Ray grew up with two sisters and one brother in a home where he was 10 years younger than his next oldest sibling. Ray's parents divorced when he was two.

Raised in a Catholic home he was introduced to a protestant church at

11 years old and became a born-again believer in that congregation. As a teenager he was heavily involved in his youth group and felt a strong calling into vocational ministry. He graduated from Bible College and was ordained in 2001. He has spent most of his vocational ministry as an Associate Pastor.

1n 1999 Ray began a season of tackling his own issues regarding his faith and sexual identity. As someone who struggles with same sex attraction he has learned a great deal about how the church can embrace believers who are struggling in these areas and how we can provide hope for those who are active in the GLBT Community.

Ray currently serves as a small group facilitator with an Exodus ministry called HIS Ministry and is also Co-director of Unspoken Ministries with Char Blair.