Joshua Hays

Joshua Hays, Associate Pastor of Discipleship at First Baptist Church Waco, was previously a research associate for Baylor ISR. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Christian Ethics from Union University, the Master of Divinity degree from Beeson Divinity School at Samford University, and the Doctor of Ministry from the University of the South. Prior to coming to Baylor, Joshua worked as an editorial contractor for The Chuck Colson Center for Christian Worldview, as well as serving on staff at several churches and para-church ministries in Tennessee and Alabama.

Joshua is the author of Soul Culture: Stewarding the Five Ingredients of Our Common Life (Smyth & Helwys, 2023), The Angola Prison Seminary (Routledge, 2016), and  A True Hope: Jedi Perils and the Way of Jesus (Smyth & Helwys, 2015). Additionally, his writing has appeared in the Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Preaching Magazine, BreakPoint Features, and the Proceedings of the Christianity in the Academy Conference. Joshua resides in Waco, Texas, with his wife Rebecca and their two children.