In November 2014, a long-time friend (40 years – help!!) Ray Goudie, an incredible visionary and motivator, who with his amazing wife Nancy, head up NGM, a music/media/dance ministry in Bristol, became ill. It was 6 months before it was finally diagnosed as pancreatic cancer, which normally ends your life quite quickly. Ray and Nancy have never once admitted defeat, and Nancy’s posts over the past 14 months have yes, been factual, never denying that the disease was affecting Ray significantly: there have been times where Ray’s condition has been pretty bad, oncologist’s reports have been negative, and life-threatening.

I’ve known the Goudies since 1976, when we were collectively in British Youth for Christ: they went on to form the band, Heartbeat, which had a chart hit in 1987, and Top of the Pops performances (no, not with Jimmy Saville! – Janice Long!!), but their vision lived out through NGM has been incredible. Many young people’s lived changed forever. I had the privilege some years ago of speaking to the students of one of the year-long training schemes (I didn’t speak for a year – in fact, I think it was just one day!! – but it was great to be with them).

Last Friday, Ray was told that the cancer causing ‘thickening’ in his bowel was preventing him from pooing: and that he had a very few days to live. Ray and Nancy’s faith kicked in big time: I had been feeling for a while that I’d love to pray for Ray, but they have so many people worldwide praying that I didn’t want to ‘push’ myself forward, but God had been speaking a few things to me about Ray that in the end I had to message them and offer/ask to go and see them. Years ago I’d heard David Pawson preach on ‘Take off the graveclothes’ in Lazarus’s story: that yes, Lazarus had come back to life, yes he’d walked out of the tomb, but he couldn’t take his own graveclothes off…. and I felt that I wanted to go and see them to at least be part of that process.

Nancy’s response, after they’d prayed and talked about it, was yes… Saturday afternoon, she asked if I could go Sunday. So I booked my flight to Heathrow,  drove to Bristol, had about an hour or so with them – that was inspirational to a visitor, because of their incredible faith. Ray had pooed! – first a ‘pea’, then a ‘Mr Whippy’! – and Ray looked amazing for someone nearly dead (!), and their faith filled the room. I could have stayed hours, just being in the presence of God, an atmosphere of faith, but I’d gone for  purpose, and fulfilled it, so drove back to Addlestone, Surrey, where friends look after my car, and subsequently flew home. It was a wonderful day…. and Ray was told on Monday that he could go home on Tuesday.

I’ve asked Nancy if I can post their posts from the last few days here: they are worth a read, bearing in mind they were written after a death prognosis’ had been spoken over them. Ray’s gone home to live, not die….

Please pray for this incredible couple, for Ray’s continued healing, and for the enemy to be so angry that he ever took Ray on in the first place….

