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According to the bellereport.com

The Gospel Community Mourns the Loss of

Dr. Charles G. Hayes

 

 

TBR — Chicago, IL — It is with a heavy heart that we inform our readers and listeners that the senior pastor of the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer, where Dr. Charles G. Hayes, also known to many as Father Charles Hayes, is the senior pastor, transitioned to be with the Lord this afternoon ( Wednesday, February 12, 2014th ) in Chicago.

 

Our sources tell us that Father Hayes, had been sick for some time.

 

Father Hayes has been a fixture in the Gospel Music Industry since the early sixties.

 

Pastor Charles George Hayes, the third child and second son of Mamie Lee and Will Hayes, was born December 10, 1937, in Verbena, Alabama.  He received his primary education at Siluria Jr. High School (Alabama)  and his secondary education at Prentice High School (Montevallo, Alabama).  He migrated to Chicago, Illinois in 1955 and became a Church Musician. 

 

Pastor Hayes was ordained in the Ministry on August 31, 1957. He organized Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer on April 28, 1959.  Pastor Hayes was under the leadership of many great pioneers such as Prophet L. K. Johnson, Pastor Clarence Cobbs, Bishop Louis Boddie, Bishop Anderson, Pastor Franklin, and others.

 

Father of two, and grandfather, Pastor Hayes became affectionately known as “Father Hayes” because of his paternal qualities, his compassion, his concern for, and interest in people.

 

Dr. Hayes received his  Doctorate Degree from Religious Science Institute in December 1973 and received an Honorary Doctorate of Human Letters from St. Martins College and Seminary, September, 1974.

 

Dr. Hayes was currently one of the longest serving Pastor of one church in Chicago for going on 55 years come April 2014. Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer has been listed as a landmark church in the Chicago Area.

 

Dr. Hayes was very passionate with is ministry, not compromising with the devil and is known for speaking the truth – declaring the word of God. He was very involved with every aspect of the church for he put his all into this ministry. He was rooted and grounded in “traditional” gospel and you could catch him singing, preaching, teaching and praying on any given Sunday , adding his humorous touch but still telling it like it is.  

 

Dr. Hayes was known for ‘Making A Joyful Noise”, leading such hits as He’s Keeping Me, I’ll Never Forget, I Know The Lord Laid His Hands On Me, Before I Take It Back, Everything’s Alright, How I Got Over, My Lord and Master, and many, many more.

 

Honors and Awards

 

Key to City of Newark, New JerseyJuly, 1974

Meritorious Service Ecumenical Rapport, Chicago, IllinoisSeptember, 1974

Commendation and Proclamation, “Dr. Charles G. Hayes

Day” – Board of Commissioners, Fulton County, GeorgiaJune, 1981

Honorary Citizen, Atlanta, GeorgiaJune, 1981

Mayor’s Award for Dedicated Service, Atlanta, GeorgiaJune, 1981

Key to City of Houston, TexasNovember, 1982

Outstanding Minister Award, Chicago, IllinoisApril, 1983

Key to City of Dallas, TexasJuly, 1983

Recognition for 25 Years of Service as Pastor, Chicago, IllinoisApril, 1984

Recognition for Devoted Service, Chicago, IllinoisMarch, 1985

Recognition for Workmanship of Team Efforts, Chicago, IllinoisAugust, 1985

First Recipient of Minister’s Achievement Award, Chicago, ILNovember, 1985

Gospel Music Workshop Award of ExcellenceNovember, 1985

Gospel Music Workshop Outstanding Contemporary ChoirNovember, 1985

Certificate of Appreciation, Chicago, IllinoisNovember, 1986

Recognition for Inspiration, Chicago. IllinoisJune, 1987

Proclamation, “Dr. Charles G. Hayes Day”, Louisville, KentuckyAugust, 1987

 

  

 

Also under the leadership of Pastor, Dr. Hayes was The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir within his church.  It was organized and founded by Dr. Hayes on October 25, 1959.  The Choir was organized with only five (5)  persons – consisting of a family of sisters and brothers. As the years passed, the Choir grew and grew, from the original five members to its present count.  

 

The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir has recorded over 30 albums and five single 45’s throughout the past 50 YEARS. Out of the thirty plus albums, two went “GOLD” (over 50,000 copies sold), and others made the No. 1 spot on the charts around the world. “The Remix” recording in particular, not only went “GOLD”, it was also notes as “The #1 Inspirational Song” according to the R&R Magazine and earned the Choir two Stellar Awards in 2006 for”  Choir of the Year” and “ Video of the Year.”

 

The Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir, also known as ‘The Mighty “WARRIORS’, is dedicated to its Church and the people who enjoy their singing ministry.  GOD is the head of their lives and they enjoy singing and giving HIM the praise. 

 

The Choir has performed with such great artists as the late Mahalia Jackson – the “World’s Greatest Gospel Singer”, the late Clara Ward and Singers, the late Ruth Davis and Singers, Evangelist Shirley Caesar and Singers, Rev. James Cleveland and Singers, and many more. The Choir has sung in Auditoriums, theatres, fair grounds, ball parks, civic center, store-front churches, Jewish temples, from the smallest to the largest, with all races involved at the same time. 

 

 ‘The Mighty “WARRIORS”’ have performed for the Chicago Gospel Festival, and by popular demand, was invited back to the Petrillo Bank Shell on several occasions.  In June 1992, Dr. Hayes and the Choir were saluted by the Mayor and City of Chicago for Outstanding Service in the Religious Community.  In July 1992, and again by special request in 1995, the Cosmopolitan Church of Prayer Choir represented the City of Chicago in the Umbria Jazz Festival held in various provinces throughout Italy, performing with such greats as B.B. King, Linda Hopkins, etc.  The choir also performed in Austria, France,  singing for the President of that Country, Portugeese, Madrid, and several other countries abroad.  They were invited and sang  at the Montreaux Jazz Festival in Montreaux, Switzerland, where they performed with the world famous Mighty Clouds of Joy. The Choir since traveled abroad to Spain twice and brought in 2007 in Italy (singing in various countries: Portugeese, – Lifting Up The Name Of Jesus!

 

After more than 50 YEARS, the Choir is still recording, and is considered as one of the world’s greatest Traditional Gospel Singing Choirs.  As a contribution to Chicago