When God speaks: a local craftsman shares his experiences

For Ray Purser of Mount Olive, the Lord works in mysterious ways.

God's gift to the lumber salesman came in 2014. Purser discovered five years ago that he could make furniture. Not only did he find this talent for building tables, chairs, gumball machines, and decorative crosses, but he realized he was able to make furniture by merely looking at a photograph of what the customer wanted.

"I've never done any type of furniture," Purser said. "In 2014, He gave me that talent, and I have been doing it ever since. A customer could send me a picture off the phone, and they could get what they want made. I don't have any kind of plans; I just make it. My customers tell me the picture doesn't do it any justice. You have to see it in person."

Five years ago, Purser started off with somewhat simpler patterns.

"I started out making stuff by pallets and these wire spools into patio furniture," he said. "Now, I've pretty much gotten away from those. I've been making patio furniture and dining room furniture."

Purser said he had never done any furniture until 2014.

"I've done just a little bit of routing and did some names on wood," he said. "But, I've never done anything like that until God gave me that gift."

Purser's natural instinct and his gift from God, he said, gives him the ability to see a photo and turn it into something made of wood.

"It's kind of like playing piano by ear," he said. "I can just look at a picture and turn it into wood. I have a friend she said she plays it by ear. I said, ‘How do you do that?' Well, now, I know."

His carport was his woodshop for two years as he built a table to hold his saws. Then Purser bought a personal building.

"I had it moved to my house in Magee, and two months ago I moved to Mount Olive," he said. "I had my building moved to Mount Olive. Now, I'm working out of my portable building."

Purser keeps photographs of his works on his Facebook page – ‘Rugged Cross Creations.'

"I've got pictures on my page of things I've made for my customers," he said. "I've got my dining room table that's the only thing that's been made out of a wire spool."

With so much God-given talent, Purser returns the favor with his religious-themed handiwork.

"My biggest seller – I guess it goes back to the name of the website - is when I make crosses," he said. "It has the three nails on it, which represents God's Son, who was put on the cross." (Pic is shown at top of page).

Purser's faith also leads him to donate some of his profits. Until the end of 2019, he is giving all of his proceeds from everything he sells to the Mount Olive Volunteer Fire Department, where he is a member.

Purser said his wood of choice is usually pine.

"I've never gotten into the rustic look," he said. "Most of what I like is the stain; I like the stained look, especially when the wood has knots in it. Actually, 90 percent of the furniture in my house is made by me."

One other time in his life, Purser got a message from God.

"In 2014, when I first started making my woodwork, I made this bubble gum dispenser, and I didn't have any response," he said. "I think I might have sold five or six of them. This past year, a lady at my church – I go to church in Magee – went back and looked at my page. She ordered three of those for her grandkids. When I had them ready, I posted on Facebook, ‘I have your gumball dispensers ready.' "I felt led by God to give her those gumball dispensers," he said.

And then something happened.

"When God tells you to do something, you better obey God. When I did, from November (2018) until March and April of this year, I sold more than 300 of those gumball dispensers. I shipped them to four states. There was one place that I shipped 10 of them, Purser added."

But then things started slowing down a bit, although he has positive expectations that things will pick back up around Christmas time.

And then something else happened.

Times got really tough for Purser a couple of weeks ago after he lost his job. However, in a moment that seemed like divine intervention, he found work at Rutland Lumber Company just down the road in Collins.

"I've been broken down because I didn't think I was going to find a job," he said. "As a matter of fact, the mayor of Mount Olive was in the shop yesterday when I was making something. I heard somebody say, ‘Ray?'

I didn't see anybody out my front yard, but it was the mayor, and I know him really well. He asked me, ‘Do you still need a job?' ‘Yes, sir,' I said. And then he asked me, ‘How fast can you get to Rutland Lumber Company?' I said, ‘On my way.' He said, ‘Well, they are waiting on you.'"

Things are looking up again for him now.

Purser said he has been blessed and has learned to use his gift to serve God and his fellow man.