Raising Simba: A Mother-Son Journey of Faith from the Chicago Projects to the Broadway Stage

By Falisa Ray and Wendell Ray

Raising Simba takes readers on a journey from the dim corners of the South Side of Chicago to the bright lights of Broadway.

The idea of starring as one of the world's most beloved characters on one of the world's biggest stages seems like a far-fetched fantasy. Mom, arts education advocate and fashion designer

• Language: English
• Publisher: LisaLisa, LLC
• Release date: Nov 14, 2022
• ISBN: 9798986945811

Falisa Ray

Falisa Ray's light is undeniable. Creative, bold, and resilient, she is on a mission to make artistic career paths more attractive and accessible in the African American community. As the founder and CEO of LisaLisa, LLC, she is a fierce advocate for arts education and passionate about bringing access to this essential learning experience back into schools. As a go-to resource, Ray connects talented, diverse young performers with pivotal opportunities in the arts and entertainment industries.In her first book, "Raising Simba," she highlights her journey from the Chicago projects to guiding her son Aaron to Broadway, where he landed a role as Simba in Disney's The Lion King. In it she shared tips on developing the right mindset, commitment, and skills for a successful career in arts and entertainment.She blends her experience and expertise to empower other parents seeking to help their children realize their artistic dreams. Throughout her personal and professional life, she has always emphasized the power of prayer and purpose-driven decisions to make the impossible possible. For her, the key to overcoming adversity, rejection, and disappointment lies in her faith in God.Her passion for the creative world began at an early age when she fell in love with dancing, music, and fashion. She learned to cut and sew patterns at age eight and later began designing clothes, specializing in evening gowns. Her unique style and keen eye attracted the attention of others who requested she create custom designs for them. In 2010, Ray established her fashion studio, Lisa Ray Fashions, and has designed clothes for a variety of clients, including Grammy Award-winning musician Kirk Whalum.In addition to her creative endeavors and entrepreneurial pursuits, Ray continues to work as a respiratory therapist. Even in this role, she motivates patients to pursue their artistic dreams. For example, she inspired and helped a woman once named the world's tiniest sibling by Guinness World Records to design beautiful clothing to fit herself. In 2022, the FACES Foundation presented her with a PHIL Award for outstanding care and treatment for patients with respiratory illnesses.Originally from Chicago, Ill., Ray currently lives with her husband Wendell in Wisconsin.WEB: www.falisaray.comSOCIAL: @falisarayEMAIL: [e-mail]

Book preview

Praise for Raising Simba

On every page, Raising Simba reminds us that miracles are real and that God’s plan for each of us will be revealed! From start to finish, the reader journeys along with Falisa Ray, a mother who refuses to give up on her faith in God or her belief in her son, Aaron. Throughout this amazing story, we witness the power of faith in action and the loving determination of a mother intent on making a way for her talented son to achieve and succeed as a gifted theatrical artist—despite challenging and uncertain circumstances. Whether we are raising children or seeking our own purpose in life, this story illuminates the transformational power of love and faith to manifest God’s plans and inspires us to aim higher and to never give up.

—MONICA MOSS, First Lady

Trinity United Church of Christ, Chicago, IL

The ending is exceptional! The letter to Aaron is heart-throbbing. [Raising Simba] is SO GOOD! I can’t put it down!!!

—GLENDA SPEARMAN

Chaplain, Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital, Chicago, IL

All I can say is Wow! Raising Simba is a raw and honest in-depth look into what a spiritual journey with God looks and feels like. It isn’t always a beautiful paved road leading one without incident from point A to point B. It’s a journey filled with discernment, questions, doubts and fear. Falisa Ray’s extraordinary story invites the reader into her world where we become witness to God’s love and voice of hope during some of the darkest times. What makes this book so special is that it is relatable in so many ways. Her journey helps build connections and is wrapped in familiarity. She walks us through the various channels of communication God uses to reach us, through how difficult, yet possible, it is to let go and let God. How trusting in God’s timing isn’t always comfortable but when we are obedient, it can be rewarding. If you are looking for ways to learn how to be in alignment with God’s promises and plans for you, this is the perfect read for you. Take a journey and experience the many God moments that will forever change how you view everyday life.

