Rev. Dr. Michael E. Haynes – May 9, 1927 — September 12, 2019 (Age 92)

Pastor Michael Haynes fell asleep in the Lord at his home in Boston (Roxbury), Massachusetts September 12, 2019. When he graduated from New England School of Theology in 1949 he thought God was calling him to be a missionary somewhere miles from Boston. During his college years he became known in Advent Christian churches as a member of the CHRISTIANAIRES Quartet with Oral Collins, Floyd Powers, and Everett Ransom. The rest of his life he gave thanksgiving to God for the graciousness of the President of N.E.S.T., Dr. Guy L. Vannah, who made it possible for Mike to graduate from college. May 28, 1951 two promising young men, Michael Haynes and David A. Dean, were ordained for Christian ministry by the Massachusetts Advent Christian Conference in the Boston A.C. Church at 160 Warren Street in the Roxbury, neighborhood. Rather than ministering far from Boston, Michael Haynes was led by God to be a prophet in his home city with a ministry that echoed around the world.

In 1964 Dr. Haynes became the Senior Minister of Twelfth Baptist Church which by this time had moved into the former Advent Christian Church facility at 160 Warren Street. During his forty year pastorate more than 30 men and women were called to full-time Christian ministry and have served in national and international leadership positions. Rev. Haynes was the keynote preacher at the biennial Convention of the Advent Christian General Conference of America in 1966. Also in the 1960’s Dr. Haynes became a Trustee of Berkshire Christian College (formerly New England School of Theology) and served on that Board the rest of his life. Many of the youth of his church also followed him to study in this college.

Dr. Haynes served the Massachusetts House of Representatives for three terms, before serving the Massachusetts Parole Board from 1969 to 1985. He was a confidant and advisor for at least three United States Presidents. Mike served along side of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on the Ministerial Staff of Twelfth Baptist Church when Dr. King studied in Boston in the mid 1950’s.

A prophet is a mouth-piece for God’s message. Michael Haynes was that in his living, in his family, in his neighborhood, in the pulpit, in the State House, on over a dozen college Boards, on the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association Board and on the Board of Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. He attempted to love and bless those who criticized him. Like Daniel of old he found himself in some “lions’ dens” but even there God became ever more real. He chose to fight “the good fight.”

In the denomination that ordained him, he continued to be an urban pace-setter and prophet calling us to faithfully minister in and pray for our neighborhoods in the cities where “there are many lives that are gold to be mined and refined.”