Pastor Steve Hay

Stephen Hay was born in Old Town, Alexandria and reared in Fairfax County. He grew up in the church but it was through involvement in Young Life in High School that he came to the personal relationship with Jesus Christ. His undergraduate degree is from the University of Virginia. After college, he worked for a year and traveled in Europe for a year living out of a backpack while staying in youth hostels. It was in one such youth hostel in the heart of Amsterdam that he became aware of the deep, practical applications of Biblical truth to life. After living in The Ark, a Christian community in two houseboats in the canals of Amsterdam, that Steve became convinced of God’s call to ordained ministry.

That sense of call was tested by a year and a half of mission service in India, Nepal and back in Amsterdam. Steve returned to the States to attend Princeton Theological Seminary. His family had been leaders in a block long downtown Baptist church until the time Steve was in 5th grade. Then they moved to a closer church, which happened to be United Methodist. The mission group he was involved in was multinational and multi-denominational. From there Steve attended a Presbyterian seminary. And while studying for United Methodist ordination, he taught confirmation to Episcopal youth. All this to say that while he is a committed United Methodist, his experience is much broader.

Steve’s first appointment was to the largest United Methodist Church in the state as the second associate. At Fairfax Church Steve met and married his bride, Cynthia Cable Hay. From there he was assigned to a two-point rural charge (serving two smaller churches). There Katie was born to them. Next Steve served for five years beyond the local church as Alexandria District Program Coordinator. Elliott was born during this time in Alexandria. From there he served as pastor of Sandbridge Community Chapel, an Outer Banks community in southern Virginia Beach.

Since June of 2000 Steve has served as the pastor of Tabernacle United Methodist Church west of Fredericksburg. He enjoys reading, a wide variety of music, and travel. Someday he and Cynthia plan to live in Europe.