Ray Family Update from October 2017

Dear Praying Friends,

God offers varying graces to the Christian depending upon the needs. The above verse reminds me that I need, among many other graces, two prominent things from the Lord at this point in my life—patience and faith. As I see it, these two virtues work together, but distinctly. Faith gives us the confidence that God will bring us through our time of testing, but the patience helps us maintain the right spirit until such time as God sees fit to intervene on our behalf. The fact that the believers of Thessalonica demonstrated these virtues in their time of persecution and tribulation caused the apostle Paul and his colabourers to “glory” in the saints. While this may seem simple, it is quite convicting to me. I wonder how many believers could “glory” in me if I demonstrated the patience and faith called for and available in troubling times. Brethren, pray for me!

A Witness for Jesus!

We are so happy in the Lord that we were able to see our first billboard go up! It is just south of our meetinghouse on a main highway. This billboard will be up through the end of the year and we are praying for the funds and proper location to put another one up sometime around the beginning of the year. We may never see anyone come to the church as a result of the billboards, but our greater desire is to know that people going up and down Broadway are learning of the necessity and offer of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Antioch Baptist Bible Institute

This year has proven to be a real blessing in the Bible Institute. We have a good mix of students locally and online. Within a couple of weeks, we will have completed verse-by-verse studies on Deuteronomy and Hebrews as well as topical courses on the New Testament Church, Bible Geography, Church History, and Dispensationalism. Each of these classes are available on our YouTube channel. We are already hearing from new students who want to join us online for the Spring semester of 2018. The classes for that semester will be held on Monday evenings beginning January 15, 2018. The classes include a verse-by-verse study through the book of Acts and a practical class entitled How to Study the Bible.

Upcoming Schedule

During the month of January, I will be travelling to two Bible conferences. I have been asked to preach in the second annual conference at Bear Trail Baptist Church in Cana, Virginia and will be in attendance at a second conference at the Bible Baptist Church in Deland, Florida. I will travel to Virginia again in May to preach in a Bible conference at Spring City Baptist Church. One of the things I enjoy most about preaching in these meetings is the fact that you get to preach and be preached to. This gives a real shot in the arm to a pastor. I certainly count it an honour to be used of God in these meetings!