Jack Hayford

Jack Hayford
Name	Jack Hayford
Birth date	July 25, 1934
Death date	January 8, 2023
Occupation	Pastor, author, songwriter
Known for	Pastoring The Church On The Way, composing "Majesty"
Spouse	Floren Hayford

Jack Hayford Jack Hayford was an American Pentecostal minister, author, and hymnwriter known for leading a prominent evangelical congregation and for composing the hymn "Majesty". He served as a pastor, seminary founder, denominational leader, and influential voice within Pentecostalism, Charismatic movement, and broader Evangelicalism across the United States and internationally.

Early life and education

Born in Los Angeles, California, Hayford was raised amid the religious landscapes of California and the postwar American religious revival context involving figures such as Oral Roberts, Aimee Semple McPherson, and institutions like Fuller Theological Seminary. He pursued formal theological study influenced by teachers connected to Azusa Street Revival legacies, Assemblies of God, and local seminaries before receiving honorary degrees from entities associated with Biola University and other Christian higher education institutions.

Ministry and pastoral career

Hayford's pastoral career began in Southern California, where he led congregations in settings linked to Van Nuys, North Hollywood, and eventually the megachurch movement epitomized by The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, Los Angeles. His tenure intersected with leaders such as Jack W. Hayford Sr.-style mentors, and contemporaries including John Wimber, Kenneth Hagin, Benny Hinn, and denominational figures from Assemblies of God and Foursquare Church. Under his leadership the church became known for worship practices resonant with Praise and Worship movement, contemporary Christian music, and partnerships with ministries connected to Charles Stanley, Bill Johnson, and Rick Warren.

Writings and compositions

Hayford authored numerous books and liturgical resources that circulated within networks connected to Thomas Nelson (publisher), Zondervan, and other Christian publishing houses. He wrote devotional and theological works referenced alongside authors such as A. W. Tozer, John Stott, Dallas Willard, J. I. Packer, and R. C. Sproul. As a songwriter he composed the widely sung hymn "Majesty", later recorded by artists and ministries including Andrae Crouch, Don Moen, Hillsong Worship, Chris Tomlin, and Casting Crowns; the song appeared in collections tied to GIA Publications and Integrity Music.

Leadership and organizational roles

Hayford held leadership positions spanning denominational and parachurch organizations, connecting him to bodies such as Foursquare Church, Assemblies of God, National Association of Evangelicals, and councils like the National Religious Broadcasters and the World Council of Churches in ecumenical engagements. He founded and chaired educational institutions allied with seminaries similar to Fuller Theological Seminary and worked alongside leaders from Saddleback Church, Calvary Chapel, Bethel Church, and seminaries linked to Biola University and Talbot School of Theology. His organizational roles brought him into contact with global missions networks including YWAM, Southern Baptist Convention mission boards, and international partners in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Theology and influence

Hayford's theology combined Pentecostal emphases on the Holy Spirit, spiritual gifts, and experiential worship with evangelical commitments to Scripture and pastoral ministry, positioning him alongside theologians such as Leonard Ravenhill and practitioners like John Piper in the evangelical milieu. He engaged debates over charismatic renewal, ecumenism, and worship liturgy that also involved figures like J. Rodman Williams, Gordon Fee, Wayne Grudem, Tim Keller, and N. T. Wright. His influence extended into hymnody, pastoral training, and the global spread of charismatic practices through conferences similar to those hosted by Baptist World Alliance and networks tied to Evangelical Alliance.

Personal life and legacy

Hayford was married to Floren Hayford and had six children; his family life connected him to broader networks of pastoral families found in communities such as Los Angeles, Orange County, California, and national ministerial circles that included families of Jack W. Hayford-era leaders and contemporaries in American Christianity. His legacy endures in congregational worship repertoires, pastoral training programs, and institutions that continue partnerships with ministries like Promise Keepers, Focus on the Family, The Navigators, and music ministries associated with Integrity Music and Hillsong Music. He is remembered alongside other influential 20th-century American church leaders such as Billy Graham, Charles Stanley, Aimee Semple McPherson, and John Wesley for shaping modern evangelical and charismatic practice.

Category:American Pentecostal pastors