The spiritual condition of America, Politics, Culture, and Current Events Analyzed Through the Lens of Scripture. Welcome to the Alex McFarland Show. Very famously, Jesus said in Matthew 16:18, I will build my church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Hi, Alex McFarland here. We have got a great show, a show that I think you're going to find very inspiring because we're going to be talking about the church, yes, but we want to inspire you to think about God's work in your church.
I hope that you are part of a local church. I hope that you're a part of the body of Christ by having put your faith in the Lord Jesus. And we're going to meet a pastor here in just a few moments that is part of an exciting work God is blessing. And I just felt like some of what is going on in Shane Ray's church, this is in Mississippi, open-door worship center. I think it'll be a great encouragement, maybe even an inspiration to some of you all listening.
Cue this up and try to talk about the value of vision. You know, so much of God's work, maybe it doesn't just show up on day one. In fact, you and I right now are riding on the ripple effect of faithful folks that preceded us by hundreds of years. Many of you may know we've done quite a number of conferences in the Myrtle Beach area up and down Highway 17, also known as King's Highway. And what a lot of people may not realize is that Christians began to minister there 500 years ago.
The 60-mile stretch called the Grand Strand goes from the North Carolina state line all the way down to Georgetown. And as recently as, well, as early as the late 1500s, missionaries from Europe began to show up there. And there were Baptists, and there were Anglicans, and there were Methodists, and just so many. The Presbyterian evangelist George Whitfield, just a few days ago, I was on the north part of Highway 17, and I saw one of several markers, historical markers, where people like George Whitfield would evangelize masses of the farmers, the colonists. The Methodists were pretty renowned for evangelizing the Native Americans, the Indians.
And then black Protestant churches, mostly Baptist, began to be organized in this very region around 1770. And there's a place called Beach Island. There's a church called Silver Bluff Baptist that's been active there since 1773. 275 years of continual service for the Lord. And then in Savannah, Georgia, right along this mid-Atlantic coastline, is another Baptist church.
The first African Baptist church. And these right there, Georgia, South Carolina, the two oldest black churches in America. And even to this day, the nation. Is being benefited from the Christian work that began three, four, five hundred years ago because people came, people were evangelized, and they spread out, they would fan out throughout the North American continent.
So much more I could say about even Charlotte, where there was in the early eighteen hundreds. there was something called the Carolina Great Awakening. And Nearly twenty thousand. Man.
Now that's a good crowd now, but 20,000 men gathered in what is now Charlotte for a prayer meeting around 1830. And ultimately out of that region would come not only many Christian schools, many missionary endeavors, but Billy Graham himself.
Now, what am I saying as I bring our guest to the table? Very often, we Christians are called to plant seeds. that may not bear fruit even in our lifetime. We're called to pray prayers that will come to fruition maybe even after we're gone. And so so much hangs on our obedience to day For God's great work tomorrow.
You know, I grew up on a farm, and it takes 120 days to grow corn. We used to grow 100 acres a year. And you don't put a seed in the ground on a Monday. and expect to be shucking ears of corn on Tuesday. Takes a while.
Any worthwhile endeavor takes investment, public patience and great, great commitment.
Well, somebody who really In my opinion, personifies this. Shane Ray, we met at the fishbowl retreat, and I have the great honor of speaking. And we were just talking about church and multiplication, being faithful with the gospel. And so let's talk about sowing the seeds of the gospel and let's talk about the harvest of souls that God will give, even though it may take a little while. From Open Door Worship Center in Mississippi, Pastor Shane Ray, it's good to be with you.
God bless you, Brother Alex. Thank you for having me, brother.
Well, you and I were talking here at the fishbowl retreat. There are dozens of Pastors and their wives, and Bert Harper leading this. First of all, I want to hear about Open Door, and then let's go back. I want to hear your call, how God brought you into the ministry that you're doing. But first of all, tell us about Opendoor Worship Center.
