I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of 6. My life was always in church in Alvarado. My mother raised us to look to God for everything and to always pray and remember who gave us life.

I was raised in the Girls Auxiliary and was crowned Queen at the age of 14. As I got older I went to college and graduated from TCU. Started teaching school and coaching. I have 1 son and 2 daughters and a step daughter. I have 11 grandchildren and 1 great grandson.

When the ministry started my sister Paula always told me when I retired she wanted me to work with her. So I did. I was her executive assistant for 1 year then whenPaula went home to be with our Heavenly Lord and Savior. After a year I was voted in to be President. This has been a wonderful journey to serve our Lord.

About the Ministry

In 1999 the Lord led Paula to incorporate Paula Rayburn Ministries and begin Ministry of Prayer. How does one begin to contemplate such a decision. There was the inner assurance that her's was to be a life of ministry and she was prepared to go wherever He would lead. She had learned to know her Father's voice and she would follow through all obstacles put in her path.

God was so gracious and used the most inexperienced people to help the ministry become recognized as a 501c3 non-profit organization by the government. It's not that there were any expectations of great donors that would need a tax deduction. It was just the first few steps down the path that was laid out before her.

The beginnings were simple. Paula was living the witness and God was bringing people across her path. There was much individual praying and counseling. Just a tank of gas helped many through a difficult time. Paula has always been recognized as a strong Christian and people seek her out for her discernment and prayers. Friends and neighbors began to gather at her home for prayer and a regular schedule of such events were begun.

The small planting of seeds began to bear fruit. Paula has always strived to be obedient to what the Lord would have her do. Just as he gave her the vision of Ministry of Prayer, one day He also gave her a vision to begin Peach Orchard Park - housing for abused women and their children. God gave her the vision and as she stepped out in faith, He began the fulfillment. She received the vision by faith and believed God would perform what He had shown her. Our God does not do anything in vain, but it is up to each of us to receive and believe. It is our faith that God justifies. God doesn't force any of us into anything.

We now also have a wonderful world outreach program that God is using to save and bless people across the globe. The internet has allowed us to meet people that would never have been possible before. We believe it is God who directs people to our website - not any great design or search engines. God knows the end from the beginning and He brings us together for His purposes.

I don't believe Paula ever thought her small beginnings would grow to touch so many lives. And I know she doesn't think any of it has come about because of her hard work or worthiness. But she doesn't put any limits on God. The same Jesus who came and suffered to redeem us unto Himself, desires to live in us and move through us. I can do all things through Christ who strengths me. WE can do all things through Jesus Christ. Won't you let Him use you also? All it takes is - here am I Lord, use me.

Our Board of Directors Include:
Debra R. Stroud, President
Rosita Jenkins, Vice-President
Pat White, Secretary
Karen Rayburne, Treasurer
David Hearne, Youth Director
Linda Jennings, World Outreach
Pam Rayburn
Tom Durrington
Judy Durrington
Tiffany Scaglion
Harley Daugherty
Advisors Include:
Charles White

Mission Statement

First of all, let us begin by saying that we believe God has a plan for each of our lives, but has also given us free will. Some choose to do nothing. Some are busy about many things, but never stop to consult God. Both have missed God's plan. This is not God's failing -- it is ours. Jesus said He only did those things He saw the Father doing. We accomplish nothing without Him. God is not controlling. He has given us all authority over our lives and situations.

A former pastor, Owen Cain, used to say, "There are times in your life when your faith is firmly established by something." It may be a situation where God has made a way where there absolutely was no way. It may have been God speaking to your spirit, and you knew it was Him. There can be many of these, or few. God deals with each of us differently. But these are faith builders. Owen used to say that, at these times, you drive a stake into the ground. Any time fear, doubt or unbelief tries to creep in, you go back to that stake and you can say, "I know that I know that I know."

Since God has dealt to each of us a measure of faith, Paula too has a few stakes in the ground and would like to share one of them with you in this mission statement. "Shortly after I began my walk with God, I heard Him speak to me as clearly as I ever have. 'Paula, I am coming to My temple, suddenly. Prepare My people.' I believe this is my mission."

One can't begin to describe how beautiful the beginning walk with Jesus is. It is actually being born again in the spirit - old things are passed away - all things have become new. It is that first love where you can't be around the one you love enough -- where you long to do every little thing that pleases the object of your love. God wants us to experience that first love perpetually; but sadly, just like human love, we settle in. We get too comfortable, too familiar, and begin to take things for granted. It's not that God quits speaking to us -- it's that we quit listening. As a believer you can choose to be either Martha (was always busy about many things), or Mary (who sat at the feet of Jesus to learn and adore). Refer to Luke 10:38-42. This is a believers' decision. It doesn't affect your salvation - it just affects your maturity and unspeakable joy that is experienced as your union grows deeper. Wake up! Seek the better part. Jesus is coming soon!

Paula has seen much abuse heaped upon people by the very church that is supposed to nourish and mature them. People are being neglected, outcast and belittled in some churches. They are being judged and condemned by their own brothers and sisters in the Lord. God loves His church. It is His body. He has said "Come unto Me all ye that labor and I will give you rest".

The Word of God clearly defines what our purpose is: "For the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ, that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness by which they lie in wait to deceive, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head -- Christ." Eph. 4:12-13

The purpose of this ministry is to free and lift up the body - till we all come to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ. Until we become those mature sons of God doing the works that He did - just as He prophesied we would. I know Paula had no idea where all the Lord would lead her when she began this magnificent walk with her Savior - but God knew. All it takes is someone who says, "Here am I Lord, use me".