Get to Know Matthew Ray

Ministry Description

I will be working for a little over 2 months in South Africa with the Word of Life team. My primary role there and for the rest of my life will be sharing the gospel with whoever and whomever will listen. I will get to work alongside the missionaries that have dedicated a huge portion of their lives to the work of ministry in this specific area. Some opportunities I will get will be working alongside the youth, equipping them to share the gospel with their family and friends. I also hope to get on the streets and be able to meet people where they are at with the best news ever, the Gospel! Some more opportunities I will get is to help with local church outreaches and camps, and the Lord will be doing a mighty work and I’m so glad to be a part of what he is doing over on that side of the world. All of what I will be doing is to make the name and renown of Jesus known, and helping others experience his love just as I have!

Learn more about the ministry in South Africa.

About Matthew

My name is Matthew Ray, I was born in Atlanta Georgia, and I have two siblings, an older brother and a twin brother. I grew up in the church, going every Sunday yet I did not understand why I was there or what I was learning. I said the sinners prayer when I was 5, but I didn’t know I was a sinner and didn’t realize I needed saving. My early parts of my life were defined by working hard in school and in sports, living off of the praise of man. I searched through everything the world had to offer a young man like me, yet nothing would fill the cross shaped whole in my heart. My brother, who had recently connected truly with Jesus, invited me to a youth group that would change my life. That summer I was invited to a youth camp, where I experienced the presence of God in a way that I had never before, he was so close I could almost touch him! That moment defined who I wanted to be for the rest of my life, a son of the creator of the universe and the only true God! Jesus is the map that I abide by, and where he leads I will follow, because I’ve seen where I lead my life, and that is to death. I gave my life to the one who wanted it, and it was the best decision I’ve ever made, and Jesus was the only one who could fill the whole in my heart, because I was created by him and for him, and he knows my name and my past yet still calls me his son! Since that moment, I have been able to run clubs at school, I have got to lead many friends to the saving grace of Jesus, helped serve in many ways at church, and I even got to go to South Africa for the first time with student fusion last year (2025). He is leading me now to go back to South Africa, and to spend more time there since it left such an imprint in my heart last time. My desire is to use my talents and the message of Jesus Christ, to help many in their walks and journeys with him and I hope to make a lasting impact in peoples lives all around the globe through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

“Yes Lord, walking in the ways of your truth, we wait eagerly for you, for your name and your renown are the desire of our souls.” Isaiah 26:8

Contact Information

gatormatthew@icloud.com

Address:
Matthew Ray
Word of Life South Africa
PO Box 600
Schroon Lake, NY 12870