Ian Moreland Hay

Dr. Ian Hay, 92, was called to his heavenly home on Tuesday, March 2, 2021, in Sebring, FL.  Ian Hay was born December 19, 1928 at Miango, Northern Nigeria. He is the son of Rev. and Mrs. John Hay, Scottish missionaries with SIM. He lived at Gowans Home, Collingwood, Ontario where he began his schooling.  In 1946 an Iowa high school named him to the National Honor Society. He graduated cum laude in 1950 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Bryan College in Dayton, TN. Ian was also named to Who’s Who in American Colleges and Universities. He earned the Master of Arts degree in Biblical Education at Columbia Graduate School of Bible and Missions, Columbia, SC graduating summa cum laude in 1951. In 1976 he was granted honoris causa the Doctor of Divinity from Bryan College and was later granted honoris causa Doctor of Divinity from Jos Evangelical Theological Seminary. In 1977 he was included in Who’s Who in Religion in America . He earned the Doctor of Missiology degree at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in 1984.

Dr. Hay and his wife, June, met and were married at Bryan College June 7, 1951. They were accepted for service with SIM in October 1951, and arrived in Nigeria in March 1952. Their first appointment was to Kuta, Nigeria where they served as general missionaries emphasizing evangelism and the development of an indigenous church. While in Nigeria they had five children, four of whom are now with the Lord.

Dr. Hay filled the office of Field Secretary for SIM West Africa from 1958 to 1965. From 1965 to 1972 he was the SIM Director for North America and then Deputy General Director from 1972 to 1975. In 1975 Dr. Hay was appointed General Director of SIM, which at that time worked with more than 10,000 indigenous churches in Africa, Asia, and South America, utilizing the services of more than 2000 missionaries. During his eighteen years as General Director (1975 – 1993) the ministries of SIM expanded. In 1993 he was appointed General Director Emeritus. The Hays went on retirement status with SIM in January 1997 and moved to the SIM retirement village in Sebring, Florida. Dr. Hay served as interim pastor of Southside Baptist Church in Sebring for a year.  They continued to serve the Lord in Sebring as God enabled.

Dr. Hay is the author of Hidden Springs: The Biblical Basis for Christian Service, Unity and Purity: Keeping the Balance, Foundations: Scriptural Principles Undergirding SIM, Isaiah and the Great Commission, and The Master Plan . Dr. Hay has contributed to several volumes on missionary strategy including “Church/Missionary/Mission Relationships” in Mission in Creative Tension published by William Carey Library, “The Emergence of a Missionary-Minded Church in Nigeria” in Church/Mission Tensions Today published by Moody Press, “Mission and the Future” in Evangelical Missions Tomorrow published by William Carey Library, and “Mission-to-Mission Relationships” in Partners in the Gospel published by the Billy Graham Center. He is featured in SIM films, Power by Prayer and No Unreachables , as well as a nine-hour video lecture series, The Master Plan .

Dr. Hay has served on and chaired the boards of the Evangelical Missions Information Service, the Interdenominational Foreign Missions Association, Bryan College, and Columbia International University where he also served as an adjunct professor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the SIM Retirement Village, 4114 Nigeria St., Sebring, FL 33875

Arrangements entrusted to:

Stephenson-Nelson Funeral Home

4001 Sebring Parkway

Sebring, FL 33870

Online condolences may be left at:

www.stephensonnelsonfh.com