The best storyteller
Don Ray brought Bible stories to life in Sunday School!
This past Sunday, we celebrated the life of a hero, Don Ray. He was one of my favorite Sunday School teachers, and the best story teller I ever had. He was 86 years old. He loved teaching and kids adored him. He had them captivated each time he shared the Bible story. Each Sunday, he looked forward just to be with his class. Up until his last days, when he was at the hospital, he always inquired about the church and about the Sunday School kids including mine. He wanted to know all about them and genuinely cared about each one of them.
I want to share about Don because I am thankful that I met him. I am thankful that I did ministry with him, and as a result my life was impacted. During his Celebration of Life, I heard about the amazing things he did to serve his community and to leave this world a better place. Pastor Justin said, as he read his impressive bio, “I don’t know when he slept?!” He did so much throughout his life. He always found a way to be involved.
Don’s life modeled the life of Jesus with his actions. This reminds me of Matthew 25:34-40:
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me’. “
Don lived his life as a true disciple of Christ. He lived his life to the fullest and with greater purpose. His favorite saying was, “Treat everyone with dignity and respect!” And, he lived by it!
As I reflect on all the things that I am thankful for, I am most thankful for relationships with amazing people I call friends. I am honored to work with and alongside people of faith who love God and serve their community in one way or another.
Life has a way of making a full circle. Don’s wife, Bernie, was my husband, Moses’ college professor at CBC. She was the first person with whom my husband shared the news about him proposing. So, in a way, they have been involved in our lives ever since. It all started because a professor genuinely cared about the life of her alumni. Years later, Don and I worked together in Children’s Ministry. He was my kids’ Sunday School teacher. How amazing is this?! I was honored to be part of Don’s Celebration of Life and shared the impact he had in my life.
I pray that you too can reflect on relationships that have made full circle and that, in one way or another, your life has been impacted like Don impacted mine.
Serving Him Together!
Grimelda Sanchez
Associate Pastor