The Ezekiel Group was born out of a desire to help "dry bones live again"
--to see hurting pastors and people find hope and healing.
Through the hurts of pastoring and everyday life, God shaped Ray's
heart and opened doors of ministry to pastors and those who are grieving.
Inspired by Ezekiel 37:1-14
Ray serves as a "pastor to the pastor"
Ray has a heart for pastors and a desire to help them through the joys and struggles of ministry. Ray has personally known the joy of a church tripling in size, and the hurt of being forced out by leaders within the church. Ray desires to come along side pastors to provide encouragement, support, coaching, and counseling. Ray provides trusted, confidential relationships without charge.
Ray helps minister to those in need of grief care
Ray deals with over 160 deaths/year as a hospice chaplain. In those years, he has learned some key truths about death and how to help families in the midst of it. Ray offers individual grief counseling, grief classes, and leadership training. Over 300 grieving loved ones have attended his grief classes. Let Ray help you, without charge.
About Ray Johnson
Ray has served over 40 years in full-time ministry in Texas, Southern California, and Kentucky as a senior pastor, associate/discipleship pastor, student/children's pastor, and now as a pastor to terminally ill patients. Those various experiences and locations give him a unique opportunity to help ministry leaders in need.
Ray and his wife, Lauri, have been married for over 38 years and have 4 grown children. Three of their four grown children are married and have their own children—providing 7 grandchildren for Ray & Lauri to enjoy! Lauri has faithfully supported, encouraged, and ministered alongside Ray every step of the way. In her gentle and quiet spirit, she found ways to serve, love, and encourage others. She has a heart for ladies and especially those who have been affected by the hurts of ministry or life. As Ray ministers to men, Lauri is graciously willing to come alongside their spouses with love and encouragement, knowing the struggles and challenges they face.
I have known Ray Johnson since he was a college student. Ray was one of my top leaders in helping guide and grow a large and dynamic college ministry within a church setting. He was highly committed, faithful, hard-working, energetic, and creative. He also displayed a godly spirit that was manifested in a dynamic personal relationship and what today we call high EQ. Ray is also committed to God's Word and is theologically minded and understands that it is God, through His Spirit and His Word, that changes people.
-Brad Waggoner, Executive Vice President of Church Answers