I really love what I’m reading and OMG it’s helping me get through everything right now! Definitely worth translating into Spanish. I feel the Holy Spirit as I read it...this going to be huge...you’ll see!

—SANDRA SERRATO, Instructional Designer

The last chapter is everything! What a journey. And what a finale! Every mother who has struggled to make their children’s dreams come true will be in tears. What a lovely gift from God. My heart was ready to burst. Falisa did it all with faith and grace. You are an inspiration. You should be so proud of all your accomplishments!

—MIMI DE ST. JEAN, Respiratory Therapist

Falisa Ray has written, not only a great book, but one that is also a touching testimony of what faith in God can do. It is personal and powerful. A must read for mothers, fathers, sons and daughters. I have always taught from the pulpit that When you save a Black boy, you save a Black man; and when you save a Black man, you save a Black family; and when you save a Black family, you wind up saving the Black community. Raising Simba tells the truth. It’s never easy, but the journey proves that there is strength in the struggle and most of all: with God all things are possible.

Falisa, thank you for this outstanding contribution. The power of a book is that once released, it is out there and may be just the inspiration that someone—from Chicago to Soweto—needs. Great job!

—REV. DR. T. GARROTT BENJAMIN, JR., Senior Pastor Emeritus

Light of the World Christian Church Indianapolis, IN

RAISING SIMBA

A Mother-Son Journey of Faith from the

Chicago Projects to the Broadway Stage

FALISA RAY

WITH WENDELL RAY

LISALISA, LLC WISCONSIN 2022

Falisa Ray with Wendell Ray

Raising Simba: A Mother-Son Journey of Faith from the Chicago Projects to the Broadway Stage

© 2022, LisaLisa, LLC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. This book contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized reprint or use of this material is prohibited. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system without express written permission from the publisher except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

DISCLAIMER: The stories in this book reflect the author’s recollection of events that took place in her personal life. Some names, locations, and identifying characteristics have been changed to protect the privacy of those depicted. Dialogue has been re-created from memory.

Bible verses have been quoted from the King James Version and New International Version.

Published by LisaLisa, LLC

PO Box 245

Fond du Lac, WI 54936

www.falisaray.com

Cover + Book Design, JBK Brand Design: www.jbkbranddesign.com

Copyediting, Karin Crompton: www.karincrompton.com

Cover photographs, Michelle Herrick: www.michelleherrick.com

Makeup artist, Melissa Evans: [e-mail]

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my grandchildren, Aaydin and Autumn Nelson, their children, and their children’s children.

Let this story be a light unto your path and a testament that God is real, and He will direct your path.

Acknowledgments

There are many people to thank.

But there is one person in particular who stands out: my husband, Wendell Ray.

On the day you found me sitting in our home den, crying over the loss of my best friend, Celeste, you encouraged me to write this book.

It’s now seven years later, and I don’t think I could have written this without you.

I’m glad I listened to Celeste when she encouraged me to write a letter to God about the man I wanted to marry one day.

Turns out it worked!

Not only did God fulfill my husband request, but He also sent me a co-writer as well. You stepped in, right when I needed help the most.

You stayed up endless late hours, writing with me, praying with me, and holding me while I fought back the tears of frustration, anger, joy, and accomplishments.

Thank you for pushing me and never giving up on me.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction

1   The Prophecy

2   Mom and Dad

3   Dancing Queen

4   Altgeld Gardens

5   God’s Plan

6   Who is my Neighbor?

7   A Sudden Transition

8   A Personal Choice

9   Born to Dance

10   Creativity Arises

11   Different Strokes

12   How, God?

13   New Doors

14   The Concert

15   God’s Perfect Timing

16   A Home at Last

17   Confront or Cave?

18   Juvenile Court

19   Stirring Up the Gift

20   Simmering

21   Seizing the Moment

22   Our World with Wendell

23   Not Time Yet!

24   Getting Into Character

25   Auditions

26   God Keeps His Promise

27   Trying Again

28   Showtime!

Letter to Aaron

Epilogue

Introduction

As far back as I can remember, from the time I was a little girl, I’ve had dreams. Not just regular dreams, but prophetic dreams. I’d see people and places, I’d receive premonitions, I’d get messages.

