Patrick Rayner and his family are excited about new role

 Edmond church hires campus minister

Patrick Rayner and his family are excited about a new role

God has been preparing Patrick Rayner for ministry his whole life.

Announced as the new campus minister for the Edmond Church of Christ on April 16, Patrick recognizes the many influences in his life, culminating in an opportunity to leave his secular work and enter full-time ministry.

“God has put so many people around us that have shaped us into who we are today, and surrounded us with a great team of other leaders who support the students,” Patrick said. “Seeing others lead us through their humble attitudes and care for others has shaped our view of ministry in an impactful way.”

Rayner’s exposure to ministry and missions begin when he was just a young child playing sports and sledding down the snow-covered hills of Rochester, MN, with his older brother, Dustin. Every day, these brothers watched their parents, Kevin and Katie, serve faithfully as church planters and missionaries.

Patrick learned, by their example, that effective ministry is rooted in meaningful relationships. He plans to continue the same approach in the Edmond campus ministry.

“God has given us the opportunity to see the campus ministry over a long period of time and to spend time with so many students along the way. We have gotten to see what helps different students grow and develop to take on the mission God has for them,” Patrick said. “We hope to make every student feel like they have a ‘home’ where they are loved and used for the glory of God.”

With ministry always close to his heart, Patrick followed Dustin to Oklahoma Christian and earned a dual degree in Accounting and Vocational Ministry. During his time at OC, Patrick spent six semesters and two summers working as an Edmond campus ministry intern, plus one summer as a youth intern at the MacArthur Park church in San Antonio.

While at OC, Patrick also met his wife, Daniella. As God continued to weave the threads of ministry and missions through his story, it is fitting the two met on a mission trip. Patrick recalls first meeting Daniella among a group of friends in San Antonio on the way back from the Mexico mission trip.

“Somehow, she doesn’t remember meeting me, which is something we always laugh about now,” he admitted. “We always talk about our marriage as a team, and it is a blessing to be married to her.”

As a team, Patrick and Daniella have been involved in our campus ministry since 2013, serving as college adoption parents, retreat and mission trip sponsors, hosting Bible studies, and investing in the lives of students. In 2021, Patrick was named a deacon in the campus ministry.

The couple reflected on God preparing them for this role. “So much of our preparation started when we were students in the campus ministry,” they said. “Our time in college was transformational in many ways even beyond our faith, and we hope to pass that on to the current students.”

After announcing Edmond was looking for a campus minister, several people close to the campus ministry, including students, asked Patrick and Daniella if they had considered the possibility of a more formal role with our students.

While the dream had always lingered in their hearts, the possibility seemed unlikely. Patrick was working for a local land brokerage firm, and he and Daniella were happy to serve as volunteers in the ministry while raising their three children, Bella, Cooper, and Harrison.

But their love for students, passion for our campus ministry, hours of prayer, and hearts shaped by years of ministry and missions finally all converged with a decision to apply for the position and let God work it all out.

God worked it out.

He and Daniella’s devotion to God and to college students stood out to the search committee, shepherds, and staff.

“Patrick’s heart for our college students is clear when you see he and Daniella connect and gently encourage students towards Christ and His church,” said Edmond shepherd, Brad Buxton. “In an age of overwhelming messages, I have absolute confidence in the ability of the Rayner family to share the priceless teachings of Jesus and disciple our emerging adults.” 

Patrick will begin in his new official role on May 1. He and the entire family are thrilled about the opportunity.

“Our entire family is so excited,” Patrick said. “None more so than Bella, who said, ‘I’m going to be dancing all the way to school tomorrow!’ when she found out.”

What excites Patrick in this role is having the time and opportunity to do what he saw modeled so long ago—minister through meaningful relationships.

“The students constantly inspire me with their hearts and their attitudes,” Patrick said. “Being around them more will be a huge blessing for us and our kids. More than anything, we are excited to see God work through the entire group and to see what we know He is capable of!”