Women Connect: May He Be Center — Karen Ray

Ponder

Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, O LORD. —Psalm 89:15 (New International Version)

While I am beyond grateful for the way my parents raised my brothers and me, in the house of the Lord (more times than younger generations could comprehend!) - I am incredibly touched and blessed when I meet people who were raised differently…yet learned how to acclaim God and walk - if not RUN - into His presence.

Often, an unprecedented joy seems to follow them throughout their lives. It's contagious.

I hope you enjoy this story of one such friend…

Meet

Karen Ray

Typically when you meet a guy, fall in love, and get married, you're (usually!) blessed to have a group of new people - his family and friends - that you get to love, too.

That's how it was when I met Steve + Karen Ray. Wes knew them from grad school at Azusa Pacific, part of a close-knit circle of friends. As soon as I met any in their 'group', I truly felt honored to be welcomed so warmly.

Today I want you to meet Karen…

She and her siblings grew up in a broken home. Her mother sent her daughters to church. Karen was the first in her family to accept Jesus into her heart. She remembers when her father found out he said, "You'll get over this!" And when Karen shared her good news with her older sister, she responded, "Don't ever talk to me about this again!"

And so her spiritual journey began. The Scripture she held on to was Joshua 1:9 (NIV):

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

After high school Karen enrolled at Westmont - a Christian college in Santa Barbara, California. In her junior year Karen told God, "You're all I want. I give up all boyfriends." And that worked. For a while.

Later that school year, in American Lit - Steve Ray entered the picture. God had another plan for Karen. She and Steve began to date, fell in love and eventually married.

In their first year of marriage, they traveled to Urbana, Illinois, to attend the InterVarsity Student Missions Conference. The speaker was Billy Graham. Together, Steve + Karen went forward to commit to pursuing the call to teach overseas.

Thus, their thrilling, world-wide adventure began, freely sharing God's love. A two-year commitment serving in Taiwan quickly became five. Their lives were changed forever!

Upon returning to America, knowing they wanted to immerse themselves in teaching, they entered a masters program at Azusa Pacific for college student personnel. Upon completion, the normalization of US-China relations was gathering steam. Teaching English as a second language became a viable pathway. Karen and Steve were selected in the second group of people to serve in that capacity through ELIC.

As their marriage progressed, Steve and Karen felt God's best plan was to adopt. During a four-year span, they were blessed with two newborn, special-needs sons. Their journey forward was knit together with lessons of unconditional love and a God-sized dream that together they would make an impact for the Kingdom.

The Rays' journey included China, Hong Kong and Mongolia. Here they had the wonderful privilege of teaching English and sharing the love of Jesus with so many students.

In one of Karen's classes in China, she and Steve introduced Christmas to the class. Jingle Bells eventually morphed into Christmas carols and then Handel's Messiah. They presented the Christmas story from the Bible. The Communist party's classroom monitor was blown away by this new revelation. This newfound freedom was almost overwhelming. He asked Karen and Steve, "How will this ever be taught again when you go back to America?" They reassured him that he was now the messenger. To which he exclaimed, "I can teach Christmas to my students!"

For the past eleven years Karen has served as a chaplain at a health care center in Fort Collins, Colorado. She has the opportunity to teach Bible studies, serve communion, pray with and encourage the residents in many ways. A resident recently told her, "It was so dark before you came here."

So, while overseas travel has slowed down a bit, Karen and Steve offer hospitality to Christians from all over the world. Wes + I had the joy of staying with them for a night last year. They truly shine for Jesus as they extend their arms of love to everyone who enters their home…and lives.

Oh, and something really important: Karen's father accepted Jesus into his heart on his deathbed. Her mother became a Christian at 62 - she walked with Jesus for 30 years! And both of her sisters also invited Christ into their lives. (The prayers of a righteous daughter/sister availeth much!)

Karen wants to leave this song with you:

(feel free to skip the intro ad after 5 seconds)

Thankful

...for the sacred time I am having this week with my beautiful momma. Lots of laughter and reminiscing. A couple months shy of her 92nd birthday, she was still able and willing to make the trip up from Southern California. (Thanks to Michael + Nan.) I feel so blessed.

Also, SO MANY were impacted by the life of Sharon Ries. Married to Pastor Raul Ries, Sharon went into the loving arms of Jesus on Sunday, May 5th. Oh, the blessed hope we have as Christians! We will meet again. She and her sister, Shirley Craver, let me highlight them in a recent women connect.

Heaven becomes more real with the passing of every saint.

Let's be ready!

Heart

If you know someone who needs Jesus. And/or a Bible, please reach out.

judy popineau wick