Ralph & Valerie Dawson
Ralph is a spiritual director and spiritual coach. He uses his spiritual gifting to come alongside and encourage Christian leaders, both in the local church as well missionaries working cross-cultural. Ralph joined CRM (now: Novo) in 2014 after twenty-six years of ministry as a missionary with Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF). Attending Letourneau University, Ralph graduated with a BS in Electrical Engineering Technologies and a minor in Aviation Maintenance. Two more years of pilot training at Moody Aviation and then he joined MAF with his wife Valerie and lived and worked twelve years in the remote jungles of Indonesia supporting local church pastors, missionaries and evangelist, bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to the isolated people groups.
The Lord used the trials of living in a remote jungle village and a nearly fatal water landing to awaken within Ralph a longing for deeper intimacy with Him. Through encouragement of spiritual friends and companions Ralph began a spiritual journey that lead him to Talbot seminary where he completed a Masters of Spiritual Formation and Soul Care. During this time, he was introduced to the ministry of Imago Christi.
For three years Ralph was a partner with Imago Christi and then the Lord lead him to become a full member of the Core Community of Imago Christi. Ralph's role in Imago Christi is to develop spiritual formation resources, coach Christian leaders, facilitates Spiritual Formation Discovery events and provide resources for and lead personal spiritual retreats. He also facilitates and develops spiritual communities in his local setting.
"I have a passion to see others grow in deeper intimacy with Jesus. When I graduated from flight training my calling was to serve the remote church by supporting missionaries, pastors and evangelist with transportation. The Lord gave me this verse, "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass" (1 Thessalonians 5:24) And I can testify how faithful He has been and He is still doing work in me.
After graduating with a degree in Spiritual Formation my calling has been to serve the Church, coming alongside leaders, helping them to discover the fruitfulness of leading out of a deeper intimacy with Jesus. The verse the Lord has given me for this season is "Abide in Me, and I in you" (John 15:4).
Ralph and his wife Valerie live near Boise, Idaho where Ralph is serves as an elder in the local church and Valerie is involved with the music ministry. They have 4 adult children and 3 grandchildren.