Skyview Baptist Church
Arlington, Tennessee 38002
901-873-3204

• Education: Union Universtiy, B.A. Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, M.Div. Andersonville Baptist Seminary, D. B.S.
• Experience: I served as Youth Minister and Music Minister in 4 Southern Baptist Churches. My first pastorate was the week after I graduated from Union. I served Salem Baptist for exactly 3 years. Then I came to Skyview. I have been here since June of 1993.
• Comment to those looking at my sermons: If it fits your gun....shoot it.
• Sermon or series that made a difference: Men VS Women: Marriage in the 21st Century = This was my first series The Unveiling of Revelation How to Survive Life
• One of my favorite illustrations: The Draw Bridge opperator: He took his son to work one day. The boy got stuck in the gears. The train was coming and the bridge had to be lowered. He lowered the bridge and killed his son. The people on the train were laughing, sleeping, and having a good time. He screamed at the passing train, "Don’t you know what I’ve done?"
• Family: Shanova Lynn Ray = Wife Jonathan Adam Ray = 5 year old son (1996) Kara Faith Ray = 2 year old daughter (1999)
• What my parents think of my sermons: Mom says I’m the greatest. Dad is humble. He tells me every Sunday what a blessing I am to him.
• What my spouse (really) thinks of my sermons: She really thinks that God has His hands on my life. That’s the only explanation she can come up with that would explain how I’m able to preach.
• Best advice given to me about preaching: W. B. Oakley = He and I met just weeks after I began my first pastorate. It was quiet by accident. He was having his car worked on at the place I worked. He was stuck for hours. He is a well known preacher in our state. I sat and listened as he shared the secret of effective preaching. Here it is --- "Begin at the beginning of a book and preach every verse in it. Don’t skip a thing." I now know this is called expository preaching. I’ve done it ever since.
• Books that have had an impact: Brain Harbor, Rising Above the Crowd = My all time favorite
• Hobbies: Fishing Reading Fishing Taking my kids Fishing Fishing RAcquetball with my dad Fishing Working on my boat
• If I could Preach one more time, I would say...: Thank you
• Something funny that happened while preaching: My 2 year old girl came running from the nursery right down the middle aisle laughing and giggling with my wife in hot pursuit. It’s funny now.
• What I want on my tombstone: Born 1966 - Died (Well, he just disappeared one day)