Friendship A.M.E. Church

Sam Hayes Jr.
Pastor

Born and raised in Detroit Michigan; Samuel enlisted in the United States Air Force at seventeen years of age serving Honorably and retiring after twenty-five years of Meritorious active Service as a decorated Combat Veteran in aircraft maintenance. Completed his academic endeavors while serving our nation from Southern Illinois University with a degree in Work Force Education. He further pursued university training in completing a master’s degree of Divinity (MDiv) from New Brunswick Theological Seminary. Samuel acknowledged his call into public ministry in 1995 and completed all institutional requirements of the African Methodist Episcopal Church for final ordination as an Itinerant Elder in 2007. He has served as pastor of four churches across the State of New Jersey renovating the infrastructure and challenging the congregants to grow spiritually under his appointment. He has served as a hospice chaplain and as a chaplain for Pemberton Township Police Department. Samuel also performed a vital role in supporting and changing young lives within the New Jersey Department of Military and Veteran’s Affairs at the Nationally sponsored Youth Challenge Academy for At-Risk Youth. While assigned he rose to the position of Academy Director and led the way to reclaim thousands of young people's lives giving hope to communities and families in the Northeast region of the United States. Currently, He is serving his fourth charge as the Pastor of Friendship AME Church Browns Mills, and as a Strategic Initiatives Officer for the State of New Jersey Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Rev. Hayes is also a Doctoral Candidate at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. He and his wife, First Lady; Licentiate Donna Hayes are very proud of their wonderful adult children; Samuel III; KaiLoni, Arianna, and their loyal devoted family pet canines Reese & Rock.