I remember the call. The voice on the other end of the line said, “Are you Steve Ray?” I said, “Yes, why?” The voice said, “Of all the men in all the world I need to talk with you.”
In response I said, “Who are you and why do you need to speak with me?” I ended up meeting Alex Jones by phone that night. We had lunch together on the following Wednesday. As a Pentecostal preacher in Detroit Michigan he was studying the worship patterns of the early Church and was struck by the Church Fathers.
He had heard that I had converted from Evangelical Protestantism to the Catholic Church. He said he didn’t know anyone else who had done that and wanted to talk with me. (Read the story on Ignatius Insight).
That started a monthly meeting at Big Boy Restaurant in Southfield Michigan where he peppered me with questions for over a year of meetings. Every meeting was a delight. His sense of adventure, honesty and inquiry was a joy to me. He reminded me of a little kid at Christmas (a good thing said with all respect). He was so excited. He had a love for the truth and a dedication to follow the truth no matter what. That is why his book is entitled No Price Too High, and he did pay a big price to become Catholic.
He brought his wife Donna to our house and she confronted my wife Janet who graciously and calmly answered her questions. I remember her saying she was so frustrated that Janet didn’t “fight back” but just loved Donna and calmly responded. Donna is a very precious soul and a genuine lady through and through. Her conversion brought us all great joy when she finally “Ah ha!” She saw it!
We became very good friends. My wife was Donna’s sponsor into the Catholic Church and I wrote the Preface to his book “No Price Too High.” My only regret is that our lives were both so busy that we have not seen much of them over the last few years. He was ministering to several parishes in Detroit and traveling the world speaking. You can see his website here. His short biography is here.
He died in the grace of God as a deacon in the Catholic Church and I could not be prouder to have been his friend and brother in Christ. I look forward to spending time together in eternity. May God grant grace to his wife Donna and his three sons and their families.
For the DVD story of his conversion (in which I had the honor to introduce him) you can visit Nineveh’s Crossing or click on the image to the left.
I was told he had trouble breathing on Saturday. The doctors discovered he had no white blood cells, an indication he may have had a previously undetected leukemia. He had several heart attacks Saturday and died around 10:30 PM. I hope I am correct in all that but don’t know more. I’m told Donna and his family is all together and doing well in the Lord.
I don’t know the funeral arrangements or plans. When I find out I will update this page with the information.
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