Free The Pastor's Wife by Diane Fanning Page B

abuse from her husband. The doctor never suspected anything was amiss with Mary’s story.
    Soon after that incident, Mary confronted Matthew. “I want a divorce,” she said.
    â€œAbsolutely not.”
    â€œI can’t take it anymore, Matthew.”
    â€œA divorce will not be allowed.”
    â€œYou tell me I’m fat, my hair isn’t right. If something goes wrong with the girls, it’s my fault. If it rains, it’s my fault. I’ve got to get out of here.”
    â€œIf you leave, I’ll come and get you.”

Chapter 12
    In 2003, Matthew got the opportunity to earn additional money by teaching Bible classes at the Boyd Christian School. This private institution covered all levels of lower education from pre-kindergarten through the twelfth grade. Students received Bible instruction each school day.
    The goal of the state-accredited school was to provide a quality education with more course offerings than available in public schools, and to do so in a more disciplined and safer environment. All high-schoolers studied a college preparatory curriculum. The school did not offer alternative paths, like technical or business, for a diploma. In addition to their education, the faculty fostered the students’ spiritual development and growth.
    Matthew was a welcome addition to the school. His students called him “Wink” and, although they knew he demanded that they study hard and behave, he also brought a lot of fun into the classroom. He was a creative and engaging teacher.
    He got along well with the staff, too. Linda Love, an English, Journalism and foreign language teacher, said that he was a charismatic man, and a loving and doting father. She told The Jackson Sun , “Every time he talked, he had something positive to say about the kids, something positive to say about his family. He often commented on the girls, Patricia and Allie. He would tell about cute things they did.” She added that he was always true to himself andnever put on airs. “He had such a young heart, but an old soul.”
    She believed the Winkler couple had a wonderful relationship. She recalled Matthew and Mary trading affectionate looks on the General Jackson Showboat on the Cumberland River at a Christmas party sponsored by Super D drug store. “They seemed very loving, very close. It was a chilly night and I saw him wrap his coat around her.”
    Robert Jefferies, minister of the Smyrna Church of Christ in McMinnville, had a high opinion of Matthew and his relationship with his wife, too. Matthew worked with his congregation on several occasions, earning their affection and respect. He remembered once arriving at the Winkler home with Matthew. “We had come over just as she was getting ready to head back out to work,” he told reporter Tonya Smith-King. “They hugged and kissed one another goodbye.”
    The older congregants at Central Church of Christ didn’t have as much contact with Matthew as the younger ones did. Nonetheless, many had fond memories of his years at the church. Unlike some youth ministers, Matthew had time and a kind word for everyone.
    Some people, though, saw another side of Matthew. Lori Boyd, the church secretary for part of Matthew’s tenure at Central, worked at the main desk. Matthew’s office was down a narrow hallway. At first, she felt he was extremely nice, but as time went by, she said, he became “mentally and emotionally berating and demanding, and hard to work with.” She felt he looked down on her.
    Matthew obviously was not satisfied with her job performance. He’d order her to do certain tasks. When she made excuses, he said, “You will have this done when I say so.”
    Lori was also aware of a “strained tension” in the office when Mary dropped by the church. Most of the time, she could not hear the words spoken between the two, but she could hear the sound of a deep rumbling voice echoing