The Life and Ministry of
Pastor Andrew Ray
Ray Family Update from November 2018
Dear Praying Friends,
I can scarcely believe that we are in the final month of 2018. For more than a year now, changes have been brought in life that were both unexpected and overwhelming. Initially, I would state that many of those changes have been good and welcoming, but in reality, when I see things through the lens of faith, all of the changes have been for my good and hopefully for the good of the work of God. One thing I know for sure is that I can see indications of growth in my own life which is testimony in and of itself that God has worked in the changes and used them to mature me both as a Christian and as a minister of the gospel. Looking forward, I have to believe that even better days and accomplishments are ahead. I certainly want to finish my race in a better place than where I started.
When I began writing these monthly reports, I did not do so in hopes of filling up inboxes or wasting precious time for the saints of God. I guess I hoped not only to create for myself another layer of personal accountability in the ministry, but also to encourage some saints to fight on for the Lord through the ups and downs experienced by this preacher in the work of the Lord. Perhaps the Lord can use me as an example of what not to do; perhaps at other times, the Lord can use me as an example of what should be done. Either way, I want the Lord to use my life to help others and to bring Him glory.
Praise to God for Work Accomplished
For the last couple of years, two major projects have consumed my time outside of my regular teaching and preaching. One of these two was a complete overhaul of One Book Rightly Divided. This work of 844 pages was a colabour with Brother Doug Stauffer and is in print and available through Bibledoug.com. The other project, a new hymnal, has been a labour of love off and on for me personally for nearly a decade. I am pleased to report that by the time you read this prayer letter, the new hymnal will be sent to the printer. I have been honoured to serve a facilitating role on this work and cannot wait to hold in my hand what, in my opinion, is sure to be the most scriptural and helpful songbook ever to be made available to the saints of God. Every Bible-believing Baptist congregation or individual in the world would be wise to own and use this songbook in the Lord’s work or in personal devotions.
Upcoming Schedule and Work
With Bible Institute classes coming to a close for the semester and the conclusion of the songbook, I have found a unique window of time where a couple of days in the week are unaccounted for. This has been a bit unsettling for a man that feels comfort in structure. The structure will return in the month of January as I will be starting two new classes in the Bible Institute: a verse-by-verse study in Colossians and Philemon and a survey of Bible Doctrines as well as two new series in the church services: most likely a verse-by-verse study in the book of Revelation and a topical study of our roles in society. In addition to this, it seems likely that the verse-by-verse study will feed another colabour with Brother Stauffer.
In the meantime, I will be preaching in a Bible conference for a pastor friend Tim Crotts at Bear Trail Baptist Church in Cana, Virginia, and will be in attendance at a Bible conference in Deland, Florida, with Pastor James Knox. I also hope to use this time to write a new booklet but need the Lord’s help and direction in order to make it happen. Please pray for sustained strength and increased wisdom in each of these endeavours. Truly, as the opening scripture indicated, my sufficiency is of God!