Rev. Carmen Ausborn was born in Detroit, Michigan to parents Lucille and Richard (deceased) Payne.  She has been married to Lafayette Ausborn (Retired US Army) for 28 years, and she is the mother of four children (Cornelius, Ebony, Tiffany and Laetitia) and the grandmother of five grandsons (Brandon, Jesiah, Jordan, Xavion and Amari).   

 

Rev. Ausborn accepted her calling, was licensed and ordained in the mid 90’s while living in Heidelberg, Germany with her family for ten years. She led a hospital, orphanage and shelter ministry and was the Ministerial Alliance Chairperson for the National Baptist Association of Germany.  During her tenure as the NBA MA Chairperson, she assembled a manual and was responsible for instructing all new ministers before licensing.  

 

She presently serves under the leadership of Pastor Joseph D. Williamson, III at Second Baptist Church, Rock Island, IL, as the Senior Assistant to the Pastor, along with teaching, preaching and assisting in several ministries, to include serving as the Director of the SBC Outreach Music and Arts Academy. ​

 ​

She has been employed with the Department of the Army for 25 years and is an Equal Employment Opportunity Specialist and the Minority College Relations Lead for the US Army Sustainment Command at Rock Island Arsenal.  She has also held the positions of Management Analyst, Disability Employment Program Manager, Affirmative Employment Manager, Complaints Manager, Special Emphasis Employment, Trainer, EEO Counselor and Interim EEO Chief. 

 

Rev. Ausborn has been awarded the Department of the Army Commander’s Award, the Achievement Medal for Civilian Service Award and is an Honorary Member of the 18th Military Police Brigade among several other awards.

 ​

Rev. Ausborn is a graduate of Western Illinois University where she earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a concentration in Sociology and Management, attended the International University of Biblical Studies of Germany, and has been accepted into the Operational Management Leadership Master’s Program with St. Ambrose University.  Rev. Ausborn is a graduate of the Army Management Staff College and the Defense Equal Opportunity Management Institute. 

 

Rev. Ausborn is a teacher at heart and a humble servant of the Lord.