Pastor Hayes' Biography

by Elder David White

On January 9th, 1976 in Baltimore, Maryland to the blessed union of Jerry L. and Sandra Kay Hayes was born their second of three children, Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes. Shortly after his birth, the family returned to their ancestral home in Tennessee where they have roots dating back 200 years.

As a youngster at age 12, Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes felt God’s call to the ministry and was permitted to preach at youth services. From a musical family, he was also encouraged to experiment with different musical instruments in the integrated Southern Pentecostal churches. By the time he was a teen he was proficient on Piano, Saxophone, Bass Guitar, and Drums. He plays in the Gospel style with the passion and fire that comes from his Southern roots as well as from the guidance of the Holy Ghost.

At age 12, he was on the revival circuit with his father traveling from church to church throughout the South and Midwest. The itinerant lifestyle of the Hayes family resulted in the decision to homeschool; his father (Jerry Hayes, a noted evangelist and author) being his primary teacher. The curriculum included the traditional secular subjects as well as doctrinal studies. He read the poetry of Kahlil Gibran and William Blake, which inspired him to try his hand with some success in Poetry. Additionally, among Jonathan’s favorite authors were Henry David Thoreau and C.S. Lewis.

After being named in Who’s Who among American High School Students, He graduated from high school early and immediately signed up for college, becoming the youngest student on the Milligan College Campus. His declared course of study was a Major in Theology and a Minor in Music. Jonathan also studied at Sinclair College, and the University of Southern Maine. Upon turning 18, Jonathan augmented his college studies by joining the Infantry of the United States Marine Corps Reserves as he felt it necessary to continue a family tradition of military service.

After College he formed a Christian Band named Yadah. He wrote lyrics, played the bass and was the lead singer of the band. During this time, he recorded two albums, “A Musical Journey with Brother Jon” and “Never Say Die.”

Throughout his teens and into his twenties, Jonathan continued to write ministry and poetry. His greatest influences were the Bible, his father, Kahlil Gibran, William Blake, Watchman Knee, and the Historical writer Shelby Foote. Pastor Hayes has been published in many anthologies and magazines. His Poetry has received acclaim as the International Library of Poetry’s “Editors Choice Award” for 2003, and the Famous Poets Society included him in “100 of Our Most famous Poets” in 2004.

In December of 1996, he married Amanda Bonin of Belfast, Maine. “Sister” Amanda is a gift from God to Pastor Hayes. She is supportive of his ministry, his writing, and is a great mother to their four wonderful children, Asa, Karmiel, Caleb, and Christian.

Believing it important to remind oneself of “how small I am and how big HE is,” Pastor Hayes is an outdoorsman with the heart of a naturalist. He enjoys dogsledding and winter camping with his wife and children.

Now 30 years old (2006), Jonathan Nathaniel Hayes is the Principal of Dirigere Christian Academy, Administrator of the Maine Bible College Network, The Youth Secretary of the Maine District of the United Pentecostal Church International, and serves as the Pastor of Acadia Apostolic Assembly. His ministerial vision is to see Christ’s Church completely restored to the purity and power of 1st century Christianity.