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ABOUT
PASTOR RAY
< Back
Dr. Ray Pritchard
300 S. Wesley
Oak Park, Illinois 60302
Wk (708) 386-3900 / Hm (708) 848-6401 / Fax 708/386-4182
Email: PastorRay@calvarymemorial.com
Internet: www.keepbelieving.com
Personal Information
Born
September 26, 1952, Memphis, Tennessee
Wife
Married August 22, 1974 to my beautiful wife Marlene (born Harve, Montana 1952)
Children
Three sons: Joshua (24), Mark (22), Nicholas (19)
Conversion
I trusted Jesus Christ as my Savior on June 21, 1969, after a youth retreat at Tishimingo State Park in Mississippi.
Family
My father (d. 1974) was a surgeon in Russellville, Alabama. My mother died in 2003. I have three brothers--all medical doctors practicing in Arkansas, Mississippi, and Alabama.
Publications
2004
Beyond All You Could Ask or Think (Moody Publishers)
2003
He's God and We're Not (Broadman & Holman)
2002
The God You Can Trust (Harvest House)
An Anchor for the Soul Bible Study (Moody Press).
And When You Pray: The Deeper Meaning of the Lord’s Prayer (Broadman & Holman).
What the Cross Means to Me (contributor), Harvest House).
2001
A Reason For Hope (contributor), Crossway Books.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About the Christian Faith (Broadman & Holman)
In the Shadow of the Cross (Broadman & Holman)
The Way of Excellence: Faith/Hope/Love Trilogy (Moody Press)
2000
An Anchor for the Soul (Moody Press) (Translated: Indonesian, Korean, Czech)
1999
Green Pastures, Quiet Waters: Refreshing Moments in the Psalms (Moody Press).
1998
What a Christian Believes (Crossway Books)
Something New Under the Sun: Ancient Wisdom for Contemporary Living (Moody Press) (Translated: Indonesian)
More Leadership Lessons of Jesus (Broadman & Holman, co-authored with Bob Briner) (Translated: Spanish)
1997
Leadership Lessons of Jesus (Broadman &
Holman, co-authored with Bob Briner) (Translated: French)
The ABCs of Wisdom: Building Character With Solomon (Moody Press)
Keep Believing: God in the Midst of Our Deepest Struggles (Moody Press) (Translated: Spanish, Portuguese, German)
1996
Man of Honor: Living the Life of Godly Character (Crossway Books)
1995
The Road Best Traveled: Knowing God's Will For Your Life (Crossway Books) (Translated: Indonesian)
Names of the Holy Spirit (Moody Press) (Translated: Spanish)
1992
"Gambling: Don't Bet On It"--published by TV-38 in Chicago
1989
Leaders Guide for "Who is God and What Is He Like?” (Shepherd Ministries Press)
Forthcoming in 2004: "Discovering God's Will" (Crossway Books)
Education
D.Min. Talbot School of Theology, 1989
Dissertation: "Preaching Linked With Small Groups as a Means of Understanding and Applying Biblical Truth"
Th.M. Dallas Theological Seminary, 1978
Major: Systematic Theology
Project: Bibliographic Research in the Harvard Divinity Review
B.A. Tennessee Temple College, 1974
Major: Psychology
High School Russellville High School, 1970
Russellville, Alabama
Other Courses
Fuller Theological Seminary: Evangelistic Apologetics, Contemporary Christology
Melodyland School of Theology:
