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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 emphasizes the importance of making our homes centers of worship, providing practical guidelines to enhance the spiritual atmosphere within our households. He encourages kneeling as a symbol of submission to Christ's dominion, singing praises to fill our homes with worship, incorporating prayer and spiritual discussions into family meals, and having communion available with reverence. Hayford also stresses the significance of personal and family devotion times, sharing answered prayers and insights from the Word to enrich each family member's spiritual journey.
Making Your Home a Worship Center
As biblical, stimulating, and renewing as worship with the assembly is, God wants your home to be a center of worship as well. How does that happen? Allow me to offer a few practical guidelines to enhance the spiritual atmosphere where you live. Kneel. Yes, Kneel! Kneeling is an acknowledged point of submission. It is a way to bring anything under Christ's dominion. Kneel as you begin the day: "Lord, this home is Yours for this day." That doesn't substitute for devotional praying, but it's a good way to start the day at you house under Jesus' Lordship (Philippians 2:9-11). When frustrations rise, anger stirs, bitterness simmers, fear creeps in, and the unexpected crashes in on you, make kneeling your retaliation. Sing. Not much need to elaborate here. Just do it. Fill your house with song. Tapes and CDs are good, but don't always have others doing the praising for you. Sing ... and keep it up. Invite Him to dinner. I abhor "religiousness" in homes. Few children have survived formulated religiosity— packaged, pompous piety. So when I say "worship at the table," I am not proposing holding a dinner service while the mