Jonas is a Presbyterian Minister who has a passion for Biblical studies, patristic theology, creative writing, and community building. He and his wife Kim have one daughter – Sonja Grace Hayes.

Jonas graduated from Tusculum College in Greeneville, Tennessee with a major in English Literature. His undergraduate education included a one-year service learning project that was funded by the Lilly Foundation. For the project, which involved the local nonprofit Rural Resources, the Tennessee Humanities Council, and the East Tennessee Foundation, he conducted interviews with farmers and developers in Greene County, Tennessee, with the goal of promoting healthy land development.
Jonas also holds a Masters of Divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary in Princeton, New Jersey. While in seminary, he served a year-long internship at the Lafayette Avenue Presbyterian Church in Brooklyn, NY, as well as a summer residency as a chaplain for the New Orleans Police Department.

Following seminary, Jonas served as a chaplain resident at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, California – placing focus on the Skilled Nursing Facility (SNF), Labor & Delivery and the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). During the one-year residency program, he cared for medical staff and patients in various capacities. He offered spiritual care to patients facing new diagnoses, collaborating with other healing professions such as massage therapy, art therapy, and guided imagery. In San Francisco, he also worked as a Case Manager for at-risk youth with the non-profit organization, Occupational Therapy Training Program (OTTP). His first ordained call was as Associate Pastor for Children, Youth and Family Ministries at First Presbyterian Church of Palo Alto where he served for 2 ∏ years.

In 2008, Jonas was installed as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Greenville, Mississippi. Jonas is Vice President of the Community Counseling Center and a board member of the Delta Economic Development Center and the Good Samaritan Health Clinic. Last year, he helped organize a 2nd Annual Walk/Run Event for the City of Greenville – a Turkey Trot, as a fundraiser for the Good Samaritan Health Clinic. Also, Jonas heads up the Long-Term Recovery Committee in Washington County, which helps families who have been affected by the Flood Event of 2011. In 2010, he started the non-profit organization, Delta180, Inc. The organization’s flagship program, the 180 Degrees Program, has served over 200 youth in Washington County with the goal of increasing academic success and reducing delinquent behavior in middle school and high school youth. Currently, a documentary on the formation and success of Delta180, Inc. is being produced by Cyprus Productions and is expected to be completed in the spring of 2012. Jonas is the recipient of the 2011 Frank Carlton Humanitarian Award given by the community action group – WWISCAA. He views the church as a place to practice our faith and unity in Jesus Christ – a place where all of God’s people are free to explore and practice their faith.

back to top