We were pastoring in a traditional church, 1998. As a matter of fact, we felt the call of God to start a new ministry.
So we took a flatbed trailer, went to Walmart Parking Lot in Fulton, Mississippi, We'd set up on a Friday night and we would have church. And we did that for a season, and we finally um, gathered together enough people Until we started our church. We moved into um a little daycare center there on Main Street. And we grew from there and went into the Christian church. They uh built a new sanctuary.
We went into their old sanctuary and And then, um Seven years after that we built our sanctuary. that we're currently in, been there twenty six years. Praise the Lord. And God's been faithful. These past two summers, we've seen over a hundred.
Both summers baptized. In water. Amen. That is powerful. 26 years.
First of all, you don't look old enough to have been in the ministry that long. At what age did God call you to preach? I was in my teens. probably about thirteen years of age. I remember distinctively hearing the Lord's voice in my heart.
calling me to to ministry and I accepted that in my I guess around seventeen or eighteen years of age. and then start pursuing ministry from there, seminary in I am studying. You know, Shane, one of the concerns that I hear all around the country, and I hear this from denominational leaders, professors, informed Believers. Concerned that not all that many young men seem to be getting the call. Not only to preach and pastor, but to be a senior pastor of a church.
And let me just say to everybody listening: if you want something to pray about to really intercede, we need pastors. 30% of American churches do not have a senior pastor. And so I applaud you hearing that call, heeding that call. And giving your life to it. We need more young men to respond to God's call to ministry.
You know, I remember, Brother Alex, it was prum night, and I can remember. being at an all night prayer meeting. Instead of being at that prom. I was seeking the Lord about His direction for my life. And as a young man I'll never forget that.
and it's something that has molded my life. Throughout these years, great men that have influenced my life that came forward to my life. One of them being my dad. My dad led over 10,000 people to Jesus Christ through personal ministry. It was it from a pulpit in a church, it was from a pulpit in a prison.
Throughout 30 years of ministry, he led over 10,000 men to Christ. What a legacy. Hold that thought. I got to hear more about this. We're talking with Pastor Shane Ray, talking about the church.
And my friend, we're going to take a brief break and come back. May I remind you: if you're a believer, you're a part of Christ's church and he has things for you to do. We'll talk about this further after this brief break on the Alex McFarlane show. Don't go away. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert.
Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Would you like a book to help you understand the biblical prophecies, the passages about the end of time? Hi, Alex McFarland. You know, for well over a decade, Bert Harper and I have been on the nationally syndicated AFR show, Exploring the Word. Over 3,000 shows we've done together, and Bert and I have a brand new book as of fall 2025: 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times.
You can get it at booksellers everywhere. Our brand new book, Bert Harper, Alex McFarland, Exploring the Word, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times, published by our great friends at Broad Street Publishing. Check it out, and we believe it will help you understand how to live and thrive in these last days. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show.
Welcome back to the program. Alex McFarland here. We're talking with Pastor Shane Ray. Before the break, you mentioned that your dad led. 10,000 people to Christ.
What a legacy. At what age did you realize that soul winning and the ministry was such a priority to your dad? It was evident because if he was at a gas station. he was sharing the gospel. Brother Alex, he never missed an opportunity.
Ever. to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe it's from those seeds. that I saw in his life that was passed down to my life. And that's why I'm so passionate.
About Soul winning. Me too, me too. And I've shared the listeners know a lot of my journey, but when I got saved at age 21. I mean, just right away I realized Nothing else matters as much as this, the souls of people. I mean, everybody will spend eternity somewhere.
Jesus Christ died, rose again. He told his followers, go into all the world. And that is still the case here in 2025. As John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist Church, said, we have nothing to do but the saving of souls. In other words, that is the priority for every Christian, every church, isn't it?
Yes, sir. And just reiterating. we had of summer blitz. and I felt led of the Lord to We have a baptismal in our church, but I felt led of the Holy Spirit. to bring a pool of water.
