Pastor Mike Ray became a Christian in 1970 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He attended Bible College at Hyles-Anderson College in Crown Point, Indiana where he met his future wife, Verna Weymouth from Maine. They were married in 1979. Once they graduated, he became Youth Pastor and she became a school teacher at Central Baptist Church of Baton Rouge, Louisiana. They served there for 7 years. After a phone call and a weekend trip to Napa, Mike and Verna felt like God was leading them to come to Napa where Mike would be the pastor. They had two children at the time - Charity(4) and Faith(2). Verna and the children flew while Mike and two friends drove a school bus with all of their belongings. The church owned one building and 2.9 acres of land. There has been a whirlwind of activities during the past 20 years, from remodeling buildings, building a parsonage, landscaping, building three modular Sunday School buildings, building a second parsonage, building a major 14,000 square foot building, purchasing seven church buses, supporting 27 missionaries, having a big day with over 1000 in attendance, and having 4000 people baptized.

Currently, Pastor Ray preaches on Sundays and Wednesdays and is a frequent guest speaker at church camps and conferences around the country and in foreign countries. He is also a part-time faculty member teaching on Tuesdays at Golden State Baptist College in Santa Clara, California. Verna, his wife, also received her BA degree from Hyles-Anderson College. Her biggest desire is to rear her five children to serve God. She also teaches a teen girls Sunday School class, speaks on numerous occasions to the church ladies, and is a guest speaker in conferences throughout the year. Charity, the oldest daughter, is married to our youth pastor, Eric Marczack. She is the church secretary, teaches a girl's Sunday School class, and is involved in the special music program of our church. She received her bachelors and masters degree from Golden State Baptist College. Faith, the second daughter, received her elementary education degree from Golden State Baptist College and has been a bus captain, Sunday School teacher, backyard Bible club worker, was involved in the special music program of our church, and also served as a primary church director. She married Ely Reynolds on June 16, 2006 and they both  now serve the Lord at Gethsemane Baptist Church in Long Beach, California. Jonathan, age 17, graduates this June and was involved in the high school basketball team, sound and video ministry, and soulwinning. He plans to attend Bible college in the near future. Paul and Stephen are identical twins. They both play on the high school basketball team and are involved in the soulwinning and bus programs.

Pastor Ray loves to fish and feels he is living with the catch of his life - his wife. The Rays feel they have never been in a church like Hopewell. They love the people and the people love them, there is a closeness. All ground is even at the foot of the cross. There are no big shots in our church. We're all sinners saved by grace. We're living out a dream. We're on our way to Heaven and get to spend eternity with our families and with each other! Affectionately, many members call our church, the Hopewell family!