Advanced Apologetics
Pastoral Experience
1989-Present Senior Pastor, Calvary Memorial Church, Oak Park, IL
1983-1988 Pastor, Northeast Bible Church, Garland, TX
1978-1983 Pastor, Redeemer Covenant Church, Downey, CA
1976-1978 Assistant Pastor, Midlothian Bible Church, Midlothian, TX
Teaching Experience
2002 Speaker, Nathan B. Meier Bible Conference, Dallas Theological Seminary.
2000-04 Visiting instructor, Word of Life Bible Institute, New York, “Galatians”
1998 Chapel speaker, JETS Seminary, Jos, Nigeria
1998 Visiting Instructor, Word of Life Bible Institute, Florida, “Judges”
1997-1998 Bible Teacher, Oak Park Christian Academy
1994-1998 Visiting Instructor, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School D.Min. Course: “Revitalizing the Church for the 21st Century”
1990-1993 Guest Lecturer, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, "Pastoral Leadership" course with Dr. Warren Benson
1990 Guest Lecturer, Moody Bible Institute "Leadership Dynamics" course with Larry Davidhizar
1985-1986 Guest Lecturer, Dallas Theological Seminary
"Church Planting" course with Aubrey Malphurs
1981 Visiting Instructor, Word of Life Bible Institute, New York "Hebrews"
1981-1983 Professor, East Los Angeles School of Ministry, "Greek"
Missions Experience
2004 Speaker, SIM Missionary Village, Sebring, Florida
2003 Bible conference in Pignon, Haiti
2000 Speaker, GMU missions conference, Zurich, Switzerland
1998 Preaching ministry in Nigeria
1996 Preaching ministry in India and Nepal
1993 Taught Romans 1-8 at YWAM base in Belize
1993 Led evangelistic crusade in Pignon, Haiti
1992 Taught Romans 1-4 at YWAM base in Belize
1991 Preaching ministry in St. Petersburg, Russia
1990 Led evangelistic crusade in Pignon, Haiti
1990 Preaching ministry in 8 churches in Russia
1986 Led evangelistic crusade in Pignon, Haiti
1980 Two weeks in Bogota, Columbia
1974 Six weeks in Asuncion, Paraguay
Inter-Church Activities
2003 General session speaker, Greater Chicago Sunday School Association
2002 Sept 11 Community Memorial Service, Oak Park
2002 Emcee, Care First Banquet, Chicago
2001 Post-9/11 trip to DC & NYC
1999 Emcee, Care First Banquet, Chicago
1996-1997 Board Member, Mission USA
1997 PK Sacred Assembly, Washington, DC
1997 Man of Honor Conference, Florence, AL
1997 Seminar, Greater Chicago Sunday School Assoc.
1997 Chicagocare Preg Center Day of Prayer, speaker
1996-98 Whitefield Fraternal, Chicago
1996 Pastor’s Prayer Summit, Chicago
1995-96 Leadership Chair, Luis Palau Chicago Crusade Executive Committee
1994 “The Cross Across” radio broadcast to South Africa
1994 National Day of Prayer Rally at Moody Church
1993-96 Exalt 93, Exalt 94, Exalt 95, Exalt 96, Oak Park
1992 Led Unity Walk with 500 Believers from Oak Park to Austin
1990 Joint Service at Calvary with Raleigh Washington and the Rock Church
1983-1989 Evangelical Ministers Fellowship, Dallas
Steering Committee, 1988-89
Chairman, Easter Sunrise Service, 1986
Organizations
Board of Reference, Care First Pregnancy Centers, Chicago
Board of Advisors, Reformation & Revival Ministry, Carol Stream, IL
Committee of Endorsement, Scripture Memory Mountain Mission, Kentucky
Board of Reference, Oak Park Christian Academy
Board of Governors, Churches United With Israel
Other Writing
Daily weblogs at: www.keepbelieving.com & Crosswalk.
FAQ about "The Passion of the Christ," Broadman & Holman website.
Review of "The Passion of the Christ," Wednesday Journal & Oak Leaves, March 3, 2004
"Dealing with the Unforgivable" Victory in Grace, March 2004
“What is Saving Faith?” Moody magazine, Mar-Apr, 2002.
“A Pilgrimage to Ground Zero,” Oak Leaves, November 7, 2001.
“Dear Graduate” tract printed by Good News Publishers, 2001
Excerpts used in Men of Integrity (PK) devotional guide, 2000
Six-part series in Inside Journal for Prison Fellowship, 2000-2001
Contributor to “Prayer, Faith and Healing,” Rodale Press, 1999.
“From Temptation to Triumph”-- Moody magazine, Mar-Apr, 1998
“The God of Near and Far,” Moody Magazine, Jan-Feb, 1996.
“God’s Will For Willing Hearts,” Moody Magazine, Mar-Apr, 1996.
Op-Ed columns published by the Los Angeles Herald Examiner, the Long Beach Press-Telegram, the Garland Daily News, and the Wednesday Journal (Oak Park, IL).
Articles for On the Father Front.
In addition, over 25,000 copies of the Sunday morning sermons have been printed. Sermons from the following series are currently in print:
“A Place to Belong”
“Adventures With Abraham”
“Adventures in Prayer”
"Apostles' Creed"
“Christ B.C.”
