THIS WEBSITE IS DEDICATED TO A MAN WHO KNEW HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND MAKE THE BEST OF UNFAVORABLE SITUATIONS; TO BREACH THE BARRIERS OF SIN AND PROVIDE WHAT WAS NEEDED NO MATTER THE COST; TO SUBMIT HIS WILL TO A HIGHER WILL FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

PERHAPS OTHERS WOULD CHOOSE WORDS LIKE EVANGELIST, ADMINISTRATOR, PREACHER, TEACHER OR EDUCATOR TO SUMMARIZE HIS SIXTY-SIX YEARS OF MINISTRY, BUT I LIKE TO USE A MORE PERSONAL NAME.  I CALL DR. RAY H HUGHES, SR., "POP" BECAUSE HE IS MY GRANDFATHER.

AND ALTHOUGH MULTIPLE WELL-DESERVED TITLES HAVE ENCOMPASSED HIS MINISTRY OVER THE YEARS, THERE IS ONE TITLE FEW CAN CLAIM TO HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED; THAT OF "EXAMPLE."

YOU SEE, IF YOU WANT TO KNOW HIS CREDENTIALS AND HISTORY, YOU CAN CLICK ON "HUGHES ARCHIVES."  IF YOU WANT TO HEAR HIM PREACH, YOU CAN CLICK ON "SOUNDCLIPS."  IF YOU WANT TO SEE HIM IN THE MIDST OF WORLD LEADERS, SHAKING HANDS WITH A FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OR PREACHING, YOU CAN CLICK ON A NUMBER OF TABS.  BUT IF YOU REALLY WANT TO SEE AND UNDERSTAND THE MAN BEHIND THIS WEBSITE, BEHIND ALL THE TITLES, ALL THE POSITIONS, ALL THE DEGREES AND ALL THE SUPERNATURAL PREACHING STORIES AND MANIFESTATIONS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, WELL I AM SORRY.  THAT PRIVILEGE ALONE IS RESERVED FOR HIS FAMILY.

THE MAN TRAVAILS IN PRAYER BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, GIVES FINANCIALLY IN TIMES OF NEED AND LOVES AND ENCOURAGES WHEN HOPE SEEMS LIKE A DISTANT STAR.  HE COUNSELS AND PROVIDES INSIGHT RESEMBLING NUGGETS OF GOLD AND OFFERS SCRIPTURAL AND SPIRITUAL DIRECTION WHEN THE WAY FORWARD SEEMS LOST.

BUT PERHAPS THE BEST EXAMPLE LIES IN WHAT POP HAS NOT SAID.  FOR OVER TEN YEARS HIS BODY HAS SLOWLY DETERIORATED DUE TO PERIPHERAL NEUROPATHY, AN INCURABLE NERVE AFFLICTION AFFECTING HIS FEET.  I HAVE SEEN HIM WEEP WITH PAIN, BEG FOR MERCY FROM THE LORD FOR RELIEF AND SPEND COUNTLESS NIGHTS WITHOUT SLEEP PRAYING FOR GOD TO HEAL HIM.

THE HEALING REMAINS UNSEEN.  YET, NOT ONE TIME HAVE I HEARD THE MAN COMPLAIN.  NOT ONE NEGATIVE COMMENT.  NOT ONE BURST OF ANGER.  NOT ONE REMARK OF SELF-PITY.  HOW IRONIC FOR A MAN KNOWN FOR HIS ORATORY SKILLS TO SET THE BEST EXAMPLE OF HIS LIFE BY NOT SAYING ANYTHING.

WHILE IT IS TRUE THE SPIRIT ANOINTED POP FOR A SPECIAL KIND OF PREACHING AND LEADERSHIP, THE FAMILY ENJOYS HIS COMPANY OVER DESSERT OR DINNER.  AFTER DRIVING HIM TO SEVERAL PREACHING ENGAGEMENTS WHERE I NEVER LEFT WITHOUT PHYSICALLY FEELING THE PRESENCE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AND RECEIVING A BLESSING, I CHERISH MOST STANDING IN FAMILY PRAYER CIRCLES OVER THANKSGIVING DINNER OR CHRISTMAS FESTIVITIES FEELING THE HEART OF A MAN PRAY WITH AN UNEXPLAINABLE CONNECTION WITH GOD.

YES, FEW PERSONS IN HISTORY MAKE AS PROFOUND AN IMPACT UPON THE CHURCH AND WORLD AS DR. RAY H. HUGHES, SR.  YES, TRAVELING OVER 6,000,000 MILES BY AIRPLANE AND OVER 1,500,000 MILES BY CAR, DR. HUGHES BURNED WITH A PASSION FOR SOULS IN NEED OF REPENTANCE AND RESTORATION AND LED TENS OF THOUSANDS TO CHRIST.

YES, DR. HUGHES IS KNOWN AROUND THE WORLD FOR HIS POWERFUL PREACHING.  YES, THE HOLY SPIRIT MOVED IN MIRACULOUS WAYS THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE AND MINISTRY AS DR. HUGHES TOTALLY SURRENDERED TO THE CALL OF GOD.  AND PRAISE GOD FOR THESE ACCOMPLISHMENTS! 

BUT HAVE YOU EVER SAT WITH POP AND WATCHED THE BRAVES?  HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED SCRABBLE WITH POP AND FAMILY WHERE THE LEVEL OF COMPETITION IS FEROCIOUS?  HAVE YOU EVER DRIVEN WITH POP TO THE MOUNTAINS FOR THE WEEKEND JUST TO TALK?  HAVE YOU EVER RECEIVED A SPECIAL BIRTHDAY CARD, A CHRISTMAS SHOPPING SPREE OR A WEEK-LONG GOLFING TRIP BECAUSE HIS BLOOD IS YOUR BLOOD?

I AM SIMPLY POP'S GRANDSON, AND I STAND IN THE COMPANY OF FAMILY WITH AN INCREDIBLE HERITAGE FROM A POP WHO KNEW HOW TO SACRIFICE BY SETTING A GODLY EXAMPLE.  HE IS MY POP.  HE IS ONE OF A KIND, AND I LOVE HIM.

RAY H (DOC) HUGHES, III
AUGUST 24, 2007

DOC IS CURRENTLY IN HIS SECOND YEAR AS A DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN THEOLOGY CANDIDATE AT REGENT UNIVERSITY IN VIRGINIA BEACH, VIRGINIA.