Ray Family Update from July 2020

Dear Praying Friends,

The prophet Amos was charged by God to preach to a people who had become complacent and carnal, not knowing the pending judgment of God. In their ease, they laid upon beds of ivory, stretched themselves upon their couches, ate the lambs out of the flock and calves from the stall, chanted to the sound of the viol, invented musical instruments, drank wine in bowls, and anointed themselves with the chief ointments (Amos 6:4-6). Awaking them from their complacency was, no doubt, a daunting task.

I fear the ease we have felt in America has brought about much of the same in our countrymen. In fact, the explanation of behaviour among Amos’ neighbours could just as likely explain the recent weekend experience of many of our neighbours, family members, coworkers, and perhaps fellow church attendees. This sense of ease and comfort breeds a complacency and carnality that ultimately ushers in one’s demise. Typically, the solution for such ease is the introduction of trouble. The further a people are lulled into complacency, the stronger the need is for greater levels of trouble.

In order to understand this truth, consider the difference between our nation’s response to September 11, 2001, and the response in our present distress. In 2001, the nation experienced a crisis. There was uncertainty, chaos, and fear on every hand. While the response was not long-lived, many in our country responded with a desire to find God. They flocked to churches, sometimes demanding additional church services, and sought God the way they knew how. Granted, many of these people flocked to churches with which we would disagree vehemently, but they sought God. A good number of people came to a saving faith in Christ during this time and continue in the faith unto this day. Fast forward to 2020! We again experience uncertainty, chaos, and fear on every hand. This time, churches are closing, services are being cancelled, and people (some with good cause) are avoiding church attendance like a death sentence. In the streets, they have taken to burning Bibles and church buildings.

Obviously, there has been a great decline in morality and spiritual alertness. In 2001, albeit temporarily, the trouble shook us from our ease and turned our eyes toward God. In 2020, men have been emboldened in their ungodliness and further enraged against God. Politicians, judges, and common people have made churches their enemies and targets for persecution. Even many church-going people have, for various reasons, become less engaged with the Lord, the Bible, and with church. If we did not know and believe the Bible, we might view this as the beginning of the end for the New Testament church. However, we are promised in scripture that although the gates of hell will war against the church, they shall never prevail. We are not going down! We are going up!

All things considered, we can be sure that the present distress is not intended by God to be the destruction of the church. It may result in dwindling numbers. It may result in more contentious opposition with the world. It may result in a divide between carnal, complacent Christians and those who desire to live for and please the Lord. But, it will not destroy us! In fact, the end result may very well be a purged and purified body of believers more zealous for God and for His service.

Looking Back

It seems a bit odd considering all things that are going on, but this summer has been our busiest yet. Since the day that I got saved, I have strongly desired to be used of the Lord. When I first desired to preach God’s word, I desired to accomplish that as a pastor of a local New Testament church. Never could I have envisioned that God would not only allow that, but would also allow me the privilege to preach in other churches. While the feeling of inadequacy is overwhelming, I am reminded that my “sufficiency is of God” (2 Corinthians 3:5). As such, I have constantly reminded my family this summer that we are partakers of the greatest benefits and blessings of life only through and because of opportunities to serve the Lord.

Along those lines, we have been privileged to spend this summer with some of our dearest friends in sister churches. This began with many of our brethren travelling to Knoxville to be with us at our annual Bible conference, but continued with our travels to NC, MI, and VA. We are so thankful for Pastor Boger, Pastor Summer, Pastor MacDonald, and the fine folks at their respective churches who have made the last couple of months so phenomenal. From our perspective, we are grateful to these men for allowing us to be a part of what they are doing and for providing us with opportunity to serve the Lord and fulfil our calling.

Being with these brethren reminds us that we are not alone in our service to God. In fact, there are a good number of saints out there who love the Saviour and are doing their best to reach their towns for the glory of God. In each of these churches, there is a faithful core of people who are with their pastor and bought into what their church is doing. Their faithfulness, zeal, and love has stirred our hearts anew to finish our course with joy. In the end, I am convinced that the saints in these places have been a greater encouragement to us than what we have been to them.

Looking Ahead

With all that is going on in our country, our community, our church, and within the families of our church, we have determined to give ourselves to prayer. On top of this, we have made a point to pray for the friends of our church who live throughout the country as well as our sister churches and fellowlabourers pastoring those churches. While we certainly do not want our prayers to become an opportunity to receive credit from man or the praise of man, we have committed to handle specific hours of each day in order to ensure that someone from our church is praying each hour of the day. Along these lines, please let us know if there is something specific about which we can pray for and with you.

In addition to an increased commitment to prayer, the month of August will bring with it a shift in focus with the Bible Institute classes resuming on August 24th. This semester will be a reduced schedule load with classes only being held on Monday evenings. We had already scheduled the semester this way in hopes that we would be looking at a remodel of our auditorium, but those considerations are on hold until we can gather more information and quotes. In the meantime, this semester of classes will include the Survey of Bible Doctrines and the Gospel of John, both of which are the final semester of study for the particular course. If you would like more information regarding these classes, please let me know. On another front, I am hopeful that the reduced class load will allow me to wrap up two writing projects as well as the publication of several e-books. This is a lofty task for multiple reasons, but mainly because of our lack of knowledge in formatting matters. Please pray for us in these regards.

In closing, we would like to thank you for your friendship and prayers. We hear from many of you and know that you are praying for us and standing with us as we do our best to serve the Lord. We are grateful to you and to God for this! Please continue to pray for us that we will be found faithful in our service to the Master.