Ray Cardwell – Founder of EquippedtoDisciple.org

Ray served in full time ministry as a Teaching Pastor of Chantilly Bible Church for fifteen years and Founding Pastor at Arcola Bible Church for seven years.  Ray has a passion for the Word of God, and has had the privilege to sit under the instruction of many gifted Bible teachers.

Ray grew up in Ohio, trusted in Christ as a senior in High School, and then went off to the Coast Guard Academy.  His 12 years in the Coast Guard included graduate training at Rennselear Polytechnic Institute where he earned a master’s degree in engineering.  Even more important, Ray met his wife Mary while at RPI.  After five years in Wildwood NJ, Ray and Mary moved to Virginia with their two children in 1988.  Solid Bible teaching drew them to Chantilly Bible Church where they attended for 24 years.

The move to Virginia allowed Ray to use his data modeling and design skills to build and manage business software development efforts.  However, after nine years, Ray sensed the Lord’s call to attend seminary.  Ray graduated from Capital Bible Seminary with a Master of Arts in New Testament and joined the staff at CBC.  The years on staff allowed Ray to work in a broad range of ministry areas including Children’s, Music & Worship, and Adult ministries.  “It is fascinating to look back and see how God has been preparing me for what lies ahead.”  In 2013, Ray, along with a great team of believers, had the privilege to plant Arcola Bible Church in the Dulles South area of Loudoun county VA.  

Ray has a passion to disciple men to follow Jesus.  Equipped to Disciple Others (EDO) was a 2 year discipleship training process that Ray developed and led for 15 years.   During the years at Arcola, Ray concluded the need to modify EDO to be more transferable and repeatable to others.  (Disciples who make disciples). Those efforts led to the material contained on this web site.  

For fun, Ray enjoys model trains and playing French horn. He and Mary stay active looking for good hiking trails, and enjoying their grandchildren.