Most people retire so they will no longer have to work. Ray Burdeshaw is retiring so he can do more work.
“I’m going to do interim work and help churches, be a consultant for the State Board of Missions (SBOM), do volunteer international missions, travel, visit family and play with my grandchildren,” said Burdeshaw, director of the SBOM office of worship leadership and church music.
Burdeshaw, who has been in music ministry since 1960 and has served with SBOM for the past 21 years, will retire Jan. 1.
“It has been a wonderful journey, and I’m sad it’s come to an end, but I plan to be involved in music work across the state in my retirement,” he said. “I want to help churches as much as I can.”
During his 46-year career, Burdeshaw has served as music minister for churches in Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. He has served in an interim capacity at 19 different churches, including his own Eastern Hills Baptist Church, Montgomery, in Montgomery Baptist Association. Since coming on staff with the SBOM, he has led music retreats, conferences, camps and worship training all over the United States and the world.
Burdeshaw, who is from Panama City, Fla., graduated with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in music from William Carey College (now William Carey University) in Hattiesburg, Miss., where he met his wife, Jane. They have three children — David, Jane Elizabeth and Jonathan — and two grandchildren.
“My wife has been a vital part of my ministry the entire time,” Burdeshaw said. “I couldn’t have done it without her. Even at the SBOM, she teaches children’s music camp and directs the children’s honor choir.”
Jane Burdeshaw said when they married, she committed to being his helpmate. “It’s been wonderful to walk through this journey together,” she said. “It’s awesome that God has allowed me to be with him to do camps and conferences and given us the same passion for ministry.”
Keith Hibbs, an associate in the worship leadership and church music office, has worked closely with Ray Burdeshaw for many years and said he is one of the most compassionate men he has ever known.
“This kindness and care manifests itself on a professional and personal level,” Hibbs said. “He has a heart for all Alabama Baptist musicians, wanting to assist and help them better implement their gifts in worship.”
SBOM Executive Director Rick Lance said Burdeshaw is a living definition of the word “commitment.”
“Ray is committed to Christ, and his life is a testimony to this fact — he personifies the fruit of the Spirit in a truly winsome way,” Lance said. “He is also noted for his commitment to the ministry — he loves the local church both in word and deed.”
One aspect of music ministry that Burdeshaw has especially concentrated on during his tenure with SBOM has been assisting bivocational ministers of music. He was a bivocational music minister himself for several years and estimates that about 82 percent of Alabama Baptist music ministers are bivocational.
Each year, he conducts two statewide training events and as many as 24 associational training events for bivocational ministers of music.
“I provide music reading and practical helps since they can’t go to workshops because they work another job,” Burdeshaw said. “During these conferences, we talk about use of hymns, choruses, children’s choir, praise teams, keyboards — anything and everything that has to do with music ministry.”
He also plans and facilitates other events, including senior adult choir festivals, handbell festivals and training conferences, worshipfests, retreats for the Alabama Singing Men and Women and the musical portion of the Alabama Baptist State Convention’s annual meeting.
Through these events, Burdeshaw said he has made “some wonderful friends” that he’ll have forever.
Alabama Baptist churches often turn to him for resumés from prospective worship leaders, as well as for training for minister of music search committees. Burdeshaw also consults with churches seeking the best use of building space related to music and worship ministry.
When he isn’t on the road, his workdays in Montgomery include speaking by phone with worship leaders about ministry challenges and joys; working with other SBOM staff to plan professional development events; helping churches find music leaders on a temporary basis or for a single Sunday; and, of course, preparing for the many statewide and associational events.
Guy Anderson, minister of music at Elkdale Baptist Church, Selma, in Selma Baptist Association, is one of those friends that Burdeshaw has made through events over the years. He has known and worked with him for 21 years and said a big hole will be left when Burdeshaw leaves his post.
“He’s oriented to ministering to music ministers. He is a symbol of stability and mature leadership and is a friend to everyone,” Anderson said. “Usually you say that a replacement has big shoes to fill — well, I’d say that whoever replaces Ray will do better just to bring his own shoes.”
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