"Christmas Personalities"
“Common Ground” (Acts 17)
“Conversations with Jesus”
"Critical Issues"
“Daniel: Courageous Living in Turbulent Times”
"Everything I Needed to Know, I Learned at Christmas"
"Faces Around the Cross"
“Final Questions”
“First Steps From First Thessalonians”
“First Things” (Genesis 1-11)
“Galatians: Truth on Fire”
"God's Good News" (Romans 1-4)
“Haggai”
“Heaven Help the Home”
"Here Am I, Send Aaron"
“How to be Right with God”
"In Search of the Early Church"
Journey to the Throne (David)
"Journeys With Jacob"
“Joyful Living in a Grumpy World” (Philippians)
“Key Words of the Christian Life”
“Light My Path”
“Living by the Book” (Psalm 119)
“Making of a Disciple” (The Beatitudes)
“Matthew 16”
"New Life in Christ" (Romans 5-8)
“New Testament Postcards”
“Our Awesome God”
"Our Mutual Covenant"
“Passing the Torch” (2 Timothy)
“Praying with Paul”
"Samson, a Man for the 90s"
“Servants Unlimited”
"Seven Last Words of Jesus"
“Seven Laws of the Spiritual Life”
“Solas of the Reformation”
“Street Smarts” (Proverbs)
“The Adventure Begins” (Acts 1)
"The Cross, the Church and the World" (1 Corinthians 1-2)
“The Deeper Meaning of the Cross”
"The God of All Comfort"
“The God You Can Trust”
“The Greatest of These”
“The Last Days According to Jesus” (Matthew 24-25)
"The Lord's Prayer"
“The Overcoming Series”
“The Sermons I’ve Always Wanted to Hear”
"The Songs of Christmas"
"The Ten Commandments For Today"
“The Transformed Life” (Romans 12-16)
“These Things We Believe”
“Truth on Fire” (Galatians)
“Total Forgiveness”
“Understanding God’s Plan” (Romans 9-11)
"Unwrapping Your Spiritual Gifts"
“Up With Worship”
"Wholly Living"
“Who Owns Your Life?”
“Why I Believe”
Present Pastoral Ministry
Position: Senior Pastor
Church: Calvary Memorial Church, Oak Park, IL
History: An 89-year old independent congregation.
Church Growth: From 575 in 1989 to 1300 in 2004
Church Budget: $1,750,000 (Including $290,000 missions
budget)
Church Staff: 29 (7 fulltime, 8 half-time, 14 part-time)
Worship Format: 4 worship services (1 traditional, 3 contemporary)
Mission statement: “Helping people in our community and around the world discover the life-changing power of a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.”
Honors
Fall 2003 Calvary named 1 of 13 "Good to Great" churches in the US by Dr. Thom Rainer of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
June 2003 Sermon tape “Playing with Fire” chosen for “Preaching Today” tape club.
May 1995 Named one of the “25 Most Influential People in Oak Park” by the Wednesday Journal.
Dr. Ray Pritchard
Biographical Sketch
Dr. Ray Pritchard is the Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church of Oak Park, Illinois. Since his coming to the church in 1989, attendance has grown from 575 to 1200.
Dr. Pritchard is a graduate of Tennessee Temple College and Dallas Theological Seminary with further study at the University of Missouri, the University of Mississippi, Fuller Theological Seminary and Melodyland School of Theology. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree in 1989 from Talbot School of Theology in La Mirada, California.
During his ministry at Calvary the church has written a new constitution, chosen elders and deacons, established a contemporary worship service, started a third morning worship service, instituted a Wednesday night family meal program, started Awana, and switched adult Sunday School to the Adult Bible Fellowship Format. New ministries include Caraway Street, Drama team, Hospitality team, Compassion in Action, Golden Heirs, Prayer Warriors, Lifecare ministries, and an extensive family ministry program. The church has become a regional ministry center, drawing attenders from Chicago, Park Ridge, Schaumburg, Oak Brook, and many other western suburbs. In 2002 the church appointed four “scout teams” to investigate various options for future growth—renovation, relocation, renting additional space, and church planting (including cybercasting and multi-site worship services). In late 2003 the church was named one of thirteen "Good to Great" churches in the US by Dr. Thom Rainer and will be featured in a forthcoming book to be published by Zondervan. In 2004 the church completed a $3 million renovation program.
Dr. Pritchard has ministered extensively overseas, preaching in India, Nepal, Paraguay, Columbia, Haiti, Nigeria, Switzerland, Russia and Belize. In 1991 he traveled 3,000 miles on a preaching mission in Russia stretching from the Volga River to St. Petersburg. In 1993 he led an intergenerational ministry team to Haiti where the team conducted a youth basketball camp and a Vacation Bible School. During that same trip Dr. Pritchard spoke at a couples conference and led an evangelistic crusade. In 1996 he visited India and Nepal on a 19-day trip that included ministry at a mission hospital and also with Campus Crusade For Christ in Hetauda, Nepal. In 1998 he lectured at the Jos ECWA Theological Seminary in Jos, Nigeria. In August 2000 he was the keynote speaker for the all-Europe conference of the Gospel Missionary Union in Switzerland. In 2002 he spoke at the National Directors Conference of Love INC in Minneapolis. In 2003 he traveled to Haiti for the fourth time.
