audra gaines
Audra counts herself fortunate that she has never known a time without Jesus in her life. As the daughter of a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) pastor, she quite literally grew up in church - down to learning to swim in the baptistry and taking naps in front of the communion table, where the red carpet was the softest. She made her profession of faith and was baptized at the age of six. At fourteen, at a church camp in the Texas hill country, she had her first personal encounter with the Holy Spirit, and came to know the God beyond Sunday School and youth group. Methodism became the denomination of her adulthood through a religion class as an undergraduate. Dr. Bill Pennington introduced her to the teachings of John Wesley, and his explanations of grace resonated with her soul.
Audra went on to receive a M.Ed. in Community Counseling with a specialization in Children and Adolescents from Delta State University, and spent her first few postgraduate years working in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings as a clinical supervisor and crisis intervention specialist. Later, she transitioned over to volunteer work with the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, a nonprofit mission group with chapters focused throughout the southeastern United States. She began her volunteer journey as President of her local chapter, and then was elected to their National Board of Directors in the role of Recording Secretary, Marketing and Technology Vice-President, and Second Vice-President/Convention Chairman, respectively.
She first felt the nudge toward ministry about 20 years ago in a supply closet, standing knee-deep in VBS supplies and goldfish crackers. Like many before her, she tossed God a counteroffer. She pledged to continue her volunteering in worship/children’s ministries and local mission work until her children were grown, and then look at full-time ministry. Fortunately, God is patient.
Doors began opening for church staff positions as her youngest was finishing her junior year of high school. Audra was able to serve as the Children/Youth Ministry Director and Choir Director for Rossville United Methodist Church, and then was blessed to move to First Global Methodist Church as part of their launch. Recently, she has officially answered the call to ministry that God made 20 years ago, and will begin seminary in the fall of 2024. She was recognized as a Candidate for Ordination with the clergy membership status of Supply Pastor by the Global Methodist Church Transitional Leadership Council on January 9, 2024, and accepted into the Mississippi/West Tennessee Annual Conference on June 13, 2024. She has also been elected to serve as a lay delegate representing the Mississippi/West Tennessee Annual Conference of the GMC at the first Global Methodist Church Convening General Conference, set for September 2024 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Audra has been a part of the Methodist church for the past 25 years, and has served in areas of music, worship, and children/youth ministries. She has been married for 24 years to her high school sweetheart, Michael, who is employed with FedEx Corporation as part of their cybersecurity division. They have two children: Landon, who will complete his undergraduate degree in engineering psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in December 2024, and Anna Payton, who will start at Middle Tennessee State University in the area of early childhood education in August 2024. They currently reside in Rossville, Tennessee with one very spoiled dachshund, Dallas.
Audra went on to receive a M.Ed. in Community Counseling with a specialization in Children and Adolescents from Delta State University, and spent her first few postgraduate years working in inpatient and outpatient mental health settings as a clinical supervisor and crisis intervention specialist. Later, she transitioned over to volunteer work with the National Association of Junior Auxiliaries, a nonprofit mission group with chapters focused throughout the southeastern United States. She began her volunteer journey as President of her local chapter, and then was elected to their National Board of Directors in the role of Recording Secretary, Marketing and Technology Vice-President, and Second Vice-President/Convention Chairman, respectively.
She first felt the nudge toward ministry about 20 years ago in a supply closet, standing knee-deep in VBS supplies and goldfish crackers. Like many before her, she tossed God a counteroffer. She pledged to continue her volunteering in worship/children’s ministries and local mission work until her children were grown, and then look at full-time ministry. Fortunately, God is patient.
Doors began opening for church staff positions as her youngest was finishing her junior year of high school. Audra was able to serve as the Children/Youth Ministry Director and Choir Director for Rossville United Methodist Church, and then was blessed to move to First Global Methodist Church as part of their launch. Recently, she has officially answered the call to ministry that God made 20 years ago, and will begin seminary in the fall of 2024. She was recognized as a Candidate for Ordination with the clergy membership status of Supply Pastor by the Global Methodist Church Transitional Leadership Council on January 9, 2024, and accepted into the Mississippi/West Tennessee Annual Conference on June 13, 2024. She has also been elected to serve as a lay delegate representing the Mississippi/West Tennessee Annual Conference of the GMC at the first Global Methodist Church Convening General Conference, set for September 2024 in San Jose, Costa Rica.
Audra has been a part of the Methodist church for the past 25 years, and has served in areas of music, worship, and children/youth ministries. She has been married for 24 years to her high school sweetheart, Michael, who is employed with FedEx Corporation as part of their cybersecurity division. They have two children: Landon, who will complete his undergraduate degree in engineering psychology from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in December 2024, and Anna Payton, who will start at Middle Tennessee State University in the area of early childhood education in August 2024. They currently reside in Rossville, Tennessee with one very spoiled dachshund, Dallas.