Bro. Payne began ministry in 1979, as an evangelist. In 1982 he was appointed Pastor of the Paint Lick Church of God in Madison Co. Kentucky where he served for 2 years before being appointed Pastor of the Cornerstone Church of God in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. While serving as Pastor in Hopkinsville he was elected to the State Youth and Christian Education Board for 2 terms. He was then elected to the State Evangelism Board in 1988. Bro. Payne then moved to Bristol, Florida where he was appointed Pastor of a church in 1992. Shortly following this appointed he was asked to move to Arizona to serve as the State Youth and Christian Education Director and Pastor of the Harvest Worship Center in Tucson. In 1999, he moved back home to serve once again as an evangelist in the State of Kentucky. In 2001, Bro. Payne was elected, Evangelist of the Year shortly before accepting his current position as Associate Pastor here at Old Paris Rd. He and his lovely wife Linda have now served this church for 5 years. They have 3 children: Vanessa wife of James Tyra (Pastor of the Harmon's Lick COG), Jennifer (Children's Minister, Celebration of Praise COG, Clermont, FL) and David (Minister of Music and Worship, Marshall, TX) They currently reside here in Lexington, with their dog, Millie "the Boss"!