In 1989 he served as a Conference Coordinator for Shepherd Ministries in Dallas, promoting Dawson McAllister youth conferences in major American cities. He also taught the “Preparing Your Teens For Sexuality” conference.
Dr. Pritchard was invited to take part in a public discussion with the gay minister of Unity Temple in Oak Park. The wide-ranging exchange of views was printed verbatim on the front page of three consecutive issues of the Wednesday Journal, an Oak Park newspaper, in August and September 2000.
He has spoken at numerous camps and conference centers, including Word of Life Florida, Word of Life New York, Horn Creek Conference Center (Colorado), Camp Nathanael (Kentucky), Camp Hoblitzelle (Texas), Maranatha Bible Conference (Michigan), Bethany Beach (Michigan), Gull Lake (Michigan), Living Waters Bible Camp (Maine), Covenant Harbor (Wisconsin), and Canaan Valley Retreat (West Virginia). In 2003 he spoke at a pastor’s conference at Camp Forest Springs in Wisconsin. Dr. Pritchard has served as a guest lecturer at Dallas Theological Seminary, Trinity Evangelical Divinity School, Word of Life Bible Institute, and Moody Bible Institute. He also taught New Testament Greek at the East Los Angeles School of Ministry. In 1997 he served on an evaluation team for the Pastoral Studies Department of Moody Bible Institute. In October 2002 he was the featured speaker for the Nathan B. Meier Lecture Series on Expository Preaching at Dallas Theological Seminary. In November 2003 he was the featured speaker for the Spiritual Life Week at Timothy Christian High School in Elmhurst, Illinois.
For five years he was a workshop leader at the Greater Chicago Sunday School Association annual convention. In 1993 he was one of the featured plenary session speakers. He was one of the featured speakers at the 2003 convention.
He is a frequent guest on “Open Line,” “Midday Connection,” and "Primetime America" on the Moody radio network, American Family Radio, “Lifetime Ministries” with Ron Reed, the WMBI morning show, and "Total Living With Jerry Rose." He is the monthly radio pastor for the "Kevin McCullough Show" on WMCA in New York City, and has been interviewed by Ty Wannsley and Ed Vyrdoliak on WLS-AM in Chicago. He has also appeared on “His Place,” "LeSea TV," “You Need To Know,” "100 Huntley Street," "It's a New Day," "CTN Live with Glen Plummer," "The Herman and Sharron Show," and “Cope”--nationally-broadcast Christian television programs. In 2003 he appeared on "At Home Live" with Chuck and Jenni Borsellino on FamilyNet TV.
He has been quoted in the Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Windy City Times, Wednesday Journal, and the Oak Leaves. He has been interviewed by several national news programs, including "Family News In Focus,” "USA News,” and “Point of View” with Marlin Maddoux. In addition he has been interviewed by TV-38, WYLL-FM, US 99, WJJD, Oldies 104, and Channel 5 in Chicago. Every local television station carried clips from his testimony regarding Gay Rights given before the Oak Park Village Board in April 1994. In addition, WGN carried portions of his comments on its national cable news broadcast.
He has been interviewed by many of the leading Christian radio programs, including “Janet Parshall’s America,” "Sandy Rios Live," “Today’s Issues” on American Family Radio, “LifeQuest” with Charles Byrd, Neil Boron on WDCX in Buffalo, Robert A. Schuller’s program, the INSP television network, WFIL, KFAX, KPRZ, KKLA, the USA Radio Network, Mastercontrol,” The John Bennett Show,” “Viewpoint” with John Young, and “The Dwight Bain Show” in the Orlando area. Since 1995 he has participated in more than 600 radio and TV interviews.
While in college Dr. Pritchard served as a club director for Word of Life in Chattanooga and spent one summer at Word of Life Island in Schroon Lake, New York. During his seminary years he served as Assistant Pastor of the Midlothian Bible Church in Midlothian, Texas. Following seminary graduation, he pastored Redeemer Covenant Church in Downey, California (1978-1983); served as the first pastor of Northeast Bible Church in Garland, Texas (1983-1988); worked with Shepherd Ministries as a Conference Coordinator (1989); became the Senior Pastor of Calvary Memorial Church in August 1989.
