Cory Hays

Associate Pastor/Minister of Music

          Brother Cory Hays, 32, received a Bachelors of Instrumental Music Education degree 2002 from Delta State University, Cleveland, Mississippi and a Masters of Church Music degree in 2010 from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary, Wake Forest, North Carolina. From 2002-2007, Brother Hays worked as an Assistant Band Director and then Head Band Director for the Columbus Municipal School District in Columbus, Mississippi. Also during this time frame, Brother Hays served as the Interim Director of Music for Boyle Baptist Church in Boyle, Mississippi from September 2000 to May 2002 and as the Orchestra and Handbell Director for First Baptist Church, Columbus, Mississippi from August 2003 to June 2007.

While in seminary Brother Hays served as the Praise Band Director for Wake Cross Roads Baptist Church in Raleigh, North Carolina from August 2007 to September 2008. He then served as pianist for Pearce Baptist Church, Zebulon, North Carolina from September 2008 to January 2010. From January 2010 to October 2010, Brother Hays served as Interim Minister of Music for Pearce Baptist Church, Zebulon, North Carolina.

He has been married to his wife Lucy for 13 years. They have three sons, Wyatt age 10, Eli age 5 and Seth age 4, and they are expecting a baby girl this October!

From Brother Hays:
"I accepted Jesus Christ as my Savior at the age of seventeen. I surrendered to God’s call in 2002, moved my family 650 miles away from where we had always lived and enrolled at Southeastern Seminary. God has given me a passion for writing and arranging new music for His church and has placed a strong call in my heart to serve Him as a full-time Minister of Music. I feel called to lead in all aspects of worshiping God through music."