Servant George Rayford is a man after God’s own heart and with the character of a humble servant, he prefers to be called just that.
Born: 2/13/1947 in Byhalia Mississippi to Henry and Freddie Rayford. He is one of 18 siblings. Twelve boys and 6 girls.
At the age of 12, he confessed his life to Christ on the “mourning bench” at Union Valley Missionary Baptist Church.
Servant grew up working on a farm and by the age of 14 he had moved to Memphis Tennessee. In 1970 at the age of 23, he moved to Aurora, Illinois and began working at Moline Operations. He worked his way up to being Union President and served in that capacity for 11 ½ years.
Servant Rayford joined Progressive Baptist and sang in the choir. On August 4, 1977, he was ordained as a Deacon under the leadership of the late Pastor Robert Wesby. He served as a Deacon for over 15 years. In preparation for furthering his leadership role, Servant Rayford began a hospital ministry. Often known in the community as “fish man George”, he continues to build that ministry while reeling in the lost by being an example of Christ. In April of 1992 under the leadership of Pastor Roy Brown, Servant was blessed to receive his Preaching License.
God in His infinite wisdom strategically prepared Servant Rayford for such a time as this. In March of 1997, Reverend Isaiah Malone having been led by the spirit, approached Servant to become the under shepherd of New Community Baptist Church. After much prayer, and encouragement by his own pastor, Reverend Brown of Progressive Baptist Church he humbly accepted the call to become Pastor of New Community Baptist Church in March of 1998. During his tenure he has had a hand in building the congregation to over 200 faithful members. Under his leadership he has ordained twelve Deacons and three Ministers. Several ministries have been birthed since that wonderful day in March.
New Community Baptist church was built in 1930 by Trinity Lutheran Church. It was designed and built to have an upper level sanctuary but was never finished. Being led by the Holy Spirit, in 2002, Servant Rayford encouraged the congregation to support the building of the upper-level sanctuary. In 2003, construction began and by November 21, 2004 the first service was held in the new sanctuary. On February 9th 2020, New Community held a Mortgage Burning Ceremony. Yet one more display of his infinite wisdom and guidance.
Servant Rayford served as a leader in the Ministerial Alliance, an Aurora based organization of ministers in the Fox Valley area. He served as President for three terms. As President, he started the College Scholarship Fund which has grown to be able to present three young students with a $500 - $1,000 scholarship. He is also a member of the Masonic “Keystone” Lodge #15.
Servant Rayford is a father, a grandfather, a great grandfather, and a devoted husband to our beautiful First Lady Sister Ruby Rayford. Servant Rayford has fully committed his heart and life to Jesus Christ. As God leads him, he is determined to be an awesome display of what God can do through consistent commitment, courage and a life of continuous prayer.
Lady Ruby Robinson Rayford Bio
First Lady Ruby Robinson-Rayford was born and raised in rural Missouri, where her love for the Lord began at an early age. Although she did not initially have access to a nearby church, her faith journey began in Hayti, Missouri, where she faithfully started attending church and answering the call on her life to serve God’s Kingdom.
Ruby later moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, before returning to Missouri and eventually settling in Aurora, Illinois. With a heart for helping others and giving people a voice, she dedicated 41 years of service to the Illinois Department of Employment Security.
During that time, she also served as local union president of AFSCME, continuing her commitment to advocacy and community service. She additionally served as an usher at Progressive Baptist Church under the late Rev. Dr. Robert Wesby and as an auditor for the Unit Church Ushers League of Illinois.
A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Ruby is the proud mother of two children, John Jr. and Amber, and cherishes her grandchildren deeply. After the passing of her first husband, John Robinson Sr., she was blessed to find love again and married Rev. Servant George Rayford, Pastor of New Community Baptist Church in Aurora, Illinois.
As First Lady of New Community Baptist Church, Ruby faithfully serves alongside her husband with humility, grace, and dedication. She finds great joy in serving her church family and community, and she remains an inspiration to all who know her.
