His Own Song Led Him to Christ
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Written: 07/01/2007 
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Behind the Songs
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Song: Ten Thousand Angels
Scripture: Matthew 26:47-66
"Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?"
Rarely in the history of hymnology has a composer been led to Christ by his own song, but such was the case with Ray Overholt. God literally picked him up out of the darkness and confusion of the nightclubs and brought him under his loving care, using his song in an unusual manner.
Ray Overholt was born in Middleville, Ohio, in 1924. He seemed destined to a career in music from age eleven, when his dad gave him his first guitar. He rose to a measure of success, hosting his own television show and appearing on Kate Smith’s national program.
In 1958, then thirty-six years of age and at the height of his show-business career, Ray Overholt wrote his now-famous song, “Ten Thousand Angels. Following is his story as he related it to me:
“I had left my television show, ‘Ray’s Roundup’ and entered the nightclub circuit. I was drinking pretty heavily at this time. I began thinking that there must be a better life than the nightclub, show-business whirlwind. I was so intent on changing my lifestyle that I went home and told my wife that I was quitting all of the smoking, drinking, and cursing. I wanted to clean up my own life. Why I was doing all of this
I didn’t know, but I knew there were people praying for me.
One day I thought, 'I’ve written secular songs, but I’d like to write a song about Christ.' I opened the Bible, which I knew very little about, and began to read the portion of Scripture that describes Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, telling Peter to put away his sword. I read where Jesus told Peter that he could ask his Father and he would send twelve legions of angels. I didn’t know at the time that that would have been more than 72,000 angels.
I thought a good title for a song would be 'He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels.' I didn’t know what had happened during the life of Christ, so I began doing a little research. The more I read about Jesus, the more I admired him for what he had done. I then remembered that he did this all for me, also.
I was playing in a nightclub in Battle Creek, Michigan, when the Lord impressed me to write the song. I wrote the first verse and put it in my guitar case. I then gave the club my notice that I was quitting. As I opened my guitar case to put my instrument away, one of the fellows saw the music written out and he asked, ‘What are you doing there?’ I told him I was writing a song about Jesus. He asked the title and I told him. He said, ‘It will never go.’ I asked, ‘Why not?’ He said, ‘I don’t even like the title.’ But I finished the song and sent it to a publishing house, which reluctantly agreed to publish it.
Sometime later I found myself singing at a small church. I sang He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels. Following my singing, a preacher gave a message that gripped my heart. I knew I needed Christ, so I knelt there and accepted, as my Savior, the One whom I had been singing and writing about.
Ray Overholt became a traveling singer and preacher. He has written a number of other songs, but none so moving as Ten Thousand Angels.
Because Ray was not a Christian at the time, he did realize the horror that he was to describe in his song. No death has ever been more excruciatingly painful than crucifixion -- and the Romans mastered it. By design, death on a cross was not quick. No vital organs were damaged, so it was a slow, agonizing demise. Soldiers would first whip the victim with a scourge and then force him to carry his own crossbeam to the execution site. Once suspended on a cross, the hours in a strained position took its toll on the individual's body, causing difficulty in breathing -- and often suffocation. Some victims died of heart failure. And sometimes a person would hang alive for days, finally succumbing to death as a welcomed relief.
Thousands of men were crucified, for nearly a thousand years. Crucifixion ended in A. D. 337 when Constantine the Great, out of respect for the Son of God and his crucifixion for the whole world, banned this hideous practice forever.
In the lyrics Overholt describes the crucifixion and the suffering that led up to the event that looms larger than life to you and me. His whole theme is the willingness of Jesus to endure, alone, the inhuman ordeal of crucifixion, never once giving thought to calling for the help of the Father or "ten thousand" angels who would come at His beckoning. Overholt says, "He died alone, for you and me."
Reflection:
Before we knew him, God loved us. And so he drew us to himself through his Son, and set us free.
Reader Comments
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P.S. Hi Dave Signs!!!
I loved your comment about how Grandpa and Grandma have influenced your life. They sure are proud of you and talk so well of all God has allowed you to accomplish. God Bless You, Friend!
Becky -
I have known Ray Overholt since I was a teenager in the 60's. He definately is a gift from God to all mankind! Ray, as an evangelist, spoke and sang in my Church of the Nazarene. He also baptized my youngest child. This man is the perfect example of God's love and shares His love with humility. His wife, Millie, is a wonderful peaceful representative of Jesus Christ.
