Ray Family Update from November 2021

Dear Praying Friends,

The arrival of December is yet another reminder of the brevity of time and ultimately the brevity of life.

On the home front, by the time you read this update, my oldest daughter Hannah will either already be wed to her fiancé, David Walker, or she will be doing so within a few hours. My oldest son, Noah, has been married for over three years. Now Hannah will be entering her new life with David, and my younger children are all growing faster than I could have ever imagined they would. At the same time, both of my parents are experiencing difficult health battles from which they will likely never fully recover. All this considered, me and the wife of my youth are not feeling so youthful.

On the church front, if I am not mistaken, this month marks nineteen years since my wife and I came to Antioch. When we came, we were a young couple with two nursery age children and we came with little to no promise of ever getting to do anything at the church. After all, when I met with Pastor Reagan about coming to the church, he in a few words told me that he nor the church really had need of me. He informed me that he had plenty of preachers and teachers and there was really no need for another one. If God had not led us to the church, we would never have come. After the fact, I learned that this was the very wisdom that Pastor Reagan was after. He later told me that everything within him wanted me to be at the church, but he needed to be sure that God wanted me there. In just a few short months, we will celebrate my fifteenth anniversary as the pastor of the church.

Reflecting on the past gives me pause to consider the future. Obviously, this day could be my last, but planning as though it is not is necessary for one to apply his heart unto wisdom. At most, I see myself having twenty more good years in the pastorate. Perhaps more years could be added to that number for preaching and writing. Ultimately, as David wrote, “My times are in thy [God’s] hand” (Psalm 31:15). When my pastor and I had this conversation regarding his ministry, it was only a few years before his life was cut short and he went home to be with the Lord. In the end, I want to live each day as though it is my last, but plan as though it is not. As far as I can see, this is the only way to finish well. Please pray for me in this area.

In the immediate, a big part of my focus has to be on teaching and writing. We are nearing the end of our rebuild on LearntheBible.org and much content has to be written and rewritten on the site. As I have counted it up, I need to dedicate about twenty hours a week to the site, whether it be writing content or recording Bible teaching. I also need to be a quick learner in the area of ebooks because I have nearly 2,000 pages of notes that need to be prepped for publishing. If I am going to be able to accomplish these things, I have to multiply myself in other areas.

While I am cutting back some on my travels due to my mom’s deteriorating health and the need to focus on writing and recording biblical content, I am scheduled to preach at Bear Trail Baptist Church for their annual Bible Conference on January 3-5, 2022. I am honoured to preach for these fine folks and alongside of some of my dear fellowservants. Please pray for this meeting and for the Lord’s will to be done in it.