At a stage of life when many people are winding down, Pastor Ray Haas is still pressing forward. Now in his 70s, Ray is more committed than ever to living out his calling, which is helping others to grow in faith, understand their spiritual purpose and disciple the next generation.
“I don’t believe in retirement, not when it comes to God’s work,” Ray said. “Retiring financially is one thing, but spiritually, we don’t stop working until the day we die.”
For decades, Ray pastored churches, planted new ones and mentored believers and fellow leaders. But it’s in this later season of life that he feels especially focused and fulfilled.
Answering a lifelong calling
Ray’s journey into ministry began with a broken heart. Reeling from a failed relationship, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps in search of a fresh start. But it was an unexpected encounter at a halfway house in Minnesota that truly changed the direction of his life.
“I went there to visit a friend who was messed up on drugs,” Ray recalled. “They were having a small worship service, and I experienced the love of Christ so deeply that I couldn’t walk away from it.”
That night, in the living room of his parents’ home, Ray gave his life to Christ. He returned to the military as a new man, eager to grow in faith and discover God’s purpose for his life.
“I didn’t know then that I’d become a pastor,” he said. “But, I knew I had to share what I’d experienced.”
Eventually, Ray enrolled at Northwestern College in Minnesota, and after just two weeks of part-time classes, he committed fully to studying Scripture.
“That’s where I heard the call to proclaim God’s word for the rest of my life,” he explained. “It was like God saying, ‘This is what I created you to do.’”
Finding a new rhythm after 50
In his early 50s, Ray began transitioning leadership of his church to his son, Israel, who had recently completed seminary. Rather than retire, Ray divided his salary to bring on an administrative assistant and took a full-time job supervising a production line at a nutraceutical plant.
“It was a secular job, but it didn’t mean ministry stopped,” he said. “I helped the plant manager grow in Christ, discipled him and eventually ordained him as a pastor.”
For Ray, every season of life offers new opportunities for purpose.
“The more experience we have, the more God expects of us,” he said. “Why would he spend all those years training us just so we can sit on a couch or play pickleball all day?”
Instead, Ray leaned into mentoring younger pastors, discipling church members and creating tools others could use long after he was gone.
The Life Plan: A tool for spiritual growth
One of Ray’s most impactful contributions has been “The Life Plan: A Guide to Multiply Disciple-Makers.” It is a nine-month discipleship curriculum he developed to help people live according to biblical priorities.
“It started when I was reading Matthew 28:20, which says, ‘Teach them to obey everything I have commanded you,’” Ray explained. “I thought, how many commands can I name off the top of my head? That’s when I decided to write them all down.”
From that effort emerged a structured curriculum that guides participants through key biblical principles, helping them understand their identity in Christ, the importance of grace and how to live out their faith in everyday life.
Each week, participants are challenged to read Scripture systematically, hold themselves accountable to live it out, memorize Galatians 2:20, and pass along what they learned to someone else.
“I tell them, even if you have to look in the mirror to explain it, just say it out loud,” Ray explained. “You’ll retain it better, and you’ll be ready to help someone else.”
His son helped formalize the material into a printed manual, and together they launched Plethos Global, a nonprofit that helps churches build a culture of discipleship.
Today, The Life Plan is being used not only in the United States, but also in Kenya, where it has been translated into Swahili and is being used to train pastors and plant churches.
“It’s humbling to think something we started in a small local church is now being used to disciple people across the world,” Ray said. “It’s all God’s doing.”
Mentoring in motion
Even now, Ray continues to meet regularly with his 89-year-old mentor, a man he approached decades ago and asked for guidance.
“He said yes, and we’ve been meeting every week since,” Ray explained. “At the time, I was in my 30s and just needed someone to talk things over with – someone who wasn’t afraid to correct me if I was off track.”
Today, Ray is paying that investment forward by mentoring others. He disciples a local pastor weekly, and his heart is especially drawn to young fathers and older men alike.
“I want to help young men get a strong start, and I want older men to realize they still have a vital role in helping others grow in faith,” he explained. “There’s always someone coming up behind us.”
That sense of purpose continues to energize Ray, even when his schedule is full or his body grows tired.
“We work for the Lord, and it’s him we serve,” Ray said, referencing Colossians 3:23. “He’s never once told me I’m done.”
Diagnosing misplaced trust
Ray’s latest project is a book titled “Diagnose Shifting Faith,” which helps readers recognize when their trust in God has quietly shifted to something – or someone – else.
“I started the project when I got irritated with my wife,” he admitted. “I asked God why I reacted that way, and he showed me that I was putting my trust in her for my well-being, not in him.”
That experience prompted Ray to write about the subtle ways believers can shift their faith from God to a person, group, event or even possessions.
“If you’re trusting in your spouse, your job, your political party or even your church more than you’re trusting in God, you’ve shifted your faith,” he said. “And when that happens, you cut off the flow of God’s resources in your life.”
The book outlines dozens of symptoms that can indicate a misplaced faith. They include things like irritability, anxiety, bitterness and burnout. But, rather than condemning the reader, Ray gently points them back to a life of trust in Christ alone.
“All of us are susceptible to shifting our trust,” he said. “This book is just a way to bring people back to the source.”
A purpose for every person
For those over 50 who feel like their best years are behind them, Ray offered a gentle, yet firm, challenge.
“Your purpose doesn’t have to be grand,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be writing a book or starting a nonprofit. It might be mentoring one person. It might be making coffee at church or preparing meals. God will show you what your assignment is.”
He pointed to Philippians 2:13 as a guiding truth: “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.”
“If we’re meeting with God, paying attention to what he’s stirring in our hearts, and asking him to direct us, he’ll make it clear,” Ray said. “He’ll show us what to do, how to do it, and who will help us along the way.”
Ray isn’t done yet. He continues to disciple, write, encourage and serve wherever he’s needed.
“I’m still meeting with God every morning and asking Him, ‘What’s the next step?’” Ray explained. “And he’ll show me, just like he always has.”
For more information
To connect with Ray or learn more about his work, you can reach him by email at rayandjenhaas@yahoo.com.
Ray’s book, “Diagnose Shifting Faith,” as well as “The Life Plan: A Guide to Multiply Disciple-Makers” manual are available on Amazon.
If you order one or Ray’s books from a link above, Forward From 50 may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
After closing his business and enduring several painful years of uncertainty regarding what to do with his life, Greg founded Forward From 50 to help men and women over 50 to live more purposeful lives by pursuing things they are passionate about. A Wisconsin native, Greg currently lives in Arizona.