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I must report to all of you that Ray Overholt has passed away. A great man of faith, he had his homegoing on Sunday, Sept. 14, 2008, as he and Millie were preparing to leave their home in Battle Creek, Mi, for a concert near Grand Rapids. Keep Millie in your prayers. A celebration of Ray's life will be on Friday, Sept. 19, 11:00am, at First Assembly of God, 800 S. 24th St. in Battle Creek. You can call the Family Altar Chapel in Battle Creek at 269-965-0488 for more info. Condolences may be sent to Millie Overholt at 112 S. 26th St, Battle Creek, Mi 49014
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I have had the privilege of singing with Ray and Millie on a couple of occasions, and was scheduled to do a concert with them this September 30. I was so excited about seeing and hearing them again, and especially having the opportunity to sing with them again. I recorded Ray's song "Hallelujah Square" on my first album in 1981 and have been singing it ever since. I often have people request it. I've also been singing Ten Thousand Angels for many years and it is one of my favorites. I was saddened to hear of his passing this week but I am assured that one day we will sing together again.
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Uncle Ray and Aunt Millie are two the people that I have admired for years. As a young man many years ago Ray took the time to show me some chords on the guitar. For the past seven years I have had the opportunity to use those lessons to play for them. My wife Jan and I have the joy of traveling with the Overholt's and sharing in their ministry with them. What a blessing they have both been the two of us. Whenever someone asks me what best descibes them I can only think of one word, REAL. They not only sing for the Lord but they also live for Him too.
I have seen the joy in Ray's face whenever he meets someone he hasn't seen in sometime. I can only imagine the joy he must have felt when he met Jesuas for the first time.
Thank you Ray for being a very special uncle. You have always meant so much to me as a youngster growing up and in my later years also. We are all going to miss you very much.
Denny and Jan Crum -
I only met Ray Overholt one time, but I could tell just from that one meeting that he is a honorable man of God, and I am extremely glad that I met him before he went home to Jesus and I look forward to the day when I get reunited with him again. D.Signs
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Ray Overholt was a great man of God. I was honored to have him as my friend. As a little boy, I grew up listening to Ray and Millie Overholt singing Gospel Music and spreading the good news of Jesus. My family,was very close to Ray and Millie and the family.They always made you feel like you were a part of their family.
I used to call and talk to Ray about once a week. You just could'nt get a better listener. He was one of a kind. We would talk about everything. He talked about the love of his family and friends, But most of all, He talked of his love of JESUS. He will be very much missed in gospel music, and in the music field.
My heart goes out to Millie {his wife} his son (Ron) and grandchildren. It's great to have christian friends as you all are.
Ray, Some day I'll see you in Heaven and you can show me around. I look forward to singing with you and the Angels in the Choir.
Michael Signs
Bowling Green, KY. -
Ray Overholt was delivered to heaven last week by Ten Thousand Angels... he was 84.
My grandfather William Drake played with Ray in the early days. I prayed for my grandfather many times to find the Lord. Very often sharing Christ's story with him, many times salting him to know Christ. I know many think that Christ doesn't want anything to do with them due to their past. I looked up to my grandfather because he was an important father figure in my life. I wanted him to be in heaven when I got there. He was also ill and the importance of knowing Christ was drawing near. My grandfather reconnect with Ray Overholt several years before leaving this earth and started to play once again with Ray. My grandfather is now in heaven...thanks be to God, our Lord and Savior and the angel called Ray Overholt. -
Thank you for this article. My grandfather, Ray, passed away on September 14, 2008 on his way to sing God's praises once more. What a fitting way for the Lord to call him home
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Today I was chatting online with a young Coptic Christian man in Egypt. He told me he was once again taken into the police station to "question" him on his recent activities, something routinely done there to harass Christians. He came home with the finger marks still visible in red on his face from the abuse today. And this is minimal compared to what he has experienced in the past. Yet he always says as he said today, "my life is the christ and the death is a gift" and said "jesus did not use the easy way mom" (he calls me "mom"). This last statement brought to mind this wonderful old hymn "He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels" so I found a video on GodTube (now Tangle.com) and then this amazing story of Mr. Overholt and his coming to the Lord through his own song and sent both links to my young friend. He thanked me and I know the words of this song encouraged him on such a dark day. Thank you.
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