Family comes first for Pastor Carr

It’s been seven years since Ray Carr left these shores to pursue studies in theology in the United States of America.

And although he is still in the trenches, he is on course and unfazed by the tasks still ahead; the hills, the valleys and the many rivers to cross.{{more}}

Speaking to Ray on the phone from his adopted home in Wake Forest North Carolina, Ray shared that the challenges that he has faced (and there have been lots) have brought him closer to God, whom he said lit his path and open doors for him and his family.

“The Lord has been good to me, my wife, and the kids. Despite our situation, he has blessed us abundantly and has kept all the promises he has made to us by providing for us.”

To understand Ray’s statement, we must take a trip back down memory lane.

The former pastor of the Glen Baptist Church and his family (wife Deborah, sons Darrel (14), Travis (9) and five-year-old Brianna are in the States because of his studies. Being a student, Ray is not allowed to work except on the college campus, which he does for less than thirty hours a week at close to minimum wage.

With a family to feed, it would take a miracle to cope on his income; and that’s exactly what Ray says has been happening, thanks to his faith and that of his family.

A student at the Southeastern Baptist Theology Seminary where he is pursuing his master’s degree, Ray is also employed in the Student Development Department responsible for the recruitment of students to the institution.

His “job” gives him the chance to interact with hundreds of persons from the southern states and he uses every opportunity to minister the Word of God.

Since being overseas, he has been able to minister the Word in Africa and the Philippines, where he says the experiences have been life changing.

“I travelled to Burkina Faso to train pastors, in Nigeria I was on a course studying other religions, and in the Philippines I was the designated pastor.”

“What I noticed in these countries is the hunger for God; in the absence of all the material things in life, the hunger is one that I have never seen before especially in Africa.”

He asserted that on his trips to Africa, he witnessed first hand some of the rituals and customs brought over the oceans hundreds of years ago, which are practiced and sometimes taken for granted by West Indians.

On completion of his studies, the former primary school teacher is uncertain as to his next move.

“I will go where ever the Lord sends me,” he said.

He sees a great opportunity if he returns to minister to his people here in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, but believes that he will be able to better help open doors for others if he is based overseas.

Ray has been pastoring since 1991, and was ordained in 1996.

He pastored the Glen Baptist Church until his departure in 2001.

Of his many experiences, the ex-Scout Leader/District Commissioner describes the continuing blessings that he and his family are receiving to be the most remarkable ones.

“Seeing God provide for me and my family has been incredible; especially when he provided for us during the birth of Brianna. My family is so blessed.”

By now you can tell that Ray loves his family.

He makes sure that he is with the family at dinner time and explained that one of the reasons why his studies are taking as long as they are, is because of his commitment of his family.

“I believe that the family is very important. Strong families produce strong society. I believe that and I live by that.”

“Parents have to see their homes as a nursery, where they nurture their children; so that when their children leave the homes they will be able to take that nurturing with them everywhere they go.”

“I stretched out my studies over these years because I was not going to sacrifice them for a degree. That’s why I make sure to spend more time with my wife and kids than in the classroom.”

Ray credits his wife Deborah as the backbone of the family; the one who looks after him and the children at every turn. Without her, he exclaims, he would have been nowhere. He credits the younger Carrs’ academic success to her.

Speaking of academic success, Ray doesn’t do too badly himself. He graduated from the Baptist College of Florida Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Leadership and a minor in Counseling.

He created history by becoming the first black person to win a President’s Scholarship from that school; and is expecting another first in terms of presidency when the America votes in November.

Throwing his weight behind Democratic hopeful Barack Obama, Ray believes that a win would do a lot of good for blacks not only in the US but world wide, giving them an opportunity to add another positive role model to the slim list.

In his spare time, Ray enjoys taking care of his kitchen garden, reading and of course spending time with his family.