I wrote Before You Get Married to help couples prepare for a marriage, not just a wedding.
Ever since I discovered, through research and my own journey, that courageous conversations are the key to strong relational foundations, I’ve used these five questions to create environments where clarity thrives and connection deepens. These tools don’t just spark dialogue. They help couples see the truth about what they’re building together.
I’m a certified relationship coach, a SYMBIS certified counselor, and a pastor with over a decade of experience guiding couples through the most important conversations of their lives
I hold master’s degrees in Divinity and Christian Leadership with a counseling focus, and I serve as the executive pastor at Hope’s House Christian Ministries in Los Angeles
Through my book Before You Get Married: 5 Power Questions to Ask Before Taking the Next Step and the national 5-Day Challenge, I’ve helped CEOs, creatives, professionals, and purpose-driven couples build strong, intentional relationships before they say “I do.”
AND NOW, I'M EXCITED TO TAKE THIS JOURNEY WITH YOU ON THE 5-DAY CHALLENGE.
Love without vision will leave you lost. This chapter doesn’t just teach you the importance of vision, it walks you through defining your individual values and crafting a shared vision for your future. You’ll read it, watch it, and then build your actual vision together.
Being aligned with your partner’s purpose is more powerful than just being attracted to them. In this chapter, you’ll clarify your individual calling and assess whether your purposes align as a team. You’ll both dig deep, reflect honestly, and walk away knowing if your partnership fits your purpose.
Money doesn’t destroy marriages, unspoken money mindsets do. This chapter gives you a framework to talk transparently about debt, income, and goals, then guides you step-by-step to create your first shared budget together.
If the two of you are on completely different sides of the issue, which way do you go with it? There are only two of you in the relationship so who breaks the tie? This chapter helps you build your actual decision-making strategy, determine who breaks the tie in high-stakes situations, and avoid the silent power struggles that break trust or keep you stuck!
You can’t build a lifelong partnership if you’re out of alignment on what matters most. This final chapter takes you on a guided journey of deep conversations about values, intimacy, money, and more, so you can confirm where you agree and confront where you don’t.
Digital Access!
Marriage isn’t just about love, it’s about learning how to make decisions together when you don’t see eye to eye. That’s why I created the Tie-Breaker Toolkit:
a free resource that shows you how to handle those moments when “we can’t agree” turns into tension, frustration, or silence.
Inside the toolkit you’ll get:
✅ A simple framework to break the cycle of arguments without breaking each other.
✅Practical steps to decide who makes the final call in a way that builds trust instead of resentment.
✅Reflection questions you and your partner can use today to get unstuck and move forward.
This toolkit is a sneak peek into the kind of powerful conversations we’ll unlock in the Before You Get Married 5-Day Challenge and the book 5 Power Questions to Ask Before Taking the Next Step.
💡 Think of it as your free sample: a chance to experience how these tools will transform the way you and your partner communicate.
Start building the foundation for a stronger future—before you say “I do.”
" We were ready "
Counseling with Pastor Ray ensured
we entered marriage with a vision that
has been a firm foundation to which
we often return.
-STANLEY AND KHARI
"Our Relationship is stronger than ever"
We have transitioned from avoiding difficult problems and conversations to tackling the problems head-on
- JAMES AND BRI
"Vision gave us structure"
The most valuable tools P Ray gave us were our vision words and identifying triggers. The vision gave us focus and a guide which was so important
- MATT AND KESS