Rev. Will D. Hayes, III
Senior Pastor
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The Reverend Will D. Hayes, III was born in
Alabaster, Alabama. He later journeyed to Chicago, Illinois
where he lived with his mother for several years. Returning to
Alabama to live with his grandparents, Rev. Hayes graduated from
high school and enrolled at Alabama State University where he earned
the Bachelor of Arts Degree in theater and drama. Realizing
that God had a divine call upon his life, Rev. Hayes decided to
attend the Interdenominational Theological Center as a student of
Morehouse School of Religion in 1997. On May 12, 2001, he
earned both the Master of Divinity Degree and the Master of Arts
Degree in Christian Education. |
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Reverend Hayes has ministered and preached
God's Word all across the country. He has also studied internationally
in Egypt, Israel, Italy and Switzerland. In addition to the gift of
preaching, Rev. Hayes is an anointed musician, songwriter, and producer.
In September 2009, the song pinned by Rev. Hayes and sung by Monica Lisa
Stevenson entitled, “So Glad He Saved Me” was selected as Song of the
Year at the Gospel Choice Awards in Atlanta, GA. Rev. Hayes comes from
a musical family. His uncle is gospel recording artist, Dr. Charles G.
Hayes who is the founder and pastor of the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer
in Chicago, Illinois. Among over 30 recordings, his uncle’s choir is
mostly known for the recordings of “Jesus Can Work it Out,” “Step Back,
Let God Do It,” and “Heaven is my Goal.”
Reverend Hayes was licensed to preach on
May 4, 1997 at St. James Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama. On
April 28, 2002, Will De’angeleo Hayes, III was ordained into the
Christian ministry at Believe and Receive Fellowship Training Center in
Atlanta, GA. Rev. Hayes has shared his time and talents with several
ministries across Atlanta. He has served as a music director for Rivers
of Living Waters Church of God in Christ, Believe and Receive Imani
Fellowship, YaQar Ministries, New Hope Pentecostal Church of God in
Christ, Chester Ave Full Gospel Baptist Church, and many other
ministries since his arrival into Atlanta. In addition to working in
God’s vineyard, Rev. Hayes is also a drama instructor at the Dekalb
Elementary School of the Arts in Atlanta, GA.
Reverend Hayes has also served as the
Youth & Young Adult Minister at The Greater Solid Rock Baptist Church in
Riverdale, GA under the leadership of The Reverend John W Waters, Ph.D.
On June 19, 2005, Rev. Hayes was elected pastor-elect of The Greater
Solid Rock Baptist Church, and on September 1, 2005, Rev. Hayes began a
new spiritual journey as the Senior Pastor/CEO of The Greater Solid Rock
Baptist Church, Inc. Pastor Hayes is also on the team of Jumanne and
Associates and a board member of Pearls of Great Price Ministries
founded by the Reverend Dr. William Flippin, Sr. Among the awards that
Pastor Hayes has received, the most recent was given from the 2010
Gospel Choice Awards as one of the 10 Chosen Pastors in the state of
Georgia for exemplary work in the church and the community. Pastor Hayes
is currently a student in the Doctor of Ministry program at the
Interdenominational Theological Center (ITC) in Atlanta, GA. Among
numerous awards and honors, Reverend Hayes was inducted into the
International Society of Theta Phi (An Honor Society for Theological
Students, Scholars in the Field of Religion, and Outstanding Religious
Leaders) on November 10, 2011 at The Interdenominational Theological
Center, Atlanta, GA. Reverend Hayes’ outreach ministry, “God’s Word &
Christ Ministries” is one that focuses on hope, healing, wholeness,
economic empowerment, social development, political involvement, and
most of all self-motivation. This anointed and appointed man of God is
known as, “The People’s Preacher” and “A Bible Teacher.” |