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Pastor Roger Eugene Hayes is thirty-nine years old and lives in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is the Senior Pastor of The Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship, Inc. and the founding Elder of Perpetual Word Ministry, a ministry designed to spreading the clear, plain, and unadulterated Gospel of Jesus Christ to the World. He has often been the lone voice crying out for the African American same-gender-loving Christian community within the Triad of North Carolina and serves as a beckon of light and hope. |
He is a 1994 cum-laude graduate of Lees-McRae College with a Bachelors degree in Social Studies with a teaching certificate. While in college he was the founding president of the Organization of African American Students and the recipient of the H.C. Evens Fidelity Award (highest honor given to a graduating senior). Pastor Hayes is a graduate of the True Vine Pentecostal Preparatory Academy for Ministers. He received his orders from God and his licenses from Macedonia True Vine Pentecostal Holiness Church of God, Inc. He was ordained in 1997 as an Elder within the True Vine body. In 2003 he became affiliated with The Fellowship under the leadership of Bishop Yvette Flounder and was ordained in 2005 within The Fellowship.
Rev. Hayes is the pastor of The Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship, “Where the fullness of God’s Love Resides.” CHSF is a church for all of God’s people located within the conservative bible belt of the south. Pastor Hayes works with GLBT persons as they deal with issues around coming out and finding their voice often within a non-supportive home and community environment. He has a way of not just speaking truth but of living truth that allows others to find comfort and hope on their journey. He gives others permission to be their true self and walks with them on the escapade of endless self discovery. Numerous newspaper articles have been written about Pastor Hayes and his work to promote acceptance and to raise awareness about GLBT issues. He has done this with the understanding that he was placing his life and wellbeing on the line by being so open and out spoken. Most notable was the March 2006 article in the Winston-Salem Chronicle outing Pastor Hayes as an openly Gay African American Pastor that is unashamed about the purpose and call of God on his life.
Pastor Hayes always serves as an openly gay male on any board or organization that he participates with. As a result he is always challenging stereotypes of not just gay men but of black men as well. He is active in his community serving as the treasure and board member of the North Carolina Harm Reduction Collation, he is a trained facilitator by the Center of Disease Control (CDC) and regular does HIV/STD training and prevention for other African American men who have sex with other men (MSMs), co-developed a workplace GLBT sensitivity training and has presented for the Society of Human Resource Managers. Pastor Hayes is a much sought after preacher, teacher, speaker and panelist. He has presented and lectured at Duke Divinity School, UNC at Chapel Hill, Winston-Salem State University, Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Appalachian State University, Equality NC, The Fellowship Conferences, North Carolina Black Repertory Theater Festival, and many other places from the east to the west coast.
He believes that Christianity is a call to work, not an invitation to sit on a seat of do nothing. Pastor Hayes is a visionary. Through his vision for ministry, CHSF is active in services and assistance to individuals living with HIV and AIDS. CHSF has a non-profit entitled: In the Cross Services, which serves men with various health disparities and offers support and service linkage. Pastor Hayes facilitates a week support group for persons living with HIV/AIDS through a local non-profit agency. Also, he has laid the foundations for Prince of Peace Services, residential service care facilities for persons coming out of prison that have dual diagnoses such as substance abuse and HIV also serving youth with substance abuse issues and homes. The aim is to lead individuals to the true answer and then empower them, thru Christ to reach their ultimate maximum.
The bible says, “Let the greatest among you be called a servant.” He says that he wants to be known as a servant that is simply in love with Jesus. |
