GAC09008
April 6, 2009

Rev. Ray Jones named Coordinator of Evangelism

New church developer served Macland Presbyterian Church, Georgia, for 15+ years

Contact:
Paul Seebeck, 502-569-5221

LOUISVILLE, KY — Ray Jones, the founding pastor of the 500-member Macland Presbyterian Church in Powder Springs, Ga. has been named coordinator of evangelism for the Evangelism and Church Growth ministry area in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). Jones will oversee the new offices of Personal and Congregational Evangelism, as well as the newly formed Youth and Collegiate ministries office. He will also provide leadership for camps and conferences and for the Asian-American leadership office.

“Ray is the perfect person to bring evangelism leadership to the PC(USA),” says Eric Hoey, Director of Evangelism and Church Growth office. “He has an entrepreneurial spirit and proven ministry leadership experience as a new church developer and coach. Most importantly, he has a passion for evangelism that will serve well the rising tide of Presbyterians hungry to learn how to share our faith.”

“I want people to learn  to articulate how God has made a difference in their lives through Jesus Christ in ways that will lead them into relationships with people in the world that are centered in justice and mercy,” says Jones, who will join the Evangelism and Church Growth ministry area in Louisville on May 4.

“Ray’s love of Jesus and his desire for social action are contagious,” says Hoey.

Before his new church development work, Jones served First Presbyterian Church in Bay Minette, Ala. and Sumner Presbyterian Church in Mississippi. He received his M.Div. and D.Min. from Columbia Theological Seminary.

“Ben Johnson, a former professor of evangelism, and my experience as a pastor have taught me that evangelism isn’t about a program on how to attract more people to support our budgets,” says Jones. “My continual discovery is that the heart of evangelism is to grow disciples in new life in Jesus Christ and then get them involved in the world sharing their lives and love.”