FROM A SISTER RESEARCHER – A TRIBUTE TO MY “BROTHER” RAY YUNGEN

By Lanette Irwin

I first met Ray through mutual friends in Salem, OR, at a dinner in 1984. My husband and I were attending a conference with Dave Hunt and Constance Cumbey on the New Age movement. Ray, like us, were perplexed and flabbergasted learning about the New Age tactics of the anti-Christ. The false church being built seductively under our nose. A friendship was formed as we were all on the same page.

My husband and I moved to Calif in 1985, and from then on, Ray would travel down for his research a few times during each year. We attended the whole life expos (a New Age conference of several organizations, New Age leaders culminating together for a one-world movement). These conferences lasted from Thursday afternoon till Sunday. We collected hundreds of pamphlets as well as many books. Ray would stay till closing, interviewing New Agers wondering what made them tick and how they got hooked. And he was witnessing to them. I would sometimes come up the halls to see who he was talking to –  sometimes a monk a or some of the more famous authors of New Age books. I did my thing –  he did his.

Often, at these conferences and events, they would last until eleven at night. When we got home, we would pull out all the info and read it, talk about it, and compare notes. The copier came out and we copied what we could. We began to form packages – a hundred or more to send to pastors, friends, and leaders we had met exposing the New Age.

But Ray said he wanted to do something on a bigger scale, and he wanted to get the message out there. He said “I want to write I want to speak and expose.” He asked how do I start? I said with prayer, Ray, and more prayer.

I got to know his sweet mom. Ray had very godly parents. We would talk, and one day she asked, “What in the world is he doing with all this stuff –  there must be thousands of pamphlets, newspapers, and books. He reads relentlessly?”

I answered her, “I think the Lord is going to use all that someday. He wants to be a writer and speaker to expose the New Age and become as knowledgeable as he can.”

His parents were as precious as Ray. I never had a brother, but I always wanted one, Ray was a best male friend and brother. In some ways, we were so alike, that he could have been my blood brother.

One thing I want to testify about, Ray was the godliest man I have ever gotten close to. He never married, had no children, no siblings, and his parents and aunts and had passed away. He said life was lonely for him but that he had joy at the same time. He devoted his time to researching and giving his time to others.

Ray would call me from bookstores sometimes. He would be excited and share about a book or someone he had witnessed to, asking for prayer. He was always on the lookout for opportunities to serve the Lord. He was devoted to the Lord and believed in destroying Satan’s kingdom one person at a time.

Ray enjoyed his ministry. He said it felt like a hobby at times. There were times I invited my fellowship group over for dinners. Ray acted like they were dear friends. Ray did not care if it was a guy on a corner alone or a flock of congregates, he always made time to share. Everyone was important to him. It showed by his listening and time he spent with them.

Ray also had a way of sharing and exposing false prophets in a gentle manner and a kind demeanor. Sometimes, you get to know someone so well like your family members and there are so many things you can find that may not be right. Ray was not that person. He was godly, focused on Christ, not puffed up ever, never bragged, never acted superior.

A basic man alone that loved to the very end and a dear brother I will miss and my family will miss. My loss is felt very deeply. The Lord spared him from this world, for that I say “Praise be to the Lord.”

Thank you, Jesus, that I had him for a brother and a friend and the wealth of information we shared. That information will live on to expose the darkness bringing light to the world.

Your sister and friend,
In Heaven until we will meet again
Fellow researcher
Lanette Irwin