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Just a bit of a bio
I was born a Marylander and enjoy living in this state. Along the way of my life, I've lived in the south, the north, the midwest and, for an exciting summer, in Alaska. I've visited the Dominican Republic (with 10 minutes just across the Haitian border) and Ecuador, but I'd love to explore more overseas. I wasn't raised in the Church of the Brethren. The American Baptist Church was my earliest home (Bethesda First Baptist, now known as the Church in Bethesda). The values of and relationships with the Brethren won me over. Educationally, I've studied at James Madison University and Elizabethtown College (B.S. 1978), as well as the Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminaries and Bethany Theological Seminary (M.Div. 1985).
After college I spent a year in Brethren Volunteer Service (BVS) to get my priorities straight. I served with the Illinois/Wisconsin New Call to Peacemaking Peace Caravan, a peace education team. After BVS, the Union Center Church of the Brethren took this scruffy youth on as an associate pastor and later called me to ministry, sending me to seminary and sponsoring my ordination. Over the years I served six churches (three of these were just for a summer, however). In 1990, the Long Green Valley Church of the Brethren foolishly (I began on April 1st) called me as Pastor, and I have enjoyed this fellowship. These folks are very warm and caring.
I have four children: the oldest a graduate of Manchester College, the next a 2010 grad of Loyola University. My third-born is a student at Salisbury University, and my youngest goes to Loch Raven High School. I am very proud of all of them!
I've done some writing on the side, and written 50+ songs, some of both - believe it or not - actually being published. I hope to do more. Church camp has been an important part of my life. I've served as chair of the board of Shepherd's Spring, our district's camp on the Potomac River near Sharpsburg, MD, and volunteered as a co-director of a week of camp for 13 summers. Since 1975 (a pivotal year in my life), I have worked in seven of our denomination's camps. Currently, I serve as co-advisor to cabinet of the Church of the Brethren Mid-Atlantic District Youth (MAD Youth).
Well, if you'd like to converse, send me a personal email or send your email to the Long Green Valley COB I can't promise to reply immediately, but I'll try. Feel free, also, to visit my personal web site.
Pete Haynes
"You shall go out with joy and be
led forth in peace, the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you and all the
trees of the field shall clap their hands." (Isaiah 55:12)