Ray Family Update from December 2015

Dear Praying Friends,

The arrival of a new year is somewhat strange. On one hand, it is the presentation of a new opportunity to serve the Lord. Yet, at the same time, it is a reminder just how swiftly the last new opportunity passed through our hands. For me personally, the swiftness of time’s passing is incomprehensible. In our home, we just celebrated Isaac’s first birthday, will soon celebrate our seventeenth wedding anniversary, and before the year is out, we’ll have celebrated Noah’s sixteenth birthday.

As far as ministry, I still catch myself feeling like the young pastor just getting started. Comparatively, I guess I could still be viewed that way, but this year will bring my ninth anniversary as the pastor of Antioch, and, if I am not mistaken, the seventeenth anniversary of announcing my call to the gospel ministry. Time and trials sure have a way of bringing a young preacher down to earth. I no longer expect to conquer the world, but I do hope to help a few. My aim is not to gain the approval of men I esteem highly, but to please the One who called me to be a soldier. I just marvel that I can be of any use to the Lord. Everything about life speaks to God’s greatness and my own frailty.

Pastoral Availability

Throughout the years, one of the greatest concerns I have heard from folks with experience in larger churches is the lack of availability of the pastor. Combatting this problem, I made myself available twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Doing so hurt my family, and, believe it or not, it hurt those who could so easily obtain my advice.

With everything in life, I believe there to be a balance in this matter. Whether I will find it or not, I do not know, but I am going to make some changes. As has been the case for the past few months, Friday will be my day off. Brother Jonathan Judy is available on Fridays and can assist with anything that cannot wait. As far as family, there are two things I have implemented and that I strongly recommend to others: (1) family day (Friday) and (2) date night (Thursday).

As to counselling, I am instituting a schedule of availability. Obviously, I want to be available in the case of an emergency, but for standard counselling I will be available Monday and Tuesday evenings from 5 PM to 7 PM. Those needing counsel can approach me to schedule times. I pour a good amount of time into my studies both doctrinally and practically to be a help to God’s people. I teach a Sunday School class and generally preach three services each week. All total, that is between three and four hours of counselling each week that is available to the entire congregation. This does not even take into account the 1,000 plus devotional studies that I and brother Stauffer have written to help individuals and families.

As I write this I fear the conclusion to which some will come. I assure you that I still care and still desire to help. However, I fear that I have in many cases done more harm than good. Let me admonish us all to seek the Lord for help before we ever consider consulting man. Too much advice and availability of the preacher tends to take the place of prayer and remove opportunities for personal spiritual maturity. This is a poor trade! Also, as a matter of precaution, I have come to the conclusion that it is unwise to counsel via text message. The longer I live the more I think phones are of Satan. I used to wonder how we survived before we had cell phones. Now I wonder how any of us are going to survive if we do not lose them.

Why I Write

After reading and rereading this letter, I feel as though I ought to offer some clarity. My prayer letters are not intended to be typical. Nor are they only intended to impress others. I write these to offer an honest look into the life and ministry of one preacher. I write to help. I do not suggest that I have the answers, but I do suggest that others can learn from what I am learning. If you are a preacher of the gospel, you either can learn or have learned many of the things God is presently teaching me. If you are not a preacher or missionary, perhaps you can gain some appreciation for the wisdom that your preacher needs.

Prayer Requests

* For wisdom and power in preaching and teaching
* For God’s provision for the needs of our church