Steve Hayner was a man who loved people and found joy in any circumstance. Ever an encourager, he believed “because we know who’s in charge of the circumstances we can find joy even in the difficulties,” said his wife Sharol Hayner.
Hayner attended Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash., graduating summa cum laude in 1970 with a bachelor’s degree in English literature.
In 1972, Hayner continued his education at Harvard Divinity School where he received a master’s degree in Semitic studies. One year later he earned a master’s degree from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary where he was ordained as university pastor at University Presbyterian Church. Hanyer started with a group of 17 students, and that number quickly grew to more than 1,200. He received his Ph.D. in Hebrew and Semitic studies at the University of St. Andrews in Fife, Scotland, in 1984.
“He was the greatest dispenser of grace of any person I have ever come across, and among the greatest blessings of my life is to have been the recipient of that grace,” said his longtime friend Pete Wehner.
From 1988 to 2001 Hayner was President of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, a nondenominational ministry to students on college campuses across the country.
“Steve brought pastoral care, healing and hope to an InterVarsity community that had undergone much trauma in the 1980s,” said InterVarsity’s current president Alec Hill. “He was one of the kindest and most authentic people I’ve ever known.”
In 2001 Hayner transitioned from academic ministry and became the senior associate pastor at High Point Church and the associate pastor at the Fountain of Life Family Ministry Center, both in Madison, Wis. In 2003 Hayner became the Peachtree Professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur. In 2009 he was elected as the seminary’s’s ninth president.
Stephen A. Hayner died Saturday of cancer. He was 66. A memorial service will be held 2 p.m. Feb. 23 at Peachtree Presbyterian Church, 3434 Roswell Road NW, Atlanta. Cremation Society of Georgia is in charge of arrangements.
Two weeks before his death, Hayner wrote in a blog post, “Love embraces me. Joy uplifts me. Gratitude settles me. When I lean into love, joy, gratitude and service, I worry less, because eternity surrounds me and God’s grace upholds me.”
His wife said, “We were a team. We always said we were better side by side than face to face.”
In addition to his wife Hayner is survived by three grown children, Emilie Wagner, Chip Hayner and Drew Hayner; and five grandchildren.
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