In 1989 he wrote the leader’s guide to “Who Is God and What Is He Like?” for use in the Dawson McAllister youth seminars. In 1992 TV-38 published his pamphlet on gambling in connection with the drive to stop casino gambling from coming to Chicago. Since 1995 he has published nineteen books, including The Road Best Traveled and What a Christian Believes (Crossway Books), Keep Believing and The ABCs of Wisdom (Moody Press), and Leadership Lessons of Jesus and More Leadership Lessons of Jesus (Broadman & Holman, both co-authored with Bob Briner). His articles have been published in Moody Magazine and On the Father Front. In 1998 he contributed material for the book Prayer, Faith and Healing, published by Prevention magazine. Prison Fellowship offered free copies of What a Christian Believes and Keep Believing to inmates through the PF newspaper Inside Journal. Over 8000 books were distributed to prisons across America. His books have been used by Tony Evans’ radio ministry, by Joni and Friends, and by the Moody Bible Institute Stewardship Department. His recent book, The God You Can Trust, was featured on the “Truth for Life” broadcast with Alistair Begg in November-December 2002. When the war with Iraq started in 2003, he was interviewed on "Decision Today Radio" regarding how Christians should respond in the time of war.
Since coming to Calvary nearly all of Dr. Pritchard's Sunday morning sermons have been printed. Sermons from fifty different series have been printed and sold through the local church. Currently over 25,000 copies of his sermons are in print.
Since late 1997 the weekly Sunday morning sermons have been sent out via e-mail to over 1700 people across America and around the world. In 1998 the church established a website and began broadcasting the Sunday services via the Internet in January 2000.
Dr. Pritchard appeared in “Uncovering the Truth About Jesus,” a national television special on PAX-TV, and also in the “Griefshare” video series and the “Facing Forever” video series. He is also featured in the video series about gambling produced by Church Initiatives. In June 2001 he was the keynote speaker for three evening sessions of the Write-to-Publish conference in Wheaton, Illinois.
He was commissioned by the Committee on Evangelical Unity in the Gospel to write a simple presentation of the gospel in “Wal-Mart English” to help seekers know how to find the Lord. The book, called An Anchor for the Soul, was introduced at the Christian Booksellers Association meeting in New Orleans in July 2000. It sold nearly 60,000 copies in the first six months. Over 300,000 copies are in print as of May 2004. In April 2001, when the Peruvian Air Force shot down a missionary airplane, killing Roni Bowers and her infant daughter Charity, the mission agency offered free copies of An Anchor for the Soul to anyone who wanted to understand the secret of Roni Bowers’ faith in Jesus Christ. A campaign is underway to offer 250,000 free copies of An Anchor for the Soul to prisoners in cooperation with Prison Fellowship and Good News Jail and Prison Ministries. Following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001, over 14,000 copies of An Anchor for the Soul were donated for use in New York City as part of the larger disaster relief effort. Two teams from Calvary traveled to New York City to deliver the books for use in direct evangelism outreach. An Anchor for the Soul was listed as Number 67 on the Christian booksellers list of the top 100 best-selling backlist books in 2001.
Several printed sermons have had wide distribution: "Seven Signs of the Second Coming" and "The Winds of War" (both printed during the Persian Gulf War), “What the Bible Says About Homosexuality" and "Portrait of a Godly Leader" (both offered on "Primetime America" to listeners across the country), "Equal But Not Identical" and "Men and Women in Biblical Perspective" (dealing with the respective roles of men and women in the local church), and "The Eyes of God Are Upon You " (the 1993 State of the Church message). Other recent sermons include “Out on a Limb with Shirley MacLaine: Is Reincarnation True?” "Too Young To Die: Confronting the Tragedy of Suicide,” “Overcoming Insecurity,” “Breaking Down Walls: The Christian Gospel and Racial Prejudice,” “Letters From the Bean Field,” "Come Before Winter," and "You Can Stumble But You Won't Fall."
In addition, Dr. Pritchard has been quoted in two best-selling Christian books: Roaring Lambs by Bob Briner and The Desires of a Woman's Heart by Beverly LaHaye.
Dr. Pritchard was instrumental in the founding of the Oak Park Christian Academy, an independent, evangelical Christian day school that opened in September 1995. In 1994 and 1997 he led tours to the Holy Land.
He served as a Leadership Chair and as a member of the Pastor’s Executive Committee for the “Say Yes Chicago Campaign With Luis Palau,” April-May, 1996.
In June 1995 the Wednesday Journal named him as one of the “25 Most Influential People in Oak Park.”
Ray and his wife Marlene have been married 29 years and have three sons: Joshua (24), Mark (22), and Nick (19). His hobbies include biking, surfing the Internet, and anything related to the Civil War.
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