the deaths of the two men, but he cherishes what he has even more because of the events that transpired.
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