Joe Hays
Minister | joe@christschurchforbrooklyn.org

I grew up in Tahoka, a small farming community in west Texas. It was in this small town and in the small local church that I came to know Jesus Christ as one who is loving and merciful. It was made even more evident in the campus ministry at Texas A&M called Aggies for Christ. Because of my involvement in that ministry, I felt called to full-time ministry. I transferred to Abilene Christian University and graduated in 1997. Transferring was not only significant in that I was able to prepare for ministry by majoring in Biblical Studies but also because this is where I met Laura Heintz. Laura and I were married January 3, 1998 in St. Louis where Laura grew up.

We then both attended graduate school in New Jersey. Laura graduated from The College of New Jersey with a Master of Teaching degree and I attended Princeton Theological Seminary graduating with a Master of Divinity degree. Upon graduation we moved to Fort Worth where I was the preaching minister of Fortress Church of Christ and Laura taught first grade in a local school. It was also in Fort Worth where Laura and I were blessed with our first child, Sophia, in March 2003.

In August 2003, we moved to New York City to take part in Manhattan Church of Christ’s church planting movement. The original idea was to plant a church in lower Manhattan but with the Spirit’s guiding, it became evident that Brooklyn would be the first plant. Laura and I had our second child, Ira, in April 2005. Ira’s had to fight for his life since he was born. Ira’s strength has been an example for my entire family.

While the kids and the church in Brooklyn keep us busy, Laura and I also like watching movies, reading books, listening to music, playing basketball (me), and knitting (Laura). And we absolutely love living in New York City where so much is happening at all hours of the day.