Pastor Richard B. Haynes is a native of Gainesville, Georgia. The son of a Baptist Minister, he has been in service for the Lord basically all of his life. He has an enormous love for the Word of God and the people of God, and enthusiastically fulfills his call to serve the present age. Pastor Haynes’ daily walk exemplifies the words of his favorite hymn: “Lord I want to live for thee, every day and hour; let Thy spirit be with me in its saving power”.
Pastor Haynes accepted the call to preach the gospel in 1981 under the pastorate of Doctor Winfred Hope at Ebenezer Baptist Church West, Athens, Georgia. Shortly after being ordained, he was called to Pastor Springfield Baptist Church, Comer, and Georgia, where he served for eight years. For two of those eight years he also served as Pastor of Springfield Baptist Church, Lula, Georgia.
In April 1988, Pastor Haynes was called to pastor Salem Missionary Baptist Church in Lilburn, Georgia, where he continues to serve as Senior Pastor. Salem is recognized as one of the oldest and largest African American congregations in Gwinnett County. Under Pastor Haynes’ effective leadership, the membership at SMBC has increased from under 100 to over 4500 members, including approximately 40 Associates Ministers, and equally as many auxiliaries.
In recognition for exemplary, dedicated leadership, and an unwavering commitment to the cause of Christ, Rev. Dr. Haynes has received numerous awards and other recognition. He is past president of the Ninth District of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, past Chaplain for the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Department, and past Director of the Statewide Minister’s Convention for the state of Georgia. In May 2003, he received a much deserved honorary doctorate from Antioch Baptist Bible College in Marietta, Georgia.
In February, 2011 Dr. Haynes served as guest Chaplain at the capitol in Atlanta, Georgia, and in June, 2012, he was invited to serve as Chaplain for the day at the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C. In April 2012, he received the Civil Rights Leadership Award from the Governor of Georgia, in recognition for many years of dedicated service and accomplishments in the area of racial equality. In March 2017, he was inducted into the Board of Preachers of the Martin Luther King, Jr. International College of Ministers and Laity at Morehouse College.
He currently serves as Executive Director of the Ministers Division of the General Missionary Baptist Convention of Georgia, Congress of Christian Education. He serves on the Advisory Board for the Gwinnett County Board of Education, where he was instrumental in the recruitment of the first male African-American principal for Gwinnett County Public Schools.
Rev. Dr. Richard B. Haynes currently resides in Lilburn, Georgia with his wife of over 30 years, First Lady Beverly. They are the parents of three adult children, Sheena and Jayson (Quantrishia), and have three grandsons, Demetrious, Richard Benjamin and Jayson VaShon.