On the stage, and just for example, on a Wednesday night, there was a lady that came into our service endearing worship. She said dumb. I had got away from the Lord. She was an older lady. As a young lady, she knew the Lord, and she said, I feel drawn back to the water to be baptized tonight.
And I had no idea who she was. But I really felt like that God placed that there for a purpose. And, you know, we're seeing things like that God is just doing some extraordinary things, Brother Alex. Amazing things.
Well, one of the things that really impressed me, you mentioned that your church has planted. Seven other churches.
Now, first of all, for those that may be unfamiliar, what does it mean to plant a church?
Well, revitalize. We do revitalization. Just for example, I was traveling down the road, and I felt the call of God. to go and reopen this church that had been closed for six months. I felt just drawn to that church.
And I remember walking into that building After our leaders, they gave me the keys to the facility and said, you can go and. and start the the ministry back and Brother Alex, I remember walking into that sanctuary and and on the pulpit there was the pastor's ledger. and the date was on it, and it was still open to the to the day that it closed. And I I will. I really will.
And I felt the heart of God. And in 2006, that was 2006, we reopened that church, and that church is still vibrant today. Amen. And, you know, if you're listening, folks, maybe you're a part of a plateaued or declining church. Be open to partnering with.
some new wine in fresh wine skins to paraphrase the New Testament. Pastor Shane, I just preached at a church that um it's called Restoration in Greenspring, North Carolina, thriving, packed to the walls. most everybody in there is younger than thirty. It was a dying Baptist church, wonderful church, but you know, the neighborhood had changed, people had gotten older, people had died off.
Well, this church came in about just under two years ago, and they are baptizing people every week. Young people, but the key, they said the older people that remained. realized they said we got to do something different. The message doesn't change, it's still Jesus, the risen Savior, but the method. needs to change.
So, folks, be open to something new, something different, something creative. Change is not easy. But I tell you what's worse. dying and turning out the light and closing the doors. You know, so speak if you would, brother.
And you've done this: the partnering, revitalization, resuscitation. You've done it seven times, right? Um, a little town called Aberdeen. Mississippi. the call of God it the church had closed and And we have district overseers in our church organization And me and him, uh we partnered together.
We went in together and at two o'clock on a Sunday afternoon. after we got out of our services we would head to Aberdeen and we would minister together and we sh We started that church back. and that church is still vibrant to day. And, um Partnering together, I feel like that's what's important. working together.
Across denominational land. Amen. You know, I'm seeing God do this more and more. I was in Connecticut. Uh there were some dying churches up there in You know, they say New England is dead.
Folks don't believe it. God is moving. I know in Connecticut. I know outside of Boston, Massachusetts. And these are hard areas.
Up in New Hampshire, some churches, they got together. And the things that I see, and I want you, if you would, to elaborate on this, first of all, there's acknowledgment that we're in a desperate place. than prayer. but then there's unity. and different Christians of different backgrounds, but we all love Jesus.
We all they said, look, hey, turns out we need each other. God will smile on that, won't he? Absolutely. I was just thinking about Brother Alex, The first time I ever left the United States on a mission trip, I was going with a team of about ten. to a a country called Guyana, and um they all backed out but me, and I said, Well, I'm going and I actually met a a pastor and preached seven seven days while I was there in Guyana met this guy, never had seen him.
and we became um lifelong friends and uh eventually came to the United States and We partnered together in Queens, New York City. and started a ministry, a church there. Living words Foundation Church. powerful. and what God is doing through unity.
not just in Mississippi or Tennessee, but New York City from around the world, how God can bring people together. It's just amazing. We got to take a brief break. But before we do, do you have a website? And we're going to come back with Shane Rae.
We're going to talk about the power Of multiplication and getting a new vision for what God is doing because God is at work. Are you online? Are you on Facebook? Where can people find you? Itawamba Dream Center, Brother Alex.