I didn’t know what to make of these, but thankfully, my mother believed me. She would listen to me, and later, she would sometimes act upon what I’d dreamed. Mom told me my grandmother Carrie had the same gift. My family said Granny Carrie heard God’s voice really well and helped people all her life.

I know it’s hard for some people to believe in them, but these dreams are a major part of my story. I’ve always understood them to be one way that God communicates with me and others around me; it’s a part of my faith walk.

God had a plan for my life. Many people don’t believe in Him or the idea that He has a plan, but I do.

In December of 1989, I had a baby boy, Aaron. I bled during the first seven months of my pregnancy and had to do light duty at work because the pregnancy was considered high risk. The labor did not go well. All the stuff they taught me in Lamaze class went wrong. I had an emergency C-section because his heart rate kept dropping and the doctor was afraid we might lose him.

Nothing went as planned . . . or at least, not as I had planned.

There is no question that God saved my child.

Later, when Aaron was a teenager, I nearly lost him again, this time to the court system. We were also in a custody battle that was so heart-wrenching Aaron contemplated suicide.

But I refused to give up on him. We fought hard and we fought back.

I didn’t know what to do to make things right, but I did know how to pray. All I have ever done and known to do is to give my worries to God. I asked God to show me what to do with my son.

I looked for answers, and I listened. I’ve learned over the years to let God direct my life. I prayed daily; whenever I let go of God by forgetting to focus and pray, I would lose the will to fight. I’d find myself in darkness, crying out for help.

Our story takes us from the dim corners of the projects on the South Side of Chicago to the bright lights of Broadway. We didn’t do it alone. From family who were always there to strangers who showed up unexpectedly at just the right time, our path sometimes seemed to detour but always wound up leading exactly where it should. That’s no coincidence.

I believe that God has a voice. I’ve heard that voice all my life. That voice helped me raise Aaron. That voice prepared me for my parents’ battles with illness. And that voice helped me to write this book.

My wish is for you to hear His voice so that He can direct your path.

CHAPTER 1

Simba lion head

The Prophecy

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine

own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall

direct thy paths.  Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

I never saw it coming. But Lord knows I needed that message that came out of nowhere—out of the shadows, actually—all those years ago.

A little after ten p.m. on a Saturday night in July 2002, I stood on a dingy street corner three blocks away from my apartment in downtown Chicago, waiting to catch a bus. And waiting to catch a break.

I stared dully across the four-lane street at several abandoned buildings. This part of Chicago was dark and empty, a connector to the remnants of a former skid row of drugs and prostitutes a few more blocks away. My friend David stood with me, waiting until I got safely on the bus to head to my job as a respiratory therapist.

Normally I would have driven to work, but my car had caught fire on the expressway a few months earlier, so I had no vehicle. I had lost my entire savings putting on a gospel concert the previous year. I was in the early stages of a divorce from my husband Ken, so any extra money went to legal fees.

But worse than all of that, I was in a long-running custody battle with my college sweetheart, the father of my twelve-year-old son, who had petitioned for full custody five years earlier. The thought of losing my boy was traumatic. Aaron was everything to me—the only good thing I ever really had. And now I could lose him.

Three blocks back, east of here, I had walked out of my high-rise apartment building, with its shiny, all-inclusive corporate living, its trendy restaurants, a pool that Aaron loved, and its conference rooms where I planned to meet with clients and start a business. We had lived here just about a year. Presidential Towers was supposed to represent a new beginning. Instead, I was being evicted. Management had slipped a note under my door giving me thirty days to vacate because I had been late with the rent twice just before the lease renewal.

I had eleven days left to find a new place.

A few steps outside of the building, I had turned around and looked up to get a glimpse of Aaron in the front window of our apartment about halfway up. I could see him grinning as he waved at me. As I waved back, fear wrapped itself around me. Aaron was theonly thing left in my messed-up life that could turn out all right. How could the courts take away our future? I knew it wasn’t going to look good if the lawyers found out I had no car, no apartment, and no money.

