Marvin Wray
Lead Pastor
I didn't grow up in the Adventist Church and first heard of it when I met my wife, Ingrid in 1970. We were married in 1971 and I fully accepted Christ as my Savior at a Heritage Singers concert in that fall.. I left my position with Bank of America and enrolled at PUC as a Senior Theology Major, having had four years of college previously.
I graduated from PUC in 1973 and began ministry in the Iowa Conference. After four years we received a call to Oregon, where I was ordained in 1977 and was pastoring in Coos Bay. Two years later the General Conference asked us to pastor the English speaking church in Hong Kong and we served there for six years as Pastor, Chaplain, and Director of Health Education. From there we moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1985 to serve as Pastor and Church Ministries Director. Our next move took us to Vienna, Virginia as Lead Pastor and I later was asked to serve as the Ministerial Director for the Potomac Conference. In 1996 we returned to the West Coast and local church pastoral ministry. We pastored in Ventura, CA for just three years and then moved to Napa, CA where we served as Lead Pastor for over seventeen years until I retired in 2017.
Since "retirement" I have been privileged to embrace the role of Interim Pastor several times. We served in Sonoma and Novato for seven months. I next had the opportunity to minister with the Hinsdale Church just outside of Chicago. Later I was asked to go to Chico shortly after the tragic Paradise fire and, of course, then the Covid issue came about. We ended up spending well over two years with Chico until March of last year when we immediately were invited back to Potomac to lead the Beltsville, MD church with its four campuses until the end of the year. Now we are excited about partnering with Carmichael and helping this awesome church family to prepare to embrace new leadership.
My primary goal and mission, as an interim pastor, is to deepen the personal relationship of each member with Jesus Christ, and embrace the literal indwelling of His presence through the Holy Spirit. I pray that every member can rest in the absolute assurance of salvation through faith in Christ alone. If we each have that we will be ready to join with new leadership to reach our world.
Pastor Marvin Wray
I graduated from PUC in 1973 and began ministry in the Iowa Conference. After four years we received a call to Oregon, where I was ordained in 1977 and was pastoring in Coos Bay. Two years later the General Conference asked us to pastor the English speaking church in Hong Kong and we served there for six years as Pastor, Chaplain, and Director of Health Education. From there we moved to Bozeman, Montana in 1985 to serve as Pastor and Church Ministries Director. Our next move took us to Vienna, Virginia as Lead Pastor and I later was asked to serve as the Ministerial Director for the Potomac Conference. In 1996 we returned to the West Coast and local church pastoral ministry. We pastored in Ventura, CA for just three years and then moved to Napa, CA where we served as Lead Pastor for over seventeen years until I retired in 2017.
Since "retirement" I have been privileged to embrace the role of Interim Pastor several times. We served in Sonoma and Novato for seven months. I next had the opportunity to minister with the Hinsdale Church just outside of Chicago. Later I was asked to go to Chico shortly after the tragic Paradise fire and, of course, then the Covid issue came about. We ended up spending well over two years with Chico until March of last year when we immediately were invited back to Potomac to lead the Beltsville, MD church with its four campuses until the end of the year. Now we are excited about partnering with Carmichael and helping this awesome church family to prepare to embrace new leadership.
My primary goal and mission, as an interim pastor, is to deepen the personal relationship of each member with Jesus Christ, and embrace the literal indwelling of His presence through the Holy Spirit. I pray that every member can rest in the absolute assurance of salvation through faith in Christ alone. If we each have that we will be ready to join with new leadership to reach our world.
Pastor Marvin Wray
Benji Ferguson
Student Pastor
I was born in Colorado, but consider myself a native Californian.
I graduated from Pacific Union College in 1999 then spent a year as a Youth Pastor in Orange County, California. I then returned to California in 2012 after spending 12 years at the Minnetonka Church in Minnesota.
I have a passion for student ministries and especially developing student leaders. That is why I pursued an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel University. I love working with students and especially enjoy seeing new faces come to our church programs. I’m in charge of our Jr.High and High School programs.
I enjoy most sports, including golf, tennis, skiing and surfing. I also enjoy time with my family. My wife Stephanie is my partner in ministry and we are the proud parents of of Dylan, Holly and Liesl and our Goldendoodles Belle and Rey.
