Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristy Ray.
Hi Kristy , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I always knew I wanted to serve other people in some capacity since I was a young person. I wasn’t sure how that service would look, whether it was volunteer or full time until things came together after graduation from college. Two paths were in front of me; to pursue acting or to pursue full time ministry to Middle and High school youth. As I interviewed I found my passion brimming when talking about youth ministry. I felt an ease and then found myself in North Florida doing ministry.
During that time in North Florida I became conflicted once more. Part of me knew my next step was bound for a Masters Degree but again pulled between Theatre and Ministry. In a sudden turn of events I found myself no longer working and had to face my future quickly. Through wonderful colleagues and mentors I was able to spend a weekend to discern what the right next thing would be and found myself in seminary at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA. There I received two masters degrees; Master of Divinity and Master of Practical Theology in Christian Education.
After seminary I received a call to full-time Associate Pastor for Children and Youth in Central Florida and worked there for 5 years. In the midst of that came some of the most difficult trying times of my life. It changed my whole path and future. I saw a long future in working directly with children and youth. When I was pregnant in 2019 my auto-immune disease I didn’t know I had attacked my nervous system and I found myself paralyzed and in the hospital only seeing my newborn and hour or so a day. With the help of incredible medical interventions and rehab I was back on my feet and out of a wheelchair 6 months later. I was only working part time and on disability to cover the remainder of my expenses as I am the financial provider of the family. My husband is a stay at home dad with work in music to ensure our children’s lives have stability.
In 2020 when the world shut down by oldest son (12 at the time) was struck with kidney failure and a new lupus diagnosis. This changed our lives heavily and after things settled it became apparent that my calling was larger than one facet of ministry. I found my passion and skill in preaching and teaching to be one to pursue.
In June of 2021 I found myself at a wonderful church in Stockbridge, GA just 15 miles south of the heart of Atlanta. This area has a rich diversity of people and access to great medical care for my son. I am the Solo Pastor of a church that proclaims itself to be the little church that could as they do many things for the local community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I am blessed to be my own boss. To work with a team of people we call Elders, who are elected by the congregation to serve a term. As a Presbyterian I also work with a local network of churches called a Presbytery that help guide my work. When i was hired the church knew my limitations and knew my sons needs were high but all manageable.
I have found my footing as the boss and have been challenged with workplace frustration between staff and volunteers, financial strain, and the overall landscape of navigating being a minority in many rooms where outside of Presbyterians many pastors, especially Head of Staff are men.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Pastor. My official title is Reverend and it came with a lot of tedious study and work in and out of school to get where I am today. I have had the pleasure of speaking with 4th and 5th graders on career day and I love to ask; what do you think I do all week? The answers are pray, read scripture, preach. And that is just a part of what I do. I read a lot, I read books, articles, scripture, books on scripture, and the list goes on. I make pastoral phone calls and visits to people in need and listen to what is happening, I am not a licensed counselor but many people share everything that is happening to them. I am with people on their happiest and worst days. I share joys, concerns, and grief.
We have a food pantry and clothes closet at the church and occasionally I will help the church administrator with the clients and give them lists of other services they may be able to receive in their time of need. We have also worked with local schools in helping kids have lunch debt forgiven so they can go to school and not worry about food to sustain them during the day because their account doesn’t allow them full access to the menu.
I also have a lot of administrative tasks. Making sure there is social media connection, bulletins, graphics, and more. I am in charge of a small staff and help manage all the things that occur in the church. So if a toilet is clogged and no one else is around, I will put on gloves and help out.
With the Presbytery, I am helping people who are looking to be ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) through a process called Preparation for Ministry. Helping them with exams and their own discernment of call.
Recently I have taken on helping start a Cub Scout Pack based out of the church. This was recruiting kids and leaders to step into a new role and help them achieve goals and become young leaders. It is an exciting time to work with the local community to grow young minds and bodies with indoor and outdoor activities.
What sort of changes are you expecting over the next 5-10 years?
The church has changed a lot in the 20th and 21st century. It is no longer the place that is an automatic growing spot especially in traditional churches. The Presbyterian Church (USA) and our specific local church is an inclusive one. One that is not only open to those who are different or on the margins of society or told they are wrong for loving another person. We believe that LGBTQ+ are whole individuals that do not have to give up who they are to be part of the church and the church leadership. We also believe that includes those who have different abilities.
The shifts are the need for the local congregation and coming to church every week. With the online communities and the ever changing work-life-home balance the average attendance for some that was weekly might be monthly or less and still feel as a regular attendee of church.
As a pastor I am finding the need to be in the community is vital to the overall hope for the church as the world is broken and in need of healing and words of encouragement to make it through each day, not condemnation or spewing hateful speech. The difficult part the church is facing is the same as many other places. It is the polarization and the “us versus them” mentality that is confusing and harmful. I am finding my role to be one who stands up for others, who speaks in public forum, who advocates for housing, healthcare, and education.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.spcusa.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stockbridgepres/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StockbridgePres
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@StockbridgePresbyterianAV/streams
