Thanks to each of you for the wonderful welcome to All Saints! I am excited to be a part of ASUMC and look forward to getting to know each of you. Coming to All Saints during the “Called” sermon series has really made me reflect on where I came from, how I got here, and how God can put together seemingly unrelated pieces of our past to help us serve in the present. In my first blog, I would like to share a little about how God seems to have put together pieces of my past to bring me to and help me serve at All Saints. It seems like the best place to start is with a little history. Hopefully that will also help you to get to know me better.
One of the first things I learned as a child was the importance of working as a team. Growing up on a dairy farm near Saxapahaw, NC, grandmother, mom and dad, my four siblings, and I all chipped in every day to complete daily farm chores. Not only did I learn the importance of teamwork from this, but I developed a strong appreciation for nature, animals, crops, harvests, and the circle of life. On Sundays we did our work early and then attended worship at Saxapahaw United Methodist Church (right beside the Haw River – I started early as a Methodist!). My mother had a great appreciation for music and saw to it that I learned to play the piano and sing. Looking back, it’s easy for me to see God’s hand in my development as a young person.
This development as a young person led me into musical activities throughout high school and on to UNC-Greensboro where I studied music education. My next step was to become a music teacher at Roanoke Rapids High School. I learned a great deal as I studied and then taught music. I learned just as much and was rewarded just as greatly through the relationships I enjoyed with my students, their parents, and the staff I worked with while I was teaching. I had the opportunity to interact with many of the same people (Roanoke Rapids is a small town) as a member of Rosemary United Methodist Church, where I was also active in the music program. Again, looking back, it’s easy for me to see that God was using these experiences to prepare me for my next step – - serving as a school administrator. I began my administrative work as an elementary school assistant principal in Vance County. Soon afterwards, I met Liz (like many callings, this one was very persistent – - – but definitely not mundane!). Liz and I got married (yes, at Saxapahaw United Methodist Church) and I moved to Fuquay-Varina where she already lived. Soon afterward I became an administrator at Fuquay-Varina Elementary School. Liz and I still live in Fuquay-Varina, close to our daughter, son-in-law, and three grandchildren.
I completed my career in education last June and took a little time to think about my next step. How could I use the experiences I had had the opportunity to enjoy and grow from in a positive and enjoyable way? Before too long, I heard about the All Saints music position and, well… another calling!
As I mentioned above, hearing the called sermon series has really rung with me as I have considered where I came from and how I got here. No lightning bolt (except for Liz), but definitely that persistent call that we’ve heard about the past few Sundays. I am thankful for each call I have received, the way each has naturally built upon and led into the next call, and the many blessings and trials that have come from each.
I look forward to hearing your stories and to getting to know each of you better as we serve together.
Ray Newlin