I graduated from Pacific Union College in 1999 then spent a year as a Youth Pastor in Orange County, California. I then returned to California in 2012 after spending 12 years at the Minnetonka Church in Minnesota.
I have a passion for student ministries and especially developing student leaders. That is why I pursued an M.A. in Transformational Leadership from Bethel University. I love working with students and especially enjoy seeing new faces come to our church programs. I’m in charge of our Jr.High and High School programs.
I enjoy most sports, including golf, tennis, skiing and surfing. I also enjoy time with my family. My wife Stephanie is my partner in ministry and we are the proud parents of of Dylan, Holly and Liesl and our Goldendoodles Belle and Rey.
Melissa Howell
Family Life Pastor
I was born and raised in Glendale, CA but later went to Phoenix, AZ for High School at Thunderbird Academy. From there, I traveled to Union College, and Andrews University, and picked up my husband Greg along the way, in Greek class of all places.
We have a family of four children: Caleb, Toby, Wyatt and Brooke. Having been a stay-at-home mom for almost a decade, I accepted the position as the family life pastor of the Carmichael SDA Church, in June of 2015 and returned to full-time ministry. I’ve worked as an Academy Dean, a High School Bible teacher and through those experiences I’ve also been able to publish several books geared towards Teens and Young Mothers. I currently hold a BA in Theology from Union College, and an MDiv from Andrews University.
My passion is for the families in our church to grow organically in their love for Jesus, and I am constantly looking for ways to help parents introduce and enrich their childrens’ spiritual journeys. My other passions are cooking, and writing and if you want to check either of those out give me a call, or check out my blog at www.rainydaywritings.com.
We have a family of four children: Caleb, Toby, Wyatt and Brooke. Having been a stay-at-home mom for almost a decade, I accepted the position as the family life pastor of the Carmichael SDA Church, in June of 2015 and returned to full-time ministry. I’ve worked as an Academy Dean, a High School Bible teacher and through those experiences I’ve also been able to publish several books geared towards Teens and Young Mothers. I currently hold a BA in Theology from Union College, and an MDiv from Andrews University.
My passion is for the families in our church to grow organically in their love for Jesus, and I am constantly looking for ways to help parents introduce and enrich their childrens’ spiritual journeys. My other passions are cooking, and writing and if you want to check either of those out give me a call, or check out my blog at www.rainydaywritings.com.
Pedro M Trinidad
Discipleship & Outreach Pastor
I like to say I am "Imported from Detroit." My formative spiritual heritage comes from a deeply rooted Christian family. I never thought I would be a pastor until my early twenties through a series of events and circumstances.
Upon graduating from Andrews University in 1998, I was whisked away to the Greater New York Conference to serve as a Bible Worker for two churches. Soon after, I had my first district as pastor. Greater NY was good, but California called. I came to the Sacramento Central church to serve as Youth Pastor. After 2 1/2 years at Central, I went back to Andrews to complete a Masters in Divinity degree.
In 2005, I arrived in Lodi to serve as the pastor of the Lodi & Concord Spanish church district. After redistricting and restructuring, I became the pastor of Concord International SDA Church. Fourteen years later, I have the opportunity to serve as the discipleship and outreach pastor at Carmichael SDA Church.
In addition to the above, I serve in the US Armed Forces as a Chaplain in the US NAVY (Reserves).
Follow Pastor Pedro on Substack
Upon graduating from Andrews University in 1998, I was whisked away to the Greater New York Conference to serve as a Bible Worker for two churches. Soon after, I had my first district as pastor. Greater NY was good, but California called. I came to the Sacramento Central church to serve as Youth Pastor. After 2 1/2 years at Central, I went back to Andrews to complete a Masters in Divinity degree.
In 2005, I arrived in Lodi to serve as the pastor of the Lodi & Concord Spanish church district. After redistricting and restructuring, I became the pastor of Concord International SDA Church. Fourteen years later, I have the opportunity to serve as the discipleship and outreach pastor at Carmichael SDA Church.
In addition to the above, I serve in the US Armed Forces as a Chaplain in the US NAVY (Reserves).
Follow Pastor Pedro on Substack