Ray Family Update from January 2016

Dear Praying Friends,

I hope this letter finds you joyfully enlisted in the service of our Lord Jesus Christ. There is certainly no one more worthy of our time, strength, and mental faculties than our Saviour. Though the Lord remains unchanged (Malachi 3:6), man tends to be very much given to change. We first enlisted in the Lord’s army because we detested life outside His ranks. We consciously refused to be a spawn of Satan, choosing rather to be a soldier for Christ. Like the Israelites of old, we all too soon begin to long for the old life once so vehemently despised. Though our feet march toward the land of promise, our hearts are set on eating cucumbers in Egypt. We are so fickle!

Our minds, our days, our lives are constantly confronted with crossroads—times where we must choose to live for self or for the Saviour. Am I going to return to Egypt or am I going to press forward for Christ both in body and at heart? Thankfully, in the midst of all our uncertainties, waverings, and fickleness, we serve an unwavering God. He is both longsuffering and faithful! As such, the Lord deals with our hearts and graciously awaits a favourable response. His desire is that we would love Him and serve Him with all our hearts, souls, and minds.

Change brings frustrations! We experience internal warfare incomprehensible to the unsaved world. We, like Paul, lament, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?” (Romans 7:24). Yet, we experience other seasons where we enjoy a closeness to the Lord likewise incomprehensible to the world. It is at those times that the Bible, prayer, and opportunities for Christian service become increasingly precious. It is then that “I rejoice at thy [the LORD’S] word, as one that findeth great spoil” (Psalm 119:162). O that we could dwell in this season forever! One day we will.

Gratefully Standing

Over the last few weeks I have become increasingly aware of how blessed I am to be where I am and doing what I am doing. While the common practice seems to be to go out in search of greater opportunities for service, the Lord worked in my heart to stay in the local church and assist in any way I could. At times, the ministry seemed to move at an unbearably slow pace—a pace that climbed to fearful speeds at the passing of Pastor Reagan. However, as I survey the past, present, and future, I realize that I have what I have, to a great degree, because of Pastor Reagan’s faithful service. He laboured tirelessly and faithfully when the church was small and the ministry unknown. He poured the foundation upon which I have the privilege to build. He taught me how to study! He encouraged the emphasis of scripture in teaching, preaching, and practical Christian living. I am truly blessed to stand upon the shoulders of Pastor Reagan (and others) who laboured in the past.

Available Publications

We continually labour to make materials available both through multimedia and in print. In addition to Pastor Reagan’s booklets and the numerous resources available at LearntheBible.org, we now have in print three titles: The Fingerprint of God, Daily Strength, and Daily Strength 2. By the time you read this correspondence, a fourth title (Reviving the Blessed Hope of Thessalonians) will be at the printer. We also continue to press forward on Daily Strength 3 and a new hymnal. As to multimedia, we are approaching 100 items on our YouTube channel including teaching, preaching, and music. One of the newer items includes an ongoing series entitled Foundations for the Home. Our desire is that these resources would be a source of strength and encouragement to the people of God in these difficult times. We ask you to pray to this end.

Prayer Requests

* Pray for wisdom and direction as we move forward with our next writing projects.
* Pray for a spiritual stirring in the midst of the hearts of the people of Antioch Baptist Church.
* Pray for the preparations for the King James Conference that will be held at Antioch on June 6th, 7th, and 8th.
* Pray for the young people of our church, especially for their special meetings following the King James Conference.