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Nancy Goudie
18 June at 08:13 ·
Well……have we got a story to tell you! It a long story but I will try and shorten it here on FB. A friend of mine who happens to be Smith Wigglesworth’s great granddaughter contacted me with a verse for Ray – Mal 4:2 and asked Ray to meditate on it. When Ray did he said the presence of God came down in his room in such a deep way. From that time on there was a change in Ray. He no longer was planning for a funeral. She then contacted again and gave some instructions for prayer etc. Ray and I spent some very intimate time with Jesus together in his hospital room where we could sense God was doing something really special. During that time Ray prayed that God would speak to someone somewhere in the world who would contact him with a word to pray for him. Out of the blue Paul Manwaring from Bethel church in Redding contacted Ray saying that he had been told prophetically that he had an anointing to see last minute miracles and had asked if Ray fancied being the first! We knew of Paul and he knew of us but we have never met and don’t really know each other. Paul and Sue face timed Ray from the empty sanctuary at Bethel where so many have been healed from cancer. Paul said that God had given him faith to pray for Ray. They prayed against the cancer and proclaimed it is done. Ray felt such a sense of God and it was obvious that God was doing something. Ray felt like Lazarus – he had been raised but needed the grave clothes taken off him. Paul also commanded Ray’s bowels to work. The next day (yesterday) Ray went to the loo to try and see if his bowels would work – but nothing. Last night Ray called me to tell me that he had woken up and felt he needed the loo. He went and his bowels moved – and not just moved but properly moved. The nurse said that would not happen. She told him that if his bowels moved it would not be a proper movement but possibly just bits of pooh. We have never been so happy at a proper bowel movement before – ha!!! Ray feels he is in the middle of a last minute miracle story – it’s God who is turning the pages. It is so wonderful. Keep praying. We like Abraham have looked at the circumstances – his body as good as dead – and believed that God has the power to do what he has promised. There is so much more to tell – like the palliative nurse who is in charge of the treatment for Ray – she told Ray at the beginning they would do the steroids for two days and then that would be it. She came back yesterday out of the blue saying that they would extend it until Monday and even on Monday they might extend it longer if his bowels did not work. Our surgeon suggested that this could be because they have never seen someone respond so well. Paul Manwaring said that he had never seen anyone with Stage 4 cancer and been given a few days to live looking so well and so at peace. Ray does look well and is in incredible peace – there is no doubt God is doing a miracle. Keep praising God and thanking him for what he has done and is doing. We are excited to see what happens next.

Ray Goudie   (Sunday)
4 hrs ·
Morning people! ….what a story I’m living in….I do not have the words to express my total gratefulness to those of you who have encouraged me, or prayed for me, or sent me hugs…or in whatever capacity as a friend or as a stranger …I have been overwhelmed by love….I feel bathed in love and
feel so much love for each and everyone of you…love is what life is all about….Nancy , my wife …just what did I do to deserve such a precious gift? My love for her is off the scale…my two sons….Daniel and Aidan…I love them more than any words I can find to say..the Goudie and McVicar families are all so amazing…I have wonderful brothers, sister in laws, a new daughter Leanne who I love so much….and many other ‘sons’, ‘daughters’, friends, Tim and Zoe..I love you….so so many people I just love and appreciate…new and old friends, I am so grateful ….and feel so loved by so many who have travelled with me through my life and recent journey….I have been changed and feel a new fresh beginning is taking place…I’m not planning a funeral…..I’m planning for life and excited at seeing fresh expressions of friendship, family, adventures taking place in the coming years….THANK YOU! I have literally hundreds of names pouring through my heart and mind that I would like to mention and personally tell you how much I appreciate you ….all of my lovely ngm family….inspire world….music, creative, musical theatre arenas….church, friends with faith, no faith, different faiths, all shapes, sizes, sexuality, loads of all flavours that so enrich my life…I am a grateful man….I LOVE YOU! Be great to see you soon…thank you for your love, ray xxx

Nancy Goudie  (Monday)
2 hrs ·
Just a quick update to say that Ray is coming home tomorrow. YEAH!!!!! He is coming home to live and not die! He is doing so well. During the last few days there have been so many wonderful things happening. We have been told that Ray should not be feeling the way he is – he is feeling good. He should not be looking good – he is looking really good. He should not be feeling hungry – he is hungry! Also yesterday he got his weight taken and he had put weight on!! Considering he is only eating liquids and yogurts you would expect that he would have lost weight – but no – he put some on! Ha! The doctors and palliative team are all pleased with what is happening to him and have told him he can begin to eat again. He is still having some pains every so often – so please continue to praise God for all he is doing and keep praying that all pain and any gurgling in his stomach will be gone. We have had a wonderful weekend – with a good friend visiting Ray on Sunday to specifically pray to take any ‘grave clothes’ off Ray. His name was Paul too funnily enough!! We had a very special time with him. God is so good… Please keep us and our boys in your prayers. Thank you everyone for your love and encouragement – it has meant so much. We are so thankful to our Heavenly Papa who has done and is doing a miracle….we continue to trust in his unfailing love