He Was Ready

One of the things that Cindy and I wanted to do while in the Galilee was to visit the grave of a man of God. There are lots of famous and infamous folks buried in this land, but this one is unique. Unlike most of the tombs here, this one was pretty recent… and he was a friend.

Ray Cornwell went to be with Jesus March 25th, 1996. His name is “of blessed memory” for Cindy and I. I know that I will miss many details in the short thoughts that I share, and I will go ahead and acknowledge that up front, but it is still a story worth sharing, even if short a detail or two!

Cindy committed her life to Christ at a Bible Study in Ray and Virginia Cornwell’s home in 1971, Ray and Virginia were working at Miracle Ranch, sharing their two loves, horses and young people, along with their main passion, the Lord Jesus Christ. What a fateful, blessed day that would be, and how one encounter influenced the direction of so many lives in years to come.

Making a long story short, Ray and Virginia’s daughter Mary went to Israel to work at a “dude ranch” in the Galilee called Vered Hagalil, or Rose of Galilee. Cindy followed not too long after. At about the same time Ray and Virginia heard Jesus’ call to move to Israel and love her people, and at the time of life when most people were taking it easy in retirement they sold everything they had and left kids and grandkids and moved to Israel. Not a few folks thought they were nuts, including no doubt, a couple of their kids!

Tagging along with them on their initial trip was a young man named Tom, who was headed to Israel after a young woman named Cindy!

Cindy and I returned a short time after that initial trip and were married, coming back to Israel about two years later having finished college and bringing with us a 7 month old Jesse. Ray and Virginia were a constant presence and encouragement to us.

In the meantime Ray and Virginia lived and worked at Vered Hagalil for almost 20 years, and quietly became elders and sweet influencers of the Body of Messiah in the land, and tireless lights of His love to all they came in contact with. Ray was a strong, gentle man, with strong, Biblical notions (that he loved to share!) and a gentle, loving heart that embodied “the truth spoken in love”. After Ray’s passing Virginia returned to the Puyallup area where she is living out her years enjoying her kids and grandkids until she joins her husband in his reward.

We miss you Ray, and we honor your memory. May we all live for Jesus with the passion and servant’s heart that you demonstrated.