Jim Rayburn

Who was Jim Rayburn?

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., 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 1941 he founded Young Life, a Christian youth organization.

In 1932, Rayburn married Helen Maxine Stanley. The couple had three children: Ann, Sue, and Jim III. 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: