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Jack Hayford
Jack Hayford (June 25, 1934 – January 8, 2023) was an American preacher, author, and Pentecostal leader whose calling from God transformed worship and ministry within the Church of the Foursquare Gospel and beyond for over six decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, to Jack Hayford Sr., a former military officer turned switchman, and Anita Dolores Farnsworth, a Bible teacher, he faced life-threatening illness as an infant and polio at age four, both miraculously healed through prayer, igniting his lifelong passion for God’s power. He graduated from L.I.F.E. Bible College in 1956 and earned a second bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1970, grounding his ministry in practical theology. Hayford’s calling from God was affirmed in 1969 when he became pastor of First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys—later The Church on the Way—growing it from 18 members to over 10,000 by the 1980s, serving until 1999 with a brief return after his successor’s death in 2003. Ordained in 1956, he preached a balanced gospel, emphasizing the Holy Spirit’s vitality, notably through his hymn “Majesty” (1978) and over 600 songs, alongside founding The King’s University in 1997 and serving as Foursquare president (2004–2009). His sermons and over 50 books, like Worship His Majesty, called believers to Spirit-filled living and unity across denominations. Married twice—first to Anna Marie Smith in 1954, with four children (Rebecca, Jack III, Mark, Christa), until her death in 2017, then to Valerie Lemire in 2018—he passed away at age 88 in Los Angeles, California.
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Jack Hayford shares a powerful testimony of his sister Luanne's passing, highlighting the family's surrender to God's will and the unwavering faith in the face of death. Despite the sorrow, there is a sense of rejoicing and confidence in Christ's victory. Through the experience, Jack witnesses numerous miracles of God's grace, leading to newfound wisdom, peace, and wonder. Even in preparing Luanne's grave marker, Jack's realization that she continues to worship God showcases the eternal nature of faith and devotion.
An Epitaph
Luanne, my sister, went home last Sunday. Jesus met her at 11:30 in the morning, while I was preaching the third service on “The God Who Works in the Dark.” Beside her bed, just a few blocks from my pulpit, my father and mother had bowed a few hours before. Father, she’s Yours. We release her into your hands, in Jesus’ name. We had all fought a good fight. No enemy, not even cancer, and no specter, not even death, could drive out the confident sense of rejoicing: “All is well! Through Christ our Conqueror, all is well!” A dozen stories long to be told, for as I moved through the ensuing hours I witnessed and experienced one miracle of God’s grace after another. Oh! The marvel of God’s way … unsearchable … past finding out …until you’re there by His leading. And then you discover wisdom, peace, grace, joy, power, and wonder you've never know before. I sat with Duane, my brother-in-law, in the mortuary on Monday morning … helping him with decisions … praying for guidance on simple and large matters … watching it all flow together… and then … “Jack, would you write the wording for the tablet that will mark Luanne’s grave?” My pencil scrawled out some thoughts. Words didn't seems enough. There was too few of them to empty my heart. I finalized a statement and prepared to read it to Duane and my father, seated across the room. First, her name, birthdate, and homegoing date, and then: “Duane’s faithful wife, Amy and David’s loving mother. She worshipped the Living God. She glorified His Son Jesus. And she gave herself to win China for Christ.” Then I stopped. “No. Wait.” My pencil scratched a hasty edit, converting the past tense into the present: “She worships the Living God, and she glorifies Jesus Christ….” Ah, praise God! To write an epitaph for a graduated saint, you need to watch your tenses. She’s still worshipping. Oh, how she’s worshipping Him! So am I.
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Jack Hayford (June 25, 1934 – January 8, 2023) was an American preacher, author, and Pentecostal leader whose calling from God transformed worship and ministry within the Church of the Foursquare Gospel and beyond for over six decades. Born in Los Angeles, California, to Jack Hayford Sr., a former military officer turned switchman, and Anita Dolores Farnsworth, a Bible teacher, he faced life-threatening illness as an infant and polio at age four, both miraculously healed through prayer, igniting his lifelong passion for God’s power. He graduated from L.I.F.E. Bible College in 1956 and earned a second bachelor’s degree from Azusa Pacific University in 1970, grounding his ministry in practical theology. Hayford’s calling from God was affirmed in 1969 when he became pastor of First Foursquare Church of Van Nuys—later The Church on the Way—growing it from 18 members to over 10,000 by the 1980s, serving until 1999 with a brief return after his successor’s death in 2003. Ordained in 1956, he preached a balanced gospel, emphasizing the Holy Spirit’s vitality, notably through his hymn “Majesty” (1978) and over 600 songs, alongside founding The King’s University in 1997 and serving as Foursquare president (2004–2009). His sermons and over 50 books, like Worship His Majesty, called believers to Spirit-filled living and unity across denominations. Married twice—first to Anna Marie Smith in 1954, with four children (Rebecca, Jack III, Mark, Christa), until her death in 2017, then to Valerie Lemire in 2018—he passed away at age 88 in Los Angeles, California.