Jim Rayburn
Encyclopedia
Jim Rayburn, Jr was an ordained Presbyterian minister and the founder of Young Life
. He was born in Marshalltown, Iowa
, on July 21, 1909, to James Chalmers Rayburn, Sr. (an evangelist for the Presbyterian Church), and Elna Beck Rayburn. Rayburn was the oldest of four sons, and grew up in Newton, Kansas. In 1936 Rayburn began his seminary education at Dallas Theological Seminary
. While there he was significantly influenced by the seminary's founder, Lewis Sperry Chafer
. Upon graduating Kansas State University
in 1940 he founded Young Life
(originally known as Young Life Campaign), a Christian
youth organization.
In 1932, Rayburn married Helen Maxine Stanley. The couple had three children: Ann, Sue, and Jim III. (Sue died shortly after Rayburn did.) Maxine Rayburn died in 1997.
Rayburn left the presidency of Young Life
in 1964. He died on December 11, 1970, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado
.
He was a pioneer in the field of evangelism
and was admired by many of the leading Christians of his day. He was known for his ability to communicate the gospel and his passion for Christ. Rayburn's personal journals were published in 2008 as The Diaries of Jim Rayburn. His life is described in several books including:
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
. He was born in Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown, Iowa
Marshalltown is a city in and the county seat of Marshall County, Iowa, United States. The population was 27,552 in the 2010 census, an increase from the 26,009 population in the 2000 census. -History:...
, on July 21, 1909, to James Chalmers Rayburn, Sr. (an evangelist for the Presbyterian Church), and Elna Beck Rayburn. Rayburn was the oldest of four sons, and grew up in Newton, Kansas. In 1936 Rayburn began his seminary education at Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary
Dallas Theological Seminary is an evangelical theological seminary located in Dallas, Texas. It is known for popularizing the theological system known as Dispensationalism...
. While there he was significantly influenced by the seminary's founder, Lewis Sperry Chafer
Lewis Sperry Chafer
Lewis Sperry Chafer was an American theologian. He founded and served as the first president of Dallas Theological Seminary, and was an influential founding member of modern Christian Dispensationalism.-Early life:...
. Upon graduating Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
in 1940 he founded Young Life
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
(originally known as Young Life Campaign), a Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
youth organization.
In 1932, Rayburn married Helen Maxine Stanley. The couple had three children: Ann, Sue, and Jim III. (Sue died shortly after Rayburn did.) Maxine Rayburn died in 1997.
Rayburn left the presidency of Young Life
Young Life
YoungLife is a worldwide, non-profit, Evangelical Christian organization. YoungLife consists of many branches of ministry , but most commonly the name "YoungLife" refers to the outreach arm of the organization directed toward high school students...
in 1964. He died on December 11, 1970, at his home in Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs is a Home Rule Municipality that is the county seat and most populous city of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in South-Central Colorado, in the southern portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located south of the Colorado...
.
He was a pioneer in the field of evangelism
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
and was admired by many of the leading Christians of his day. He was known for his ability to communicate the gospel and his passion for Christ. Rayburn's personal journals were published in 2008 as The Diaries of Jim Rayburn. His life is described in several books including:
- Cailliet, Emile; Young Life (1963)
- Meridith, Char; It's a Sin to Bore a Kid: The Story of Young Life (1977) ISBN 0-8499-0043-3
- Miller, John; Back to the Basics about the early years of Young Life including a lot of Rayburn's life.
- Rayburn, Jim: The Diaries of Jim Rayburn (2008) Rayburn's personal journals, edited and annotated by Kit Sublett Morningstar Press and Whitecaps Media ISBN 978-0-9758577-7-9
- Rayburn, Jim III; From Bondage To Liberty - Dance, Children, Dance a biographyBiographyA biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
by his son (2000) ISBN 0-9673897-4-7- The earlier edition was simply called Dance, Children, Dance (1984) ISBN 0-8423-0515-7