Juel Hayes is a full-time global worker with Circuit Riders, a ministry of YWAM (Youth With A Mission) based in Huntington Beach, California. She holds a B.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from Virginia Tech and worked as an engineer for three years before responding to God’s call to become a “fisher of men.”
Since stepping into full-time missions, Juel has served in a variety of roles—from discipling college students in Virginia, to pioneering a campus ministry in Tokyo, Japan, where fewer than 2% identify as Christian. There, she witnessed the power of friendship and faith to lead students into a life-changing relationship with Jesus.
CHANGE OF SEASON
Obedient to God’s leading, Juel later moved to Southern California to enter a season of rest, during which she worked as a fashion stylist. Even in the marketplace, she continued to minister—discipling women and witnessing healings in the boutique setting. This season deepened her belief that the mission of God is not limited to a title, but is a lifestyle.
Juel specializes in creative ministry, women and minority outreach, and evangelism. She has led workshops in dance, art and design, evangelism, and discipleship across the U.S., India, and Japan. Her ministry includes spoken word performances, dance, creative workshops, and Gospel presentations in spaces that often go unreached by traditional church settings. She has also ministered as a dancer at events such as Upperroom’s End of Year Conference, Antioch Miami’s Beloved Outreach, Jesus Week Durban South Africa, and Zion Dance Project’s Summer Showcase.
THE NOW
She currently serves with Circuit Riders as a global worker for Black Voices movement, which exists to empower young people, serve local communities, and share the message of Jesus on college campuses and cities across the U.S. and the nations. Black voices serves to raise up young black leaders to walk in their Christ-centered purpose and bring lasting change in their communities.
MOST RECENT MISSION
SOUTH AFRICA STATS
Gathered: 11,701
Salvations: 1,115
Rededication: 409
Healings: 64
Trained: 289
I met these girls at University of Cape Town, South Africa, during evangelism and sat with them during lunch. We started yapping and I felt the Lord lay their original designs on my heart. Which is nothing more than prophetic words of intentional characteristics God had in mind when He formed them. The Holy Spirit began to reveal real issues they were currently facing in Uni. I started to share what I heard in a way that was familiar, and share the reality of the gospel in light of those problems and the girl’s jaws dropped open. “How did you know?” I started to share with her how God is so near and so real. And her and her two friends were so encouraged by how real and present God is. They started shedding tears because it was the very encouragement they needed to hear. They’d witnessed me preach the gospel right before this conversation to a couple of guys next to us. One of the girl’s was a youth leader in her church and expressed “that’s how I want to see evangelism happen on our campus”. All three were touched and we got to pray through pain and struggle points. We talked strategy about what it looks like to be the difference maker on your campus. One of them came to the Brave Love event later that night and had a fresh encounter of what it looks like to follow Jesus fully surrendered. She left different. Ready to lead the charge in her community with fresh vision to follow Jesus unashamed.