Are You Dreaming Big?

Ray Neal of Atlanta, Georgia is living proof that dreams can come true.  Growing up, he had a speech impediment, yet today he’s a bishop and radio station owner, spreading the gospel to millions.  Ray says one of the biggest influences in his life has been CBN, and it all started with watching The 700 Club.  

“CBN has been a tremendous inspiration to me,” he explains.  Pat said, ‘You need to give your life to Jesus Christ.’ And my pastor said that as well.  But it was something that night when Pat said that, that I said, ‘I need to say this prayer.’  And I prayed with Pat and that actually started me to study in the Word of God eventually getting called into the ministry.”

Ray began working part-time as a Christian on-air radio personality while holding down a fulltime job in telecommunications at AT&T.  He continued to watch The 700 Club, making sure he put the things he learned into practice, like tithing. 

He shares, “Both my church and The 700 Club have both kind of given me a foundation of giving and knowing the principle of giving.  The word of God says, ‘Give and it shall be given to you, pressed down, shaken together.’  And because our heavenly Father is a giver, he wants us to be a giver as well.  He only asked for one dime out of a dollar and lets me have the 90 cents.”

As Ray gave through the years, he became a bishop, started a church and ultimately bought his own church building, something he says was a result of his service and financial obedience to God.

“I believe when you tithe and when you give to God, it's sowing seed, and it's going to come up at a time that, that God has put in your destiny,” he says.  “The miracle of us getting the building we're in now, the real estate person that I used at that time, he said he'd never seen a deal like that deal.  And I just thank God for doing it. I think the late Charles Stanley said, ‘Obey God and leave the consequences to Him.’  And that's what I did.”

Ray also became a CBN partner.  

He explains, “God's been so good to me until I want to be a blessing to his work, to the kingdom.  Since Pat Robertson and CBN are such a foundation part of my life, I can't help but want to return the support.  And when you give to The 700 Club, you're giving to international ministry, you're giving to something bigger than local ministry.  And I've always wanted to do that because I can't reach everyone in my local church, and I want to sow into other things that are sowing into other areas and broader fields than I am.”

He started dreaming of owning his own radio station and soon, he got an early retirement from his telecommunications job, including 18 months of unexpected pay.   With that, he was able to buy the station he’d been DJing part-time at for decades.   And when he’s needed prayer support in this new venture, he’s called CBN.

“In calling for prayer,” he expresses, “It just lets me know I've got someone praying with me, praying for me.  When I have expenses at the radio station, I'll call CBN say, ‘Hey, I need you to pray for me.’  And every time I've gotten a partner to pray with me, God has moved.” 

Ray encourages others to keep dreaming and give to God each step of the way.  

“Allow God to get in your dreams. Don't limit yourself to your background.  There's no limit to what God can do,” He declares.  “I dream big because I know God's going to give bigger.  I would encourage anyone to give, to tithe, to sow seed, and you'll get an increase.”  Ray concludes, “Whatever God tells you to do, if you do that, there's a blessing in it.”
 

“Remember this—a farmer who plants only a few seeds will get a small crop. But the one who plants generously will get a generous crop.” Will you partner with CBN and help plant generously around the world? Your generous giving brings hope to the hopeless and the truth of God’s Word to millions around the world through our humanitarian efforts. Become a CBN partner today and share the love of Christ.