Ray Comfort, a native New Zealander, began his ministry with a burden for his lost friends. After attending the funeral of a fifth friend who had died from a drug overdose, Ray published an eight page pamphlet called My Friends Are Dying. The pamphlet was later expanded to a paperback book, and Ray began sharing with youth about the ultimate answer to the drug problem Jesus Christ. Ray has since written more than 35 books and spoken at almost 700 churches. His ministry has included pastoring a church, hosting a Christian radio program, writing a newspaper column called Words of Comfort, and serving as a regular platform speaker at Southern Baptist state conferences. Ray lives in Bellflower, California, with his wife, Sue, and their three children.