In 1985, after twenty years of leadership of the Bible Institute, Winston stepped down as director. Winston co-founded ETF Leuven in 1981, which was recognized by the Belgian state as university education in 1983. As early as 1974, he advocated the establishment of a European theological faculty in Heverlee, where an emphasis on academic theology would go hand in hand with attention to spiritual qualities and doctrinal stability. He also had vision for academic theological education. Winston strove to create an atmosphere of openness and respect for different points of view based on evangelical foundations. In Heverlee the interdenominational character was further strengthened. Under Winston’s leadership, in 1975 the Bible Institute moved to Heverlee (Leuven), where the training building of the French-speaking Jesuits was purchased. In 1971, diplomas were recognized for Protestant religious education in primary and lower secondary schools. The French-speaking and especially the Dutch-speaking branches of the Bible Institute grew spectacularly. As a result, the Bible Institute developed into an interdenominational program with enormous appeal. He devoted himself to theological broadening and the independence of the Bible Institute from the BEM (of which he was interim director from 1969-1971). In 1965 Winston succeeded his brother John Jr. In addition, George Winston was a guest professor at the Faculté Libre de Théologie Évangélique in Vaux-sur-Seine near Paris. George and Dora Winston remained connected to the Bible Institute as teachers for over three decades, until 1995. After they married, she too taught at the Bible Institute, including Old Testament and pastoral subjects. She had studied in London and then worked for four years with the Salvation Army in Kinshasa. In 1954, George married the Walloon Dora De Looper. He also engaged in the church planting work of the BEM. He then returned to Brussels, where he became a teacher at the Belgian Bible Institute, then affiliated with the BEM. During World War II, George left for the United States, where he studied history at Wheaton College, Illinois (1943-1948 B.A.) and theology at Dallas Theological Seminary, Texas (1948-1952 Th.M.). From 1936 to 1963, John Winston Sr., George’s father, was director of the BEM. Both parents worked at the Belgian Evangelical Mission (BEM, now Vianova).
George Winston was born in Etterbeek (Brussels) on February 26, 1926, the son of American parents. George and his wife Dora were hugely instrumental in the development of the Bible Institute Belgium, out of which ETF Leuven was born.
He was unable to complete his ninety-sixth year of life. On January 17, 2022, he passed away in an assisted living facility surrounded by his six children. In grateful memory, Evangelische Theologische Faculteit (ETF) Leuven remembers Belgian theologian, teacher and director George Winston. Instead, he let his music do his talking, and that was okay because his songs speak loud and clear.Photo: George Winston (with wife Dora), director of the Belgian Bible Institute from 1965-1985 © photo Vianova It was interesting that Winston wasn't the type of performer who talks to his audience. It was so easy to just close my eyes and appreciate Winston's talent. The show lasted two hours and it was two hours of pure melodic excellence, uncluttered, never frenetic or aggressive, and quite relaxing and enjoyable. My favorites, though were the songs from his album Forest: "Tamarack Pines," "The Cradle," "Returning and Building the Snowman." I thought Winston was exclusively a pianist, so I was quite surprised when he played songs on the harmonica and acoustic guitar. He played songs from all of his albums, including Ballads and Blues, Autumn, December, Summer, Plains, and Montana - A Love Story. Not only that, Winston moved over to the jazz scene, and pretty soon the audience was tapping its toes to boogie-woogie and stride piano pieces. And that's what I got - pleasant melodies that relaxed me.
Winston is an acoustic soloist, so I was looking forward to a nice, quiet evening of musical enjoyment. A rural folk pianist, Winston grew up in Michigan, just like me. I saw George Winston perform at the Lesher Center of the Arts in Walnut Creek, California.
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