Ray Family Update from July 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. I hope this letter finds you faithfully serving the Saviour and joyfully receiving His goodness and mercy. At the Ray house, we are striving to return to a sense of normalcy after three straight weeks of being on the road. We certainly have a newfound appreciation for those who travel for the Lord while maintaining ministries and family life at home. Our travels were blessed with safety, and we were able to meet new friends and reunite with old friends at a Bible Conference in North Carolina and spend time with some of our dearest friends on earth just north of Chicago. All in all, we had good travels but rejoice to be home for a little space of time.

The Goodness of God

As I have been writing, the Lord has helped us to finalize several projects this summer. A couple of weeks ago, we received shipments for our fourth and final devotional book, Daily Strength 4, and our first children’s book, Josiah: The Boy Who Would Be King. Earlier this week, I was able to complete my work on the upcoming book on Matthew chapters 24 and 25. One of our proofreaders said this is our best book yet and that she could not put it down. A brother who helped us with feedback throughout the writing of this book said, “It is the clearest, simplest, and best faithful-to-God’s-word explanation of Matthew chapters 24 and 25 that I have ever read.”

This book will answer the end-times troubles recently stirred among Bible-believing Christians. Please pray for its completion and that it will get into the hands of pastors across the country in order to thwart the efforts made by those promoting a mid or post-tribulation rapture. Unfortunately, men have poured an exorbitant amount of cash into sending unscriptural material to Independent Baptists all over the country; would to God we could do the same with the truth.

Upcoming Schedule and Prayer Requests

This month marks the beginning of our Fall Semester at Antioch Baptist Bible Institute. Classes start on Monday, August 21 and will be held on Monday and Tuesday evenings from 6 to 10 p.m. This is a big undertaking as we have students both local and online. Please pray that the Lord uses the institute classes to minister to the students both now and in the future.

On another front, we want to take advantage of some new outreach opportunities and ask that you pray with us on these matters. We would like to purchase a billboard on the highway where our church is located and post a large witness for the Saviour. The only hindrance here is cost. Additionally, we want to put a door hangar with a gospel message on every door in the community where we worship. We would love to put one on every door in Knoxville but need more labourers to do so. Lastly, please pray for upcoming outreaches at sporting events as well as some efforts we will undertake to reach those involved in public service (firefighters, police, and military). We know our time is short! It is certainly “high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.” There is truly no excuse not to be busy doing SOMETHING FOR THE SAVIOUR!