This is something that's been heavy on my heart. We work with a drug and rehab. program And we're starting a dream center. You can find us at itawambadreamcenter.com. I appreciate you letting me share that.
Because it's something very dear to my heart. We're seeing God do some amazing things in Itawamba County, Fulton, Mississippi. Stay tuned, folks. We're back after this brief break. Fox News and CNN call Alex McFarland, a religion and culture expert.
Stay tuned for more of his teaching and commentary after this. Christian author and speaker Alex McFarland is an advocate for Christian apologetics. Teaching in more than 2,200 churches around the world, schools, and college campuses, Alex is driven by a desire to help people grow in relationship with God. He arms his audiences with the tools they need to defend their faith, while also empowering the unchurched to find out the truth for themselves. In the midst of a culture obsessed with relativism, Alex is a sound voice who speaks timeless truths of Christianity in a timely way.
With 18 published books to his name, it's no surprise that CNN, Fox, The Wall Street Journal, and other media outlets have described Alex as a religion and culture expert. To learn more about Alex and to book him as a speaker at your next event, visit alexmacfarland.com or you can contact us directly by emailing booking at alexmcfarland.com. He's been called trusted, truthful, and timely. Welcome back to the Alex McFarlane Show. Welcome back to the program.
Alex McFarland here. We are going to resume our conversation with Shane Ray in just a second. But I want to remind everybody about our brand new book, I Give God the Glory, the brand new book, 100 Bible Questions and Answers on Prophecy and the End Times. Questions like AI and the Antichrist, and will Israel get attacked by China and Russia? Is the Antichrist even alive right now?
And it just came out. It's available everywhere. Barnes Noble, I give God the glory that Barnes Noble carries my books and Amazon.com. But if you want a copy from our ministry and in really getting one from us, you're supporting the work that we do: events, publishing, broadcasting, summer youth camps, literally 52 weeks a year, we are on. The road somewhere seeing people get saved and America get revived.
And we've got now thousands of alumnus that have been through our conferences and camps and training. And you can be a part of that. And if you would send a tax-deductible contribution of at least $40, and you can give securely online at alexmacfarland.com. Or, and there's a donate now button, or you could mail a check, if you would, to Alex McFarland Ministries, AMM, P.O. Box 485, Pleasant Garden, North Carolina, 27313.
A donation of at least $40. But I would ask you to pray for us. We have a growing staff. We're doing everything that we believe God puts in front of us. It is bearing big fruit for the salvation of our country.
If you could be a monthly partner, it would help us with our budgeting. But for each and every prayer, each and every donation, we promise to use it faithfully, fruitfully, and we thank you sincerely. Right now, with the time left, I want to continue my conversation with Shane Ray. He is with Opendoor Worship Center. And you know, in the previous break, you mentioned the Itawamba Dream Center.
Now, I go to Mississippi a lot to record and do things with the American Family Association, but for those that may not be aware, Itawamba. Is a county in Mississippi, isn't it? It's like so many of the names there, an Indian name, but they can find Shenray online. Brother, if you would go back and you mentioned a flatbed truck in a Walmart parking lot. That's very creative, by the way.
How did you start doing worship services off the back of that flatbed truck? We just um had a a group of people, Brother Alex, that was interested in seeing God do something new. in Itawamba County. And we started with just a few a handful of people. And uh we average now about 150.
on Sunday. In our worship services, how God can take a flatbed trailer and turn it into a vibrant congregation. It's just amazing to me how God can do that. You know, eighty five percent of all American churches are under two hundred people on a Sunday morning. And I know there there are big churches and mega churches, praise God, but the three hundred and forty five thousand Churches.
more than eighty percent are under two hundred people.
So folks, if you're listening and you think that you go to maybe, quote, a small church, hey, thank God for the quote unquote small churches, but they are spiritually very mighty.
So talk to us if you would. You've done it so well and As well as anybody I know, but reaching out to struggling or dying. Sister congregations. And folks, open your eyes. You'll see these churches, and you can help with just a few people.
