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Storyline Fall 2020

A quarterly magazine published by First Alliance Church (Calgary, Alberta) in this issue we highlight FAC people telling their stories.

A quarterly magazine published by First Alliance Church (Calgary, Alberta) in this issue we highlight FAC people telling their stories.

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Ray. He is wise beyond words, he is a man<br />

of prayer, and I have learned much watching<br />

him as he so gently travels through the<br />

crowds at a weekend gathering. He knows<br />

most people by<br />

name and herein<br />

lies perhaps another<br />

spiritual gift … I jest<br />

… But how does<br />

he remember all<br />

the names and<br />

circumstances that<br />

people have shared<br />

with him? I’ve sat<br />

with him in prayer<br />

for a troubled soul<br />

or a couple in a<br />

difficult marriage<br />

and marvelled at his<br />

ability to get to the<br />

heart of the matter,<br />

to speak truth into<br />

lives and extend<br />

God’s grace. When<br />

Ray meets with<br />

people, he doesn’t back down from truth<br />

and sharing God’s Word … He believes that<br />

God always knows better than we do. The<br />

recipient isn’t always happy facing the truth<br />

but Ray is always gracious and kind even in<br />

those situations.<br />

that of Congregational<br />

Care for more than 30<br />

years. Imagine caring<br />

for the many spiritual<br />

and practical needs of<br />

a congregation of 400<br />

… Now imagine it with a<br />

congregation of 4000 …<br />

And Ray never stops at<br />

just those who call FAC home. He has been<br />

called to many a bedside of ones who have no<br />

affiliation with our congregation. His phone<br />

number is available to all, day and night.<br />

I often think of Dee and their boys, Dan and<br />

Jonathan, who may be the unsung heroes<br />

Following Jesus by Loving People<br />

Twice at FAC, Pastor Ray has fulfilled the<br />

role of interim Lead Pastor as we have<br />

transitioned in our senior leadership, but<br />

his primary role at FAC officially has been<br />

in Ray’s life. How often has dinner or sleep<br />

been interrupted by a phone call from a<br />

needy parishioner. Many are the sacrifices<br />

made by the Matheson family for the sake of<br />

33

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