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| Mary and I with our fabulous family |
Life’s Summary
Born and raised in Rockdale, Sydney, Australia, I attended Rockdale and Kogarah schools, worked as a lathe operator then labourer and sales representative in my father’s light steel fabrication shop.
I became a Christian in my early years, courtesy of being sent to Sunday School. However my shallow faith and life was called into question by the Lord when I was 18. God had dealt with me in several areas of my life climaxing in the 1959 Billy Graham Crusade at the Sydney show grounds. In 1960 I entered the Churches of Christ Bible College at Woolwich, NSW. There I was privileged to become Student President and graduated as a minister in 1963.
Some highlights of years that followed from 1963:
Met Mary Pedler in College.
Married 1964. Three children, Lance, Craig, Gaylene
Ministries included establishing churches in Orange and Maitland,NSW, resurrecting Gladstone (Qld) church, three short term mission trips to Africa (Zambia, Kenya, Ghana) and two years in Northampton, U.K.
Conference President (twice) for NSW Churches of Christ.
Ministers’ Association President
Industrial chaplain at Orange and chaplain to GreenHills Retirement village.
President Tenambit/Morpeth Rotary club and made a ‘Paul Harris Fellow’ by the Tenambit- Morpeth Rotary club.
For the year 2014-15 President of the Beauty Point Probus club.
Now I am retired (almost) and live in Northern Tasmania.
We are involved with:
A small Baptist Church.
Our six grand-children.
Assisting their parents, Craig and Rachelle with their Seahorse Australia enterprise. This consists of Seahorse World for tourists and the Seahorse Australia farm where they breed different species of seahorses which are exported to several countries around the world. They also breed and supply fresh water aquarium fish. (See their website)
My Writing Journey
Over many years there have been various articles and devotionals published in denominational magazines.
I was a regular contributor to The Upper Room daily devotional magazine. Several items were included by Debra White-Smith (USA) in her 101 Ways to Romance Your Marriage and Romancing Your Wife from Harvest House publisher.
In 2016 we established 'R and M ministries' and are now the distributors of mine and Mary's books. Contact me at ray.haw3819@bigpond.com
Mary is also a multi-published and best-selling author with books published some years ago by Harlequin Mills and Boon in their medical romance line and inspirational romance by Barbour Publishing (USA). Her Baragula trilogy, Return to Baragula, Outback from Baragula and Justice at Baragula are available fromfrom Koorong and Word Australia bookshops.
Our books can be purchased directly from us. Cost and payment details (including by PayPal) are available on the contact page of Mary's website: http://www.mary-hawkins.com
Where I am at in the year 2020
After we began the Beauty Point Baptist Church in Tasmania in 2006 we enjoyed seeing it take too and grow. In 2018 I stepped aside so that others could assume leadership. That was a fortunate decision as I suffered a deep vein Thrombosis which has sidelined me ever since.
Though my preaching has been curtailed my writing has continued. I am offering my latest devotional efforts for free via email. These include 'God's love for Israel'. The majestic mystery of the Messiah in Isaiah 53'. and one I'm in the throws of writing, 'The God who has made Himself known.'
Mary and I have celebrated or 80th birthdays and 55years of married life and ministry. Together we have discovered over those years, God is Faithful, the Bible is true, Christ and the cross transorm lives and the Holy Spirit ministers to us and through us to the honour of Jesus.
