Ray was born September 26, 1936 in Port Stewart, Northern Ireland. He was abandoned by his mother and taken by his father to a cousin, who raised him as her own. Though Ray dearly loved his foster mother, the feeling of abandonment followed him during his growing up years and beyond.
At 14 years of age, Ray came to faith in Christ. Upon being encouraged that he must confess his faith publicly, he stood fearfully to speak — and immediately passed out!
Realizing he probably would not be a public speaker and learning there was nothing impossible with God,he began spending hours in prayer, believing for the salvation of 25 of his closest friends. All came to faith, and eventually a church was formed. It’s still ministering today in Northern Ireland.
Ray’s life was mission focused from his teenage years. In 1956, he immigrated from Northern Ireland to Canada, where he conducted Holy Land tours, and organized major first-time conferences in London and Holland for the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, and teams to meet and encourage other believers in Eastern Europe.
Ray was challenged to help by a Swedish journalist, who had been on one of the teams to visit an underground church and had been greatly touched by these courageous Christians.
Ray founded Friends In the West in 1974, an intercessory Prayer ministry on behalf of the persecuted church based on Hebrews 13:3 “to remember them…” Many miraculous answers to prayer, releases from prison, provision and protection of the suffering saints resulted.
In 1978, Ray responded to a report that an entire congregation had been hauled off to prison in Uganda during the cruel regime of Idi Amin, who was attempting to make Uganda a Muslim country.
Ray was profoundly moved by the victorious testimonies of the Ugandan Christians during this terrible time. Friends In the West encouraged prayer and helped practically as much as possible.
In 1984, Ray was assisting in Uganda, still in Civil War, when the Prime Minister at that time appealed to him to do something to help the thousands of orphans left in the wake of many years of war.
Ray remembered a little boy to whom he’d given a ride. The boy sang for him the whole trip, and the vision came: If only he could bring a choir of these beautiful children who could sing and share and show the hope and potential, surely people would want to help.
Undergirded by prayer, he set out with a team of volunteers to do just that, and the African Children’s Choir was born.
The first choir landed in Vancouver British Columbia in September 1984, and 53 different choir groups have gone on tour — each child supported throughout their education, including college, university or technical training.
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the African Children’s Choir, the scope of vulnerable children reached numbers in the thousands of thousands.
The impact of one man with a vision to help Africa’s most vulnerable today so they can help Africa tomorrow has inspired and motivated thousands, maybe even millions of choir children, chaperones, attendees at concerts to do just that! Written by Music for Life Founding Member, Suzanne Nelson. Many touched by Ray’s life have sent tributes. Here is one from former Choir member Barbara K Sebulime: Daddy Ray ….
They say love can change the world. In your case, you did change the world.
Thank you for daring to believe and never stopping.
Thank you for giving me a chance at life itself.
Thank you for loving so unconditionally (that) I, too, started believing…
That I was worth loving, worth saving, worth fighting for.
You accomplished your mission here on earth.
Turning all who doubted into believers.
A father to the fatherless.
Loving those who thought they were unworthy and unloved.
Turning the darkness into light!
Always wondered why you loved me…it was simply to show that lonely little girl the THE Father. Thank you for portraying His heart for me so perfectly til I was left (feeling) I had never been unloved.
Thank you, Daddy Ray Barnett.
May Heaven welcome you with arms wide open…for you are surrounded by such a great multitude of witnesses whose lives forever you changed. #themanwhosefaithchangedeverything.We invite you to join us in honoring Ray’s incredible life during a livestreamed memorial service on Saturday, September 14, at 10 a.m. PST. Link: raymemorial.sardius.liveMany have suggested that a way to honor Ray Barnett’s life would be supporting Music for Life with a gift. If you would like to do so, please click below. |
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