I had been a respiratory therapist for about nine years, working a part-time job on weekdays while Aaron was in school, and also for a medical staffing agency that assigned me to a night shift at a children’s hospital on weekends. I never liked working nights, which made it even more difficult to raise a son in Chicago, but it was the best I could do for now. I needed every shift I could get, and weekend nights paid the most.

I had lost so much money and risked just about everything I had on that gospel concert, certain that God wanted me to produce the show. I booked one of the of the greatest gospel artists in the country, but we barely drew enough people to fill up half the venue.

I thought I had done what God wanted me to do, and yet, I was still scraping by, trying to get enough money to pay some of the people who had worked on the show. I felt betrayed, confused, and angry. Every time I had a moment to myself, I thought about my predicament. These past few weeks, as everything in my life came to a head, I felt like I was walking under a toxic cloud of fear and rage, conscious of little else. My faith had been shaken.

Standing at the bus stop at the corner of Madison and Halsted, deflated and exhausted, I thought about how I should have taken a nap before heading to work. Instead, I had looked at a new apartment whose down payment I couldn’t afford.

I caught sight of a tall Black man standing on the opposite side of the street by the abandoned bank. When the light changed, he started across, heading our way. He was about six feet tall, dressed in an oversized tan trench coat and dark-colored pants, and he appeared homeless.

About halfway across the intersection, the man looked directly at me. He didn’t break eye contact as he walked straight toward me.

Don’t look at me like that! he said.

I guess I was looking a bit guarded, but I stayed silent.

I can see God’s light all over you, he continued. God is pleased with you.

As he came closer, I stepped back, glad to have David with me. Luckily, the man stopped a few feet away. He pointed directly at my face.

That apartment you just came from seeing is . . .

He paused for a moment. It’s already yours.

I was stunned and looked at him in surprise. The fear started to leave, replaced by shock. I had read about this in the Bible for so many years. I thought, Lisa, you’re receiving a prophecy. My lips started trembling and the tears started to fall. David stood wordlessly next to me.

My bus pulled up, but I didn’t turn toward it, so it rolled along. I was too busy staring in amazement at the man before me.

God is going to bless you—God’s got you! he said. Now, listen to me. When you move into that new place, I want you to buy two fish and always keep a loaf of bread on your shelf.

I nodded, still wondering how this man knew my business. One part of me knew this was a prophecy, but another part was still skeptical. Who is he? Was he at the apartment building I’d visited earlier?

The man gave me a little nod, and then he winked and smiled like we were old friends.

Down the street from your place, you will own a clothing business, he continued. But first . . . He paused again. First, you have to look out for a friend. She is like a sister to you. She needs money. Give her the money she needs when she asks you for it.

I knew who he meant. My best girlfriend had babysat Aaron during the custody battles, and I had lent her money before. Still, the word money felt like a needle poking a balloon full of air. All those emotions I had kept bottled up inside me for the past month burst out. I stood in my work scrubs, crying at the bus stop.

I don’t have that much money, I blurted through my tears.

David spoke softly but firmly to me. Be quiet and listen.

But the man seemed to have nothing more to say to me. When another bus pulled up, I had to get on to avoid being late for work. I fished my lunch money out of my pocket and handed it to David to give to the man before I boarded the bus.

As the door was closing, I turned to look back before I took a seat and heard David ask the man, Can you tell me something about my life?

The man smiled and started talking with David. As I watched them from the bus window, I knew something in me had changed. The fear and anxiety had lifted. That experience helped me understand how God works with and through people.

I thought about my life and how God had always stepped in right on time. He always directed my path, just like the scripture says. I couldn’t help but smile a little as I thought about the people—everyday people, famous people, and now, street people—who had come into my life, disappeared, and reappeared later, only to open a door of opportunity or to provide me with assistance at a critical moment. Sometimes they had a word of encouragement or prophetic insight, just like tonight. It had happened so many times in my life, I shouldn’t have been surprised by it anymore.

On that bus ride, I thought about all the places I had visited as a child or teen that later became so important in Aaron’s life and mine. The lessons I’d learned as a child that provided me with the guidance I needed later, as an adult or as a young parent struggling to make the right decisions.