David Ring
Encyclopedia
David Ring is a Christian
evangelist
and motivational speaker who has cerebral palsy
. Since 1973, Ring has challenged thousands of people with his signature message - "I have cerebral palsy
... What's your problem?" He currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee
, with his wife and four children.
, the seat of Craighead County
in eastern Arkansas
, the son of Baptist
pastor Oscar Newton Ring. Ring's father died in 1964. Cancer
took his mother four years later. Ring was hence an orphan
at the age of fourteen. Depressed from the combination of losing his parents and the difficulties of his disability, Ring dropped out of high school
. With the encouragement of his sister, however, he gave his life to Jesus
in 1970 and returned to Liberty High School
in Liberty, Missouri
, where he graduated in 1971. Ring earned a Bachelor of Arts
degree from William Jewell College
in Liberty
in 1976, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
His new signature message is "I have cerebral palsy, but cerebral palsy don't have me." His now infamous catch phrase is: (concerning Christians who make excuses when it comes to being faithful) " I have Cerebal Palsy and I serve the Lord with all that is within me, what's your excuse?"
, The 700 Club
, and at Bill Gaither's Praise Gathering. He has written one book Just As I Am: The Life of David Ring in 1994. Ring describes gospel musician Mike Speck
as his "best friend in the whole world". Ring has been featured on broadcasts such as John Hagee
’s ministry Cornerstone and James Dobson
’s Focus on the Family
.
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...
evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and motivational speaker who has cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
. Since 1973, Ring has challenged thousands of people with his signature message - "I have cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy
Cerebral palsy is an umbrella term encompassing a group of non-progressive, non-contagious motor conditions that cause physical disability in human development, chiefly in the various areas of body movement....
... What's your problem?" He currently resides in Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, with his wife and four children.
Early years
David Ring was born in JonesboroJonesboro, Arkansas
Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...
, the seat of Craighead County
Craighead County, Arkansas
Craighead County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. As of the 2010 census, the population was 96,443. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area. Craighead County is Arkansas's 58th county, formed on February 19, 1859, and named for state Senator Thomas...
in eastern Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
, the son of Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
pastor Oscar Newton Ring. Ring's father died in 1964. Cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
took his mother four years later. Ring was hence an orphan
Orphan
An orphan is a child permanently bereaved of or abandoned by his or her parents. In common usage, only a child who has lost both parents is called an orphan...
at the age of fourteen. Depressed from the combination of losing his parents and the difficulties of his disability, Ring dropped out of high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. With the encouragement of his sister, however, he gave his life to Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in 1970 and returned to Liberty High School
Liberty High School (Liberty, Missouri)
For schools with similar names, see Liberty High School.Liberty High School is a three-year high school for grades 10-12, located in Liberty, Missouri. Freshmen attend either Liberty Junior High School or South Valley Junior High School. Its current enrollment is just over 2000, and is projected...
in Liberty, Missouri
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
, where he graduated in 1971. Ring earned a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
degree from William Jewell College
William Jewell College
William Jewell College is a private, four-year liberal arts college of 1,100 undergraduate students located in Liberty, Missouri, U.S. It was founded in 1849 by members of the Missouri Baptist Convention and other civic leaders, including Robert S. James, a Baptist minister and father of the...
in Liberty
Liberty, Missouri
Liberty is a city in Clay County, Missouri and is a suburb of Kansas City, Missouri. At the 2007 population estimate, the city population was 29,993...
in 1976, where he was a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity.
His new signature message is "I have cerebral palsy, but cerebral palsy don't have me." His now infamous catch phrase is: (concerning Christians who make excuses when it comes to being faithful) " I have Cerebal Palsy and I serve the Lord with all that is within me, what's your excuse?"
Ministry
Ring has been a guest on The Old-Time Gospel HourThe Old-Time Gospel Hour
The Old Time Gospel Hour is a ministry program broadcast from Thomas Road Baptist Church. The founding pastor was Jerry Falwell.-In popular culture:...
, The 700 Club
The 700 Club
The 700 Club is the flagship news talk show of the Christian Broadcasting Network, airing in syndication throughout the United States and Canada. In production since 1966, it is currently hosted by Pat Robertson, Terry Meeuwsen, Kristi Watts, and Gordon P. Robertson, two of whom will host on any...
, and at Bill Gaither's Praise Gathering. He has written one book Just As I Am: The Life of David Ring in 1994. Ring describes gospel musician Mike Speck
Mike Speck
Mike Speck is a Gospel musician and ordained minister from Lebanon, Tennessee. Together with his wife, Faye, and daughter Melody VanNus, Speck tours with a Gospel music trio called the Mike Speck Trio. Speck has performed as a guest artist in ministries with Dr. Charles Stanley, Dr...
as his "best friend in the whole world". Ring has been featured on broadcasts such as John Hagee
John Hagee
John Charles Hagee is an American founder and senior pastor of Cornerstone Church in San Antonio, Texas, a non-denominational charismatic megachurch with more than 19,000 active members...
’s ministry Cornerstone and James Dobson
James Dobson
James Clayton "Jim" Dobson, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian author, psychologist, and founder in 1977 of Focus on the Family , which he led until 2003. In the 1980s he was ranked as one of the most influential spokesman for conservative social positions in American public life...
’s Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family
Focus on the Family is an American evangelical Christian tax-exempt non-profit organization founded in 1977 by psychologist James Dobson, and is based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Focus on the Family is one of a number of evangelical parachurch organizations that rose to prominence in the 1980s...
.