| Ralph T. Henley, 1923-2005 |
Uncommon Life, Uncommon Man
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Ralph T. Henley, beloved husband, good father,
wonderful grandfather and man of God died on
November 25, 2005. Mr. Henley was born on
August 10, 1923 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In
1946 he made the two most important decisions
of his life: first, to embrace New Testament
Christianity, being baptized at the Northside
Church of Christ; second, to marry Helen White
in the same year. They had fifty-nine years of
marriage and have six children, nineteen
grandchildren.
Mr. Henley began preaching in 1948, thus
devoting 57 years of his life for the Lord. Much
of his life was devoted to working in the mission
fields of Israel, Turkey, Greece and Georgia. His
family supported him in his endeavors. He felt
wonderful grandfather and man of God died on
November 25, 2005. Mr. Henley was born on
August 10, 1923 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. In
1946 he made the two most important decisions
of his life: first, to embrace New Testament
Christianity, being baptized at the Northside
Church of Christ; second, to marry Helen White
in the same year. They had fifty-nine years of
marriage and have six children, nineteen
grandchildren.
Mr. Henley began preaching in 1948, thus
devoting 57 years of his life for the Lord. Much
of his life was devoted to working in the mission
fields of Israel, Turkey, Greece and Georgia. His
family supported him in his endeavors. He felt
that the command in Mark 16:15 to go preach to all the world was direct and
imperative, and thus he went.
Mr. Henley did undergraduate work at David Lipscomb University, and received his
Masters degree from George Peabody College. He pursued doctoral studies at
Vanderbilt University. He later taught at David Lipscomb and Izmir University in
Turkey. He studied three years of New Testament Greek, Ancient Mid-Eastern
History and Political Science; he mastered the languages of modern and ancient
Greek and Hebrew and had a working knowledge of Aramaic, as well as German,
French, Turkish and Latin. Mr. Henley was an intellectual man and read widely in
all fields. He loved learning and was considered a scholar among those who knew
him, as well as by many who did not know him personally. He prepared a large
volume of writings on many Biblical subjects. He wanted to share his vast
knowledge with others.
After serving in World War II, he decided to spend his life serving God and taking
the gospel to others. In 1960 he and Ernest Stewart moved to Jerusalem, taking
their families with them. Mr. Henley re-established the church of our Lord in the
city of its' birth. He began preaching in Nazareth, as well as 17 other villages in the
Galilee; his work also included the old city of Jerusalem. He traveled to Beer
Sheva and taught classes to Sheik Suliman and the desert tribes, numbering
about 6000. Later he moved his family to Athens, Greece and helped establish
congregations in that country; after coming back to the States for a period of time,
he would go to live in Izmir, Turkey, working in that country as well. When his
children grew older, the family returned to their native Chattanooga, but Mr. Henley
continued to travel overseas and to be active in these works, making his last trip in
2003. He was loved and greatly respected by all these people. Chattanooga
served as a base for the mission work he began in the state of Georgia. At that
time 106 counties had no congregation of the Church of Christ; by the time of his
death, only 10 counties remained. Often he would load his pickup truck with
supplies and physically work and supervise the remodeling and construction of
church buildings in these counties.
Mr. Henley was serious about working the Kingdom. He set high standards for
himself and others. He had an unwavering faith in God, knowing his eternal home
would be in Heaven. He took the road less traveled, and leaves behind a great
legacy.
imperative, and thus he went.
Mr. Henley did undergraduate work at David Lipscomb University, and received his
Masters degree from George Peabody College. He pursued doctoral studies at
Vanderbilt University. He later taught at David Lipscomb and Izmir University in
Turkey. He studied three years of New Testament Greek, Ancient Mid-Eastern
History and Political Science; he mastered the languages of modern and ancient
Greek and Hebrew and had a working knowledge of Aramaic, as well as German,
French, Turkish and Latin. Mr. Henley was an intellectual man and read widely in
all fields. He loved learning and was considered a scholar among those who knew
him, as well as by many who did not know him personally. He prepared a large
volume of writings on many Biblical subjects. He wanted to share his vast
knowledge with others.
After serving in World War II, he decided to spend his life serving God and taking
the gospel to others. In 1960 he and Ernest Stewart moved to Jerusalem, taking
their families with them. Mr. Henley re-established the church of our Lord in the
city of its' birth. He began preaching in Nazareth, as well as 17 other villages in the
Galilee; his work also included the old city of Jerusalem. He traveled to Beer
Sheva and taught classes to Sheik Suliman and the desert tribes, numbering
about 6000. Later he moved his family to Athens, Greece and helped establish
congregations in that country; after coming back to the States for a period of time,
he would go to live in Izmir, Turkey, working in that country as well. When his
children grew older, the family returned to their native Chattanooga, but Mr. Henley
continued to travel overseas and to be active in these works, making his last trip in
2003. He was loved and greatly respected by all these people. Chattanooga
served as a base for the mission work he began in the state of Georgia. At that
time 106 counties had no congregation of the Church of Christ; by the time of his
death, only 10 counties remained. Often he would load his pickup truck with
supplies and physically work and supervise the remodeling and construction of
church buildings in these counties.
Mr. Henley was serious about working the Kingdom. He set high standards for
himself and others. He had an unwavering faith in God, knowing his eternal home
would be in Heaven. He took the road less traveled, and leaves behind a great
legacy.
