Pastor Ray grew up in Hagerstown. He did undergraduate work at Liberty Baptist College. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Pastoral Studies from Antietam Bible College and a Master of Arts in Biblical Studies from Antietam Biblical Seminary. He is married to Cindy. They have four daughters, Heather Reese, Holly Weaver, Heidi Poe, and Hilary Cooper; as well as three grandsons and two granddaughters. Ray is a Vietnam Veteran and retired from the Maryland Army National Guard in 2001 after 28 years of Army service. He enjoys music and travel with Cindy, and has been at Valley Grace since 1983.