Our Pastor

Bishop Booker T. Hayes, Jr., is a man of vision and great wisdom. He is the Pastor of Greater Apostolic Holy Temple, Inc. in Hephzibah, Georgia.

He was baptized in Jesus Name and filled with the precious gift of the Holy Ghost at Apostolic Holy Temple Church in September 1985. Bishop Hayes served under the leadership of our late founder, District Elder J. D. Young and was installed as Pastor of Greater Apostolic on February 24, 1995.

Bishop Hayes is the husband of Evangelist Linda Hayes, not his number one, his only one! Evangelist Hayes has been there by his side every step of the way, with her love, support, and prayers. With over 46 years of marriage, they have been blessed with five children and nine grandchildren. In December 1997, the Lord blessed our Pastor to retire as First Sergeant from the United States Army with more than 20 years of military service.

While in the United States Army, he continued to be used of God as a vessel to draw people into the fold. During military service in Panama, Bishop Hayes and Evangelist Hayes led by God, began a ministry that served as a filling station for lost souls. He was recognized by Department of the Army Chief of Chaplains for unselfish leadership and preaching and teaching the gospel of Christ. The Scroll of Honor was presented to Bishop Hayes for his distinguished contributions to the moral and religious welfare of soldiers and their families.

Through his years of ministry, God has revealed His glory and true power by taking Greater Apostolic to levels that have produced healing, deliverance, and growth both spiritually and naturally. Bishop Hayes is the founder of the Light of the World Conference that begin in Hephzibah, Georgia October of 2010.

As a result of his dedication to ministry and outreach, Pastor Hayes was elevated to the office of Suffragan Bishop March 2008. He has served as the Treasurer for the Georgia State Council, Advisor to the GSC Christian Education Department and the Secretary of the East Region GSC. Currently, he serves as the Bishop of the East Region of the Georgia State Council. Bishop Hayes was elected to the office of Chairman for the Georgia State Council June 2022. February 22, 2023, Bishop Hayes assumed the office of the Georgia State Council Chairman.

Through the anointed teaching and preaching of Pastor Hayes, the Greater Apostolic family has been lifted to higher spiritual dimensions. God has given him the vision to provide a nurturing, caring environment that will draw people from all walks of life to Jesus Christ.