Storyline Fall 2020

I first became
aware of Ray
Matheson when
I was an 18-yearold
freshman at
Canadian Bible
College/Canadian
Theological
Seminary (CBC/CTS)
some 45 years ago. I
can’t honestly think
of the first time we
met, but Ray was a
friend of students,
so I feel like I’ve
always known
him. At the time, he was the Dean of Men,
developing many meaningful relationships
with the young guys attending the school.
I can think of a number of stories from
students who would say that Ray’s support
in their lives helped bring them into a solid
faith relationship with Jesus. Ray is one of
the most approachable people and that
certainly was the case on campus. He has
many spiritual gifts but the one that stands
out most, wherever he goes, is his gift of
evangelism. Ray loves to talk about Jesus
and it doesn’t matter if you’re the Queen
of England or a pauper – he has time for
you and wants you to know Jesus. The guys
at school so admired him in this area that
they nicknamed
him “One-a-Day
Ray” – which was a
compliment, though
Ray in his humility
wasn’t a fan.
Ray Matheson comes from
good stock … Both Ray and
his dad Lloyd were on staff
at CBC and both of these
men, through their loving
kindness, built into my
unchurched, “un-Allianceconnected”
life as I entered
into Bible school and later
ministry. They saw strengths and potential in
me that I certainly didn’t see or even believe
were possible. To this day, I am grateful for
how they encouraged and loved me.
It was absolutely a thrill to come to FAC
many years later, in 1999, and be reunited
with Pastor Ray and
continue in ministry
together. There are few
people I admire as I do
32