June 30, 2018

 
Hello Lucas family:
 
I sincerely appreciated Ray’s thoughtful insights and keenly recall his weekly ministering to the young men at Kappa Zeta Chi (New Life in Christ) on the LeTourneau campus.  It is bitter-sweet to hear of his recent graduation to eternal adventures, yet now he has a view to observe the fruit of all the sowing in which “God gave the increase” (I Cor 3:6).  May the Prince of Peace comfort your souls and encourage your spirits.   Willie Dingeldein
 

June 24, 2018

Lucas Family!
Your husband, father, grandfather, greatgrandfather was a powerhouse!  You must be missing him terribly, and be so proud of him, at the same time.  His was a life extremely well-lived, and his constant reminders to remain at the forefront of Kingdom-building have stayed with me since Perspectives’ days (almost 10 years ago).  Praying that you will be comforted…Laurie Deamer

June 24, 2018

Dear Lucas family, 
On behalf of the Jim Ott family I would like to send our condolences to you all. My father always spoke of nothing but kindness when mentioning your family. Our love and prayers always.
Darlene Ott-Hale 

June 23, 2018

Dear Lucas family,
On behalf of English Lake Church in North Judson, IN, we send our condolences to all of you!  May you know the comfort of the Lord in your great loss.  We rejoice with you in knowing that Ray is free from his suffering now, and is in the presence of the Lord.

June 23, 2018

Dearest Lucas family,
I am so sorry for your loss, what an amazing man he was!  So many of my childhood memories include him, he always had a kind word, a smile and a joke for me.  I pray that you experience God’s comfort in the most profound way, and feel Ray smiling down on you and cheering you on as you continue to run this race with endurance. Lots of love to you all,
Sharon (Dennis) Smothers

June 23, 2018

Dear Lucas family, my sincerest condolences to you all. I’m grateful to have known Ray and your family. Jess and our family wish you all the best and many prayers.
 
Sincerely,
Jim Kilmartin

June 23, 2018

What a wonderful and fruitful man of God.  My blessing added…  Bruce Mitchell 
 

June 22, 2018

Dearest pap pap,
It’s Chris, you’re granddaughter. I know you’re seeing this from heaven. I love you so much! Last time we talked it was through the phone a few months ago. Now it’s through Jesus. I didn’t know at first how to comprehend this all but now it’s slowly falling into place. I have so many awesome memories of you. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to get to you before this. I have so many words..yet none. I’m sad because I know I no longer have you here, on this earth. But I’m feel joy through tears because I know you are in heaven and have you there. I’ve never had this close a passing… But death is only what we call it on earth. You’re still alive pap pap. In soul. I can’t wait to see you in heaven. I love you ❤️ 

June 22, 2018

Dearest Normie, Steve, David, Becky, Debbie, Faith Ann, Nate, Beth, and Gracie,
Ron and I send condolences to each one of you today, feeling the pain of this temporary loss but also the great joy of knowing that he left you a heritage–the heritage of having been the wife and children of someone who kept his eyes on God without wavering. I am full of memories as I write this to you, because Ray was and is now a true man of God. He has changed his address and he has left behind his aging body–just because he truly finished his course and had lived for Jesus all the days that were ordained for him. When we met Ray and all of you at the Mission Home in Tegucigalpa in 1971, he was a man who followed the call of God as a joyful adventure, no matter how difficult the path could be. He smiled and joked his way through every hardship, because he had already left his burdens with the Lord.  He was out to gain territory for the Kingdom of God, and God used him mightily in Honduras to win people to Jesus.  That fruit remains, along with you, the 8 disciples that he and Normie raised. Later God used him to influence thousands of Christians to follow his and your example–to go to the least reached people in the world with the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Who knows how many people in how many places have been reached through those who were taught by him? What we do know is that right now Ray is experiencing a joy in the Lord’s presence that we can only imagine. It feels like he has been swept up like Elijah and that he has thrown down his mantle for the rest of us to take up. Dear ones, may our precious Lord comfort each of your hearts with His amazing love. May you feel His arms around you, and may the sweet memories of your husband and dad be the treasure that spurs you on and encourages you every day. You were greatly blessed to be his beloved family, and we, as friends, were blessed to have him as a shining example of faith and perseverance. We will miss Ray, because there is no one like him, but we will be seeing him in heaven, and what a reunion we will have! In the meantime, our hearts and our prayers are with you.
Lynn and Ron Dennis