About the Book

Over five decades of our experiences are covered in this book, beginning with our college days and progressing to the present time. As my wife Carolyn and I experienced parallel spiritual journeys in the Christian faith, we were led into some unusual and even bizarre situations. Our primary preparation for these situations was simply on-the-job training. Some of the accounts here are funny, others serious. Some are both funny and serious. In addition to ministry narratives, Against All Odds also chronicles sports and construction stories. A sample from the story “A Late Night Visitor” follows:

“ Carolyn and I were asleep in separate beds, with my bed closer to the hallway door. The woman climbed the stairs, opened our door and jumped into bed with me. This was a beautiful woman, who was a fashion model in Atlanta. Carolyn later claimed that I had my arm around her and seemed to be enjoying myself. When Carolyn woke up and observed the beautiful woman in bed with me, with one giant leap, she joined us in my single bed. Now there were three in the bed and that was too many. I quickly got out of the bed and wondered what to do next.”

About the Author

  An Atlanta native and a graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Ed Van Winkle Jr. is Chairman of the Board of Van Winkle & Company, a family owned general construction firm specializing in the construction of churches, private schools and clubs. Ed's father, Ed Van Winkle Sr., founded the firm in 1931. With over 50 years of service to the company, Ed continues to be involved in the company today, giving leadership and guidance.He has served on the Board of Directors of various organizations. He is a fourth generation member and an elder in the North Avenue Presbyterian Church  in Atlanta GA. An avid tennis player, he can often be found competing in state and national tournaments with his brother, Fritz. He and his wife Carolyn, a University of Georgia graduate, have been involved in a ministry of healing and deliverance for a number of years as well as being speakers and seminar leaders in churches and Christian conferences throughout the southeast. They have made themselves available to pray for and counsel with those desiring healing prayer. They are parents of three children and grandparents of seven.