In June of 2019, Suffragan Bishop Rayford was selected to lead The Church of Christ of The Apostolic Faith (CCAF), known as a historical church not just within Columbus, Ohio …but its organization.
Bishop Rayford is the proud father of three: Son-Jeffrey and Wife-Sheree Rayford are parents of three, Daughter-Brooke Rayford, and Son-Andrew with Wife-Ashley Martin are parents of two.
Born August 30, 1966, in Fort Worth, Texas, Harold Rayford is the fifth child of Elvin and Ophelia Rayford. He graduated from O. D. Wyatt High School in 1984 and attended East Texas State University and Tarrant County College where he received an Associate Degree in Applied Science for Business. He received his call to the ministry in 1990, under the guidance of Bishop Richard E. Young where he served as an Associate Pastor and Youth Pastor. Bishop Young once pastored in Steubenville, Ohio, then accepted a pastoral assignment at Pentecostal Assembly of Fort Worth, Texas now known as “The Chosen Vessel Cathedral.” It was in Fort Worth that his daughter Jacquelynn Joy Young met Harold. They married in 1986.
Harold studied at Aenon Bible College of Indianapolis, Indiana and in August 2006, he received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Management from Dallas Baptist University.
On December 3rd, 2006, he and “Lady J” assumed the pastoral responsibilities of The Faith Place in Sun Prairie, Wisconsin for 13 years. On Pastor Rayford’s first Sunday, there was a small group of dedicated and faithful persons in attendance. Within the first few months, the congregation experienced steady growth, and it was during this time he developed his pastoral motto, “Don’t worry about the numbers, just meet the needs of the people.”
In 2011 this growing church, having sold its land, purchased an 8,000 square foot warehouse, and began the renovation to convert it into one of the most beautiful churches in Dane County. The transformation of a congregation of fifteen souls grew to over two hundred members, exceeding the capacity of the original facility in 3 years. One hundred souls were baptized each year, for the first several years, establishing The Faith Place as one of the leading African American Churches in the region.
Believing in the importance for local churches to be visibly active in the community, Pastor Rayford:
He collaborated with Mayors, Police Chiefs, Superintendents, Chancellors, Civic and Civil Leaders. Yet with all this work in Wisconsin, a greater call was on his life.
In June of 2019, Suffragan Bishop Rayford was selected to lead The Church of Christ of The Apostolic Faith (CCAF), known as a historical church not just within Columbus, Ohio …but its organization.
Bishop Rayford is the proud father of three: Son-Jeffrey and Wife-Sheree Rayford are parents of three, Daughter-Brooke Rayford, and Son-Andrew with Wife-Ashley Martin are parents of two.
Our pastor brings the same level of energy and commitment from Sun Prairie, Wisconsin to Columbus, Ohio, continuing his belief in the work of The Holy Spirit. His goal is to glorify God by ministering to the lost and encouraging the believer to live a saved and separated life in Christ. THIS is our Pastor.
