Haynes took a leave of absence for just over a month due to a recent medical diagnosis, the church said.
DALLAS — Frederick D. Haynes III, the Senior Pastor of Friendship-West Baptist Church, will be back in the pulpit after a temporary medical leave of absence.
Dr. Haynes, who has led the church since 1983, has been on leave since September, citing a medical diagnosis. Last month, the church announced that doctors had performed surgery on Haynes and that the procedure went well.
According to church officials, Dr. Haynes will return to preaching on Sunday.
“I am grateful to God for healing and restoration, and to my Friendship-West family and the community for your prayers, patience, and love,” Dr. Haynes said in a release. “This journey reminded me of the power of faith, rest, and community support. I return reenergized, refocused, and ready to continue the work of building hope, justice, and healing together.”
Haynes has been a significant public figure, leading a congregation of 13,000 and serving on multiple boards, including the Conference of National Black Churches, the National Action Network, and the IC3 Church and Development Conference. He is also on the Board of Trustees for Paul Quinn College, and was awarded the Joseph R. Biden Jr. Presidential Lifetime Achievement Leadership Award in Community Service by the President himself in 2022.