Get to Know Our Director

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Meet our Director

TOM HAKES

    Tom grew up in Penfied, NY, the youngest of 5 children. He attended New Covenant Christian School (now called Finney) from 2nd grade through 12th. Although he had invited Christ into his life as a young boy, it wasn't until his senior year that he made a decision to become a disciple, and not just a convert. After graduation, he went to Cortland State where he quickly became heavily involved with one of the campus ministries, B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers and Sisters in Christ). He graduated from Cortland in 1993 with a B.S. in Physical Education, and a minor in Management. Immediately following graduation, he went on staff with B.A.S.I.C as a home-based missionary, traveling to various campuses in the Northeast assisting churches and students with evangelism and discipleship.

    In the summer of 1997, he went to work for Dorschel Automotive Group as a part-time lot attendant. Six months later, he was offered a full-time wholesale position in the company, eventually moving from liquidation to buying over the next 4½years. In April of 2002, he was promoted to Used Car Sales Manager at the Lexus/Volkswagen store where he continued to work for the next 6½ years. Sensing that God was leading him away from the car business and back into the ministry, he resigned from his position in November of 2008.

    In March of 2009, Tom went on staff, part-time, with Greece Assembly of God as the director of Mission Share. A little over a year later, in May of 2010, he was able to go full-time with Mission Share.

    He met his wife, Rachel, when she visited the campus of Cortland State as a high school senior and prospective student. It was love at first sight for Tom, but he would have to wait 5 months until the Fall semester to see if Rachel would be attending, and then found out that she was dating someone else! It would be nearly 5½ years from that first meeting, and only after God had prepared both of their hearts, that they would go on their first date. Eights months later, they were engaged, and 5 months after that, they were married on November 23, 1996.

    It didn't take long for them to begin their family. In October of 1998, their son, Joshua was born; fifteen months later, Samantha was born in January 2000; and finally, Zachary followed in March 2002. All three kids love sports and the outdoors and do well in school.

    Tom enjoys spending time with his family, watching them in all of their various sporting activities. He also enjoyes participating in sports himself, particularly soccer, which he has played competitively nearly every year since he was 5. He has been on several short-term misson projects, both domestically and internationally, and hopes to take his family on one in the next several years.