Jack W. Hayford

Jack Williams Hayford was born on June 25, 1934, in Los Angeles, California, to Anita Dolores (née Farnsworth) (1916–1997) and Jack Hayford (1911–1979), who had married two years earlier on September 28, 1932. Hayford was born with a muscular condition in his neck, which improved later. His father had served in the military as a young man and worked as a switchman for the Southern Pacific Railroad. Hayford's mother, Dolores, was a Bible teacher who spoke at interdenominational women's classes and Women's Aglow Fellowship (now Aglow International). After graduating in 1952, Hayford moved back to Los Angeles to attend Life Pacific University (formerly L.I.F.E. Bible College) and received his first bachelor's degree in 1956. Nearer to middle age, he would earn a second bachelor's degree, from Azusa Pacific University (APU, graduating 1970). == Career ==

Early academic and pastoral appointments Early in Hayford's Career, he served as the National Youth Director of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel. He then joined the faculty of his alma mater, L.I.F.E., and went on to become dean of students there. While Hayford had initially agreed to pastor the church for only a period of six months, he later felt compelled to remain permanently. Actor Dean Jones (deceased), a close friend of Hayford's, was an elder in the church, as was Pat Boone, along with Jan and Paul Crouch (founders of Trinity Broadcasting Network, which regularly broadcast services from the church). == Broadcasting and hymn writing ==

Hayford was a prolific songwriter, with more than 600 hymns and choruses in his catalog. He wrote and composed the popular 1978 hymn "Majesty", which is rated as one of the top 100 contemporary hymns, and which is performed and sung in churches worldwide. == Latter years ==

In the late 1990s, Hayford felt called to establish a Pentecostal seminary in Los Angeles to train other pastors and founded The King's College and Seminary, which would later become known as The King's University. In 1999, he resigned as the senior pastor of The Church On The Way to focus on the college, although he briefly returned to help the church through a difficult transition after his successor and son-in-law, Scott Bauer, died suddenly. On October 4, 2004, Hayford was elected to a four-year term as president of the Foursquare denomination, a position he chose not to pursue after that single term. In 2013, Hayford felt called to move the King's University to Southlake, Texas, under the stewardship of Gateway Church. In 2015, The Church On The Way, led by senior pastor Tim Clark, honored Hayford with the title of Pastor Emeritus in recognition of his continuing contributions to church management and oversight. ==Awards and recognition==

In March 2014, Hayford was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame. He has also won the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for his part in the album God With Us and the Salvation Army's William Booth Award, as well as serving as Worship Leader on the Men In Worship album. Over the course of his life, Hayford has also been awarded several honorary degrees, including doctorates from Life Pacific College (Hon. D.Th.), and Oral Roberts University (Hon. D.D.), and one for literature from California Graduate School of Theology (Hon. D.D.). ==Personal life==

On July 4, 1954, Hayford married his college sweetheart, Anna Marie Smith. Their marriage produced four children (Rebecca, Jack III, Mark, and Christa). In early 2016, Anna was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer, and died in 2017. Hayford married Valerie Lemire the following year, and they lived in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles. He discontinued making public appearances in 2019. Hayford died at his home in Los Angeles on January 8, 2023, at the age of 88. ==Published works==

The following are some of the published works of the title subject: • Prayer is Invading the Impossible. revised ed. (Logos International, 1977) • The Key to Everything (Creation House) • The Church On The Way (Marshalls Paperbacks, 1985) • Moments with Majesty (Multnomah Books, 1990) • Kingdom Warfare: Prayer, Spiritual Warfare, and the Ministry of Angels (Tommy Nelson, 1993) • The Power and Blessing (Victor Books, 1994) • Glory on Your House (Chosen Books, 1994) • The Beauty of Spiritual Language (Thomas Nelson, 1996) • The Heart of Praise (Regal Books, 1997) • Built by the Spirit/Rebuilding the Real You: Nehemiah (Regal Books, 1997) • Pastors of Promise(Regal Books, 1997) • ''Hayford's Bible Handbook'' (Thomas Nelson, 1999) • Grounds for Living, sound teaching for sure footing in Growth & Grace (Sovereign, 2001) • Rebuilding the Real You (Charisma House, 2013) ==References==