Bishop Washington Joel Haye was born in Westmoreland Jamaica. He came to the United Kingdom aged seven and lived in London. The family moved to Leicester in 1970. Joel and his family attended the New Testament Church of God. Joel was a keen soloist who sang in local and National events.
In 1979 He became a Christian. Joel had a profound conversion following an invitation to an evangelism week of meetings at NTCG Leicester.
Joel married Paulene Angela Wint in 1980. He regularly ministered in preaching and teaching in his local church, conventions and seminars.
Joel studied at De-Montfort University, gaining a qualification in Social Work. He worked for The Local Authority as a Child Protection Social Worker for nineteen years.
Joel has a Diploma in Theology. He became an Ordained minister in 2001. In 2014 he became an Ordained Bishop.
In 1999 Joel and Paulene planted NTCG Agape. Agape’s main attraction were university students, which was almost 99% of their church community. Agape grew rapidly with a thriving Bible study attended by mostly University students from Leicester and beyond. Joel continues to mentor a number of these ex-students today.
Agape and the main congregation at Melbourne Road NTCG Leicester merged in November 2011, where Joel became the Senior Pastor and Leicester District Overseer.
Joel and Paulene minister extensively in Marriage-Preparation/ counselling sessions. Paulene is a professionally trained and qualified counselling practitioner. She holds her counselling credential and registration with the Association of Christian Counsellors.
Joel has a strong passion to see leaders being raised up and equipped to function in their calling. He believes that the theme of his life is to see “Unity In the body of Christ”, according to Ephesians 4: 1- 13. He is a strong believer in the priesthood of all believers and works to empower men and women to work both in the Church (Priests) and in the marketplace (Kings).
Over the years Joel has forged deep friendships with Christian Leaders; Anglican, Evangelical, and African church Alliances, in the city and worked collaboratively with them to see unity initiatives developed across different streams and cultures.
In 2021 Joel was voted on to the National Executive Council where he currently serves. In 2022 Joel was appointed as a Spiritual Advisor to the Lord Mayor of Leicester.
Joel and Paulene are blessed with three married children, and seven precious grandsons. Their sons Andrew and Jonathan have been an integral part of their ministry; ministering alongside their parents for over twenty years.