Scholarly and Intimate Storytelling
Richard A. Haynes, M. Div., D. Min.
Richard Alan Haynes was born September 13, 1948 to a hard-working, blue-collar family. At age 4, he contracted polio and spent his early years recovering in Riley Hospital for Children where God significantly touched him and provided the spiritual design of his life.
He became an accomplished gymnast in high school. As a result, he attended the University of Louisville on a scholarship in both academics and gymnastics. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and was also Intercollegiate Kentucky Champion (gymnastics) from 1967-1970.
Rev. Haynes acquired his Master of Divinity degree in 1975. Also during that year, he met and later married Patricia Ann Malott, the love of his life. They welcomed baby Richard Earl Haynes in 1982.
Rev. Haynes was ordained into the ministry via the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in 1977. He and Pat began serving their first congregation in 1978. While in church ministry, God blessed Dick with the gift and call into the work of spiritual direction – the ancient Christian practice of counseling individuals as to what God was doing in their life and how they would choose to respond. With the onslaught of post-polio syndrome, Rev. Haynes concluded his ministry after 39 years in 2006.
During retirement, Dr. Haynes began working on a book and The Spiritual Road: Helping Others Grow Spiritually was published in 2012. In March 2022, Dick and Pat moved to St. John, Indiana to be near their grandsons.
Richard Haynes has been overcoming for 70 years, and in this memoir he tells his story and draws conclusions about how human beings grow through struggle and lead meaningful lives. But if you think this book sounds stiff or “preachy”, just read the first chapter, and you will find yourself charmed by the moving and humorous way Richard writes. You will be hooked by this master storyteller, and will be challenged and encouraged to overcome the pain and difficulties in your life.
Rev. Judy Turner, Co-founder of Christview Ministries, retreat leader, and spiritual director. She was formerly the Church Growth Consultant, Homeland Ministries of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Praise for THE SPIRITUAL ROAD
“The Spiritual Road is a helpful tool for religious leaders attempting to assist others in developing a mature faith, and assessing their own progress in that journey. Dick Haynes provides charts and commentary that blends other growth paradigms, such as Erickson’s Eight Stages of Development, as a reminder that the Christian life holds open the possibil-ity of deepened understanding of ourselves and our God if we are willing to walk the path. His own life story and work with many as spiritual director enriches this text.”
– Rick Spleth, Regional Minister for the Christian Church in Indiana