Give us some first steps. In how to partner with a dying church to see it get revitalized. Just for example, I felt in 2016 called to a little community called Amory, Mississippi. And um went there and uh the church It was about eight or ten. That were there.
And we felt like it needed a new face. And We built a a a new sanctuary there.
Now keep it in mind that we're we're still pastoring at Fulton, which is our primary church. but at two o'clock on Sunday afternoon, We would beat in that that old building, and God began to bring and new people. around us, And we saw that church explode. And we bought ten acres of land in the city. built a new sanctuary, in that church is still Strong today, and we thank the Lord.
for that. They're just giving it a new face. Yeah, and there's a lot that God does with that.
Now, you're being used by God in a great way. But are you having other young men come along and say, mentor me? And are they getting a vision to maybe invest their life in the gospel as you have? We're seeing that. Brother Alex, what we usually do is take those that have been associate pastors at our church, We would take them and place them into the pastorate at these new churches that are coming forth, that we've revitalized.
train them, mentor them. develop the um and then place them into senior pastor roles. That's been the formula for us. In planting these new churches. And you know, folks, the seminary model that's been around for 100 plus years.
I know in the lives of a lot of people They go to seminary, they get the MDF. I'm well aware of the traditional educational route, and that was the route that I took. But I I really think more and more churches and in our ministry, Brother Shane, we've gotten into more and more training people. I mean life is busy. Many people go into the ministry kind of like mid-career.
You know, I thank God for young people that go into the the ministry, but we've been doing more and more ministry training. Everything from not only Bible and theology and apologetics, but just the practical things. And I believe there are just masses of great servants of the gospel ready to be equipped and. Unleashed. And the churches raise up leaders from within, promote from within, train within.
By the way, folks, our ministry is here to do that. But speak, if you would, about the possibility And the value Of understanding that, look, we're mentoring the leaders right here amongst us. I just want to reminisce just for a moment. I remember the Lord called me to Corinth, Mississippi. And I had a a young minister that had come through what we call the MIP.
and I spent nine months with him training him. And he stayed on with us after the MIP in our church. And I went to Corinth. and he saw the vision. I'll never forget climbing on that tractor.
Brother Alex in the grass would in that churchyard was above. The tractor. And cutting that grass and being able to get back into that facility and that building. and that young man Saw that vision, For the first time he stepped into a pastoral role. and uh pastored that church and It's just amazing to see I believe the Bible.
Old men shall dream dreams, and young men. was aviations. I believe if the old men the Presbyters will dream the dream. The young man. We'll see the vision.
That's very powerful. Our time is just about Pastor Shane Ray of Open Door Worship Center. We appreciate you. I want to say this to everybody listening. Jay Strack is a great Christian leader, and I heard him say many years ago in the church, and personally, we think too small, we aim too low, we quit too soon.
I don't know what your age is, but God has things for you. Maybe you feel like your best days are behind you. Don't believe that. With Jesus Christ, our God has all the power. Our God spoke the world into existence.
And our God raises the dead. Please believe, like Shane said, the old men dream dreams, get visions. We pass on the fire to the next generation. And there are things God wants to do in you and through you beyond what you could ever imagine.
So let's believe our God for great things, great days ahead. And remember, revival, the wheels are turning, God is moving. And whether you need to come to Christ, maybe you need to come back to Christ, go to alexmacfarland.com. We have many, many resources. We'd love to hear from you.
We want to help you. But just remember, church, Jesus is as close by as a prayer. Alex McFarlane Ministries are made possible through the prayers and financial support of partners like you. For over 20 years, this ministry has been bringing individuals into a personal relationship with Christ and has been equipping people to stand strong for truth. Learn more and donate securely online at alexmacfarlane.com.
You may also reach us by calling 1-877-YESGOD and the number 1. That's 1-877-YESGOD1. Thanks for joining us. We'll see you again on the next edition of the Alex McFarlane Show.
