Each Wednesday, the Napa Valley Register’s Business Focus asks “10 Questions” of a local entrepreneur or businessperson. Readers are welcome to suggest business people to be profiled.

Ask Pastor Mike Ray how he ended up in Napa and he spells it out very clearly: “G-O-D.” 

Working as a youth pastor at a large church in Louisiana in 1986, “I heard there was a struggling little church about to close its doors in Napa,” said Ray. He wondered if the congregation at Hopewell Baptist Church would consider taking him on as pastor.

The answer was ‘yes’ and six weeks later, Ray and his family moved to Napa. They drove across country on a bus, “like the Beverly Hillbillies.”

“It was all about faith,” he said. “We felt like God wanted us to come.” Today, “it’s not a little church anymore,” said Ray. More than 600 people worship on Sundays.

Locals may recognize the Hopewell Baptist Church white school buses driving in and out of town.

“We have eight buses that go to Rodeo, Fairfield, Benicia, Napa, Vallejo, and Cordelia every Sunday and bring families and kids to church,” he said.

Which three people would you most like to have dinner with?

My mom, dad, and my wife. I love spending time with them.

How did you get into this business?

I answered God’s call to preach the gospel at 15 and began holding church services in rest homes, teen juvenile centers, prisons, Sunday school classes and have continued doing so for 36 years.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

To build a huge $1.4 million addition to our church with just God and some dedicated people.

I can’t live without:

My Bible. I have read it daily for the last 36 years. I also have a daily Starbucks to help me get started. It’s hard to pray if you’re not awake. I thank God every day for making the coffee bean.

What’s something people might be surprised to know about you?

I was born in Baton Rouge, La., and graduated as valedictorian of 431 seniors with a full scholarship to Louisiana State University.

What was your childhood ambition?

As a young teen, I dreamed of being an oceanographer like Jean-Michel Cousteau.

What’s one thing Napa could do to help local business?

I’d love to see some new family restaurants in town for the common folk — a hometown buffet or Cajun seafood restaurant … also a couple of new bowling alleys.

What’s the most significant project you’ve been involved with in your career?

Besides our bus ministry (reaching underprivileged people), our Friday night Reformers Unanimous addictions abstinence program and our door-to-door outreach, it would be our giving to world missionaries who are starting churches in dozens of countries overseas — especially in Third World countries.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about pastors?

That they work one day a week. With me, an average week is 80 hours. I prepare three sermons a week, I preach out of town, I teach at a bible college part time in Santa Clara. If you really love people you are on call 24 hours a day. It is constant phone calls and time with people. 

What other business person(s) would you like to see featured in “10 Questions?”

Steve Guzman, who has driven a church bus and taught elementary school age children for more than 30 years.

Berto Garcia, who is in charge of our Reformers Unanimous addictions abstinence program.

If you could be anywhere right now, where would you be? 

At home with my family here in Napa Valley, spending time with my wife and kids.

What was your first job?

McDonald’s. I was there when the Big Mac came out. I worked there for three years in high school.

What’s the worst job you ever had?

I worked my way through college at UPS as a sorter of packages. Good pay, very fast production line, lots of pressure.

What’s on your to-do list?

I just checked off my last big “to do” after catching a 198 pound marlin and hunting in Africa. I got to preach and baptize in Zambia, Africa — a dream come true. I am also working on two more books. I have seven books already in print.

Whom do you most admire in the business world?

I have admired and respected President Bush (guess which one), Condoleezza Rice, Sarah Palin and Abraham Lincoln.

What is one thing you hope to accomplish in your lifetime that you haven’t yet?

To be assured everyone within driving distance of our church in all languages is convinced of the love Jesus has for them.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?

To be debt free and purchase more land for parking for our members.

What is your favorite charity?

My wife and I have given very heavily to our local church these last 23 years, trying to lead by example.

What’s your favorite gift to give?

I have been giving it to everyone who will receive it — the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. It took me four years, but I visited every door in Napa personally. Not everyone wants the gift but thousands have.

To suggest a candidate for “10 Questions” e-mail: jhuffman@napanews.com

For more from Pastor Mike Ray, go to www.napavalleyregister.com/business