Ray and Carol Williams opened their home to us when we were serving in Mexico a couple months ago. This precious couple have spent all of their adult years actively serving our Lord as missionaries in multiple countries and in multiple ways. Ray shared that God called to "go to the nations" as a very young man, and relative newlywed. He said he responded to this calling by making a deal with the Lord, that he would go wherever the Lord pointed, but that he would not seek to raise support; the Lord would need to provide. Some 47 years later, they are still actively serving, sometimes they have needed outside employment to make ends meet and raise their family, most of the time Christians learned of their ministries and provided for their needs (even including airplanes). They are based out of Yuma, AZ these days, but as a pilot, Ray is able to get around pretty easily - and boy does he! They really blessed us during our stay - and have been a blessing to so many others. Following are some excerpts and closing reflections from their recent newsletter that you may enjoy.
We have spent most of the last couple of months in Mexico... Carol brought a beautiful message to
a group of ladies on a Saturday morning. There were almost 80 women who were
first time visitors. Many of them stepped forward to acknowledge their new
found belief in the finished work of Christ.
The “Mother Church” in Mexico City (which they planted) has grown immensely. There are
six daughter churches now. On Easter Sunday the Pastor baptized many new
believers. Through the years they have baptized almost 1,000 new believers in
that Church. Most of the leaders and elders now were babies in the arms at the
dedication service of the Church sanctuary many years ago.
In April, together with CALO, Fundación Codett and Hospital El Buen
Pastor, we took a volunteer medical team to the city of San Quintín, on the
Baja Peninsula to do an eye clinic...The unity and the love of the entire team was so sweet to watch.
On Mother’s Day (May 10 in Mexico) Carol and I each taught a
session and served lunch to the ladies of the Church David and Iracela Power are
planting in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora (this is the church we've drawn Community Center plans for). It was sweet and really anointed.
The young mothers were like hungry little birds. It is so much fun to minister
to people who really want to learn and grow.
The faithfulness of people who love and trust us has allowed Carol
and I to be a part of a world changing, sometimes battlefront and sometimes
victory parade which has lasted since we were sent out to be full time servants
in 1966. That is 47 years of faithfulness on the part of God and of God’s
people. We have no plans or thoughts to quit or retire. No one has ever had a
job that was more fun.
We have note been in Europe or on the African Continent for a couple of years, but we do stay in close contact with some of our dear friends and disciples there. The young men and women we have trained and sent out over the years have planted more than 700 churches on five continents, and created schools, hospitals and feeding ministries all over the globe. I always feel like I've never really had a job in my life, and that I just get to show up and watch the incredible things God is doing.
We love you. Thank you a 1000 times. Ray Williams
Two amazing people that I was privileged to serve with for my 10 days in Guatemala were Joshua Jarrett and Daniel Kwon.
