Ray Stedman
Encyclopedia
Raymond Charles Stedman (October 5, 1917 - October 7, 1992) was an evangelical
Christian
pastor
, and author
. He was a long-time pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California
, and author of several books.
; where his father, Charles; worked for the railroads. Ray's mother, Mabel, was asthmatic and developed a heart condition
, and after the age of six Ray lived with his aunt. His father abandoned the family, and all efforts to locate him were to no avail.
Ray planned to become a surgeon
, and after high school in Montana
he entered a premed course at Whitworth College; Spokane, Washington
. Financial difficulties forced him to drop out. He worked in Montana which included being a Brahma
bull rider in rodeos. Ray went on to work in Chicago
, Illinois
; and Denver. He moved to Hawaii
to work for Libby Pineapple when World War II
broke out. He enlisted in the Navy
there in 1943.
Ray met his wife Elaine in Great Falls, Montana
, and at the close of the war they were married in Honolulu on October 22, 1945. Upon their return to the mainland in 1946, Ray began attending Dallas Theological Seminary
, befriending Howard Hendricks
, and graduating in 1950. The Stedmans went on to spend one additional summer in Pasadena
at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Before his call to Palo Alto, Ray worked alongside J. Vernon McGee
, a preacher widely known in Evangelical circles for his radio ministry. In the fall of 1950, Ray accepted the call to serve on the staff of Peninsula Bible Fellowship in Palo Alto, California
.
. By 1950 it had grown to the point of needing pastoral care
. The directors of Peninsula Bible Fellowship offered the position to Ray in 1950.
Peninsula Bible Fellowship became Peninsula Bible Church, and Ray's leadership here was to last forty years, culminating in his retirement as a pastor and elder
on April 30, 1990. Ray's views on leadership diverged greatly from some in the pastorate. Whereas some pastors rule with a firm and authoritative hand, Ray believed that consensus was key. Leadership at Peninsula Bible Church was and is derived by the Elders of the church. When they met to discuss the welfare of the church, decisions required unanimity for they believed "the mind of Christ
was one."
Ray subjected his views to the collaborative opinion of 10-16 elders. This meant that a hairdresser who was an elder at PBC (Peninsula Bible Church) could disagree on plans Ray may have had for the church, and Pastor Stedman's opinion would be overruled. An occurrence which happened from time-to time.
Ray was known for his humor and warmth. His gentle personality allowed all those who met him to feel instantly at ease. He once remarked "I have several daughters, a wife and mother-in-law who all live in my house. I'm glad that I at least have a mailbox outside." Pastor Stedman's generosity of spirit was demonstrated through his pastoral intern program
. Here, young men and women learned the principles of ministry
as derived from the Bible
. Christian leaders grew in their stewardship
and those who served in ministry developed their leadership skills. Among his interns were Chuck Swindoll
and Luis Palau
.
At the height of his career, when he was speaking internationally; Ray often would return home to Palo Alto and listen to Peninsula Bible Church interns preach from the church pulpit. Regarding Ray's impact, Chuck Swindoll said "Ray Stedman is what I want to be when I grow up."
Evangelicalism
Evangelicalism is a Protestant Christian movement which began in Great Britain in the 1730s and gained popularity in the United States during the series of Great Awakenings of the 18th and 19th century.Its key commitments are:...
Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
, and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
. He was a long-time pastor of Peninsula Bible Church in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
, and author of several books.
Early life
Ray was born in Temvik, North DakotaTemvik, North Dakota
Temvik is a ghost town in Emmons County, North Dakota, United States. It is situated between Linton and Hazelton, North Dakota. The town had a school and several grain elevators early in the twentieth century; all that remains today is a farm....
; where his father, Charles; worked for the railroads. Ray's mother, Mabel, was asthmatic and developed a heart condition
Heart disease
Heart disease, cardiac disease or cardiopathy is an umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. , it is the leading cause of death in the United States, England, Canada and Wales, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in the United States.-Types:-Coronary heart disease:Coronary...
, and after the age of six Ray lived with his aunt. His father abandoned the family, and all efforts to locate him were to no avail.
Ray planned to become a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, and after high school in Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
he entered a premed course at Whitworth College; Spokane, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Spokane is a city located in the Northwestern United States in the state of Washington. It is the largest city of Spokane County of which it is also the county seat, and the metropolitan center of the Inland Northwest region...
. Financial difficulties forced him to drop out. He worked in Montana which included being a Brahma
Brahman (cattle)
The Brahman or Brahma is a breed of Zebu cattle , later exported from India to the rest of the world. The main breeds used were Kankrej, Gujurat, Nelore or Ongole and the Gir or Gyr cattle...
bull rider in rodeos. Ray went on to work in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
; and Denver. He moved to Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
to work for Libby Pineapple when World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
broke out. He enlisted in the Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
there in 1943.
Ray met his wife Elaine in Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls, Montana
Great Falls is a city in and the county seat of Cascade County, Montana, United States. The population was 58,505 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Great Falls, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Cascade County...
, and at the close of the war they were married in Honolulu on October 22, 1945. Upon their return to the mainland in 1946, Ray began attending Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
, befriending Howard Hendricks
Howard Hendricks
Howard G. Hendricks is a longtime professor at Dallas Theological Seminary and speaker for Promise Keepers. Upon his graduation from Dallas, Hendricks accepted the pastorate at Calvary Independent Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas. An opening on the seminary staff led Hendricks to begin...
, and graduating in 1950. The Stedmans went on to spend one additional summer in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
at Emmanuel Baptist Church. Before his call to Palo Alto, Ray worked alongside J. Vernon McGee
J. Vernon McGee
John Vernon McGee, Th.D., LL.D, was an ordained Presbyterian minister who later pastored an interdenominational church, a Bible teacher, theologian, and was also a radio minister.-Early Years and Education:...
, a preacher widely known in Evangelical circles for his radio ministry. In the fall of 1950, Ray accepted the call to serve on the staff of Peninsula Bible Fellowship in Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto is a California charter city located in the northwest corner of Santa Clara County, in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, United States. The city shares its borders with East Palo Alto, Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Stanford, Portola Valley, and Menlo Park. It is...
.
Career
Peninsula Bible Fellowship had begun two years earlier as a small Bible studyBible study (Christian)
In Christianity, Bible study is the study of the Bible by ordinary people as a personal religious or spiritual practice. Some denominations may call this devotion or devotional acts; however in other denominations devotion has other meanings...
. By 1950 it had grown to the point of needing pastoral care
Pastoral care
Pastoral care is the ministry of care and counseling provided by pastors, chaplains and other religious leaders to members of their church or congregation, or to persons of all faiths and none within institutional settings. This can range anywhere from home visitation to formal counseling provided...
. The directors of Peninsula Bible Fellowship offered the position to Ray in 1950.
Peninsula Bible Fellowship became Peninsula Bible Church, and Ray's leadership here was to last forty years, culminating in his retirement as a pastor and elder
Elder (Christianity)
An elder in Christianity is a person valued for his wisdom who accordingly holds a particular position of responsibility in a Christian group. In some Christian traditions an elder is a clergy person who usually serves a local church or churches and who has been ordained to a ministry of Word,...
on April 30, 1990. Ray's views on leadership diverged greatly from some in the pastorate. Whereas some pastors rule with a firm and authoritative hand, Ray believed that consensus was key. Leadership at Peninsula Bible Church was and is derived by the Elders of the church. When they met to discuss the welfare of the church, decisions required unanimity for they believed "the mind of Christ
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
was one."
Ray subjected his views to the collaborative opinion of 10-16 elders. This meant that a hairdresser who was an elder at PBC (Peninsula Bible Church) could disagree on plans Ray may have had for the church, and Pastor Stedman's opinion would be overruled. An occurrence which happened from time-to time.
Ray was known for his humor and warmth. His gentle personality allowed all those who met him to feel instantly at ease. He once remarked "I have several daughters, a wife and mother-in-law who all live in my house. I'm glad that I at least have a mailbox outside." Pastor Stedman's generosity of spirit was demonstrated through his pastoral intern program
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
. Here, young men and women learned the principles of ministry
Christian ministry
In Christianity, ministry is an activity carried out by Christians to express or spread their faith. 2003's Encyclopedia of Christianity defines it as "carrying forth Christ's mission in the world", indicating that it is "conferred on each Christian in baptism." It is performed by all Christians...
as derived from the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
. Christian leaders grew in their stewardship
Stewardship (theology)
Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world, and should take care of it. It can have political implications, such as in Christian Democracy.-Implications:...
and those who served in ministry developed their leadership skills. Among his interns were Chuck Swindoll
Chuck Swindoll
Charles Rozell "Chuck" Swindoll is an evangelical Christian pastor, author, educator and radio preacher. He founded Insight for Living, currently headquartered in Plano, Texas, which airs a radio program of the same name on more than 2,000 stations around the world in 15 languages...
and Luis Palau
Luis Palau
Luis Palau, Jr. is an international Christian evangelist living in the Portland area in Oregon, United States. He was born in Argentina and moved to Portland in his mid-twenties to enroll in a graduate program in Biblical studies....
.
At the height of his career, when he was speaking internationally; Ray often would return home to Palo Alto and listen to Peninsula Bible Church interns preach from the church pulpit. Regarding Ray's impact, Chuck Swindoll said "Ray Stedman is what I want to be when I grow up."
Some books by Stedman
- Adventuring Through the Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to the Entire Bible by Ray C. Stedman and James D. Denney (Paperback - Sep 1, 2005)
- Authentic Christianity: The Classic Bestseller on Living the Life of Faith With Integrity by Ray C. Stedman (Paperback - Oct 1996)
- Spiritual Warfare: Winning the Daily Battle With Satan by Ray C. Stedman (Paperback - Jun 1999)
External links
- www.RayStedman.org - Official Web Site (US, Worldwide)
- Portrait of Integrity: The Life of Ray C. Stedman (Paperback) by Mark S. Mitchell (Author)
- Peninsula Bible Church website - 800 Sermons