Pastor Reginald J. Hayes Sr.

Pastor Reginald Hayes was called as pastor of United Faith International Baptist (UFI) Church on April 1, 2001. Under his leadership the church is making strides in growth. Sunday school, Bible training, music, men’s, women, youth, children’s, food pantry and the benevolence ministries are the core of UFI’s mission in the urban community. The mortgage was retired in 2006 on UFI’s five-acre campus. In 2010 UFI began a Mission Church in a Housing Complex in West Columbus.

Pastor Hayes’ dynamic helpmate is his wife First Lady Mary. The Hayes’ are proud parents of Lakeshia (Edward), Reginald II, Isaiah, and Alishia. Pastor and First Lady Hayes are grandparents to grandsons Nehemiah, Jeremiah, and Zechariah.

Pastor Hayes is also the CEO of S.H.I.F.T. (Services Helping Individuals and families Today) Development Corporation. S.H.I.F.T broadens UFI’s ministry to meet physical and spiritual needs. S.H.I.F.T. provides tutoring, food pantry, and has served as a vendor for Columbus City Schools, Franklin County and United Way Agencies. Other initiatives include training urban youth to become successfully employed, daycare, senior care, wellness, counseling, school latchkey, community recreation center, prison ministry, and job training.

Pastor Hayes has served as Moderator for the Metropolitan Columbus Baptist Church Association, and President of the African American Fellowship of the State Convention of Baptist in Ohio.

Pastor Hayes received his B.A. in Organizational Communication, with a Minor in African American Studies at the Ohio State University. In 2005 he completed the Pastor of Excellence Program at Ashland Theological Seminary and is pursuing additional seminary study. Prior to being called to preach, Hayes was the first African American Chief of Staff in the Democratic Caucus in the Ohio Senate and served two terms as an elected city councilman in Ashtabula, Ohio.

Pastor Hayes mission is to follow Matthews 25:31-40 and 28:18-20 by taking the Gospel to meet spiritual and physical needs in people’ lives and prepare them to help lost people get saved .