Refuge Church Ministries II's Ministerial Team
Refuge Church Ministries II is blessed to have a ministerial team who are truly dedicated to Christ and accomplishing His will. Following are brief bio's of our ministerial leadership team and their qualifications for ministry.
Min. Karen Hayes
Co-chair, Blessing Closet
Mrs. Karen E. Hayes was born in Chester, PA, on March 17, 1961, to Frederick D. Hollis Jr. and Dorothy Hollis. She has been married to Michael Hayes since 2007 and is the mother of four children. Karen is grateful that she has such a loving and supportive husband.
As a native of Chester, she graduated from Christian Academy in Media, PA, in 1980. Education is very important to Karen, and as such, she has pursued various educational degrees and classes over the years. Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Delaware State University and a Master of Elementary Education from Pensacola Christian College. In addition, she received her third degree – Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Denver Seminary’s DC Extension Campus in December 2023.
Karen has a diverse employment background, with over twenty-five years in private Christian and public school service. The last fifteen years in the public school system have provided many ministry opportunities for students, parents, colleagues, and administration.
Karen has been a member of churches in the Washington Metropolitan area and in Chester, PA, where God continued preparing her for various ministry roles. Under such tutelage, she has received teaching, preaching, intercessory prayer, and pastoral ministry training. Karen believes God has called her to teach and preach the gospel, emphasizing evangelism. She believes the Spirit of God is her for this endeavor.
One of Karen's favorite Scriptures is Psalms 121 (NLT) – I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble; the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. Karen believes that God and Him alone keep and empower her to be an effective minister for the advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Karen became a licensed minister on October 29, 2023, at Refuge Church Ministries II in Glen Burnie, Maryland. She serves on the Ministerial Team and co-chairs the Blessing Closet. She has also been given opportunities to teach Bible Studies and preach the Word of God. Karen realizes that she must rely on the God of her salvation to continue and maintain a relationship and a life of holiness, pleasing God. Her ultimate desire is to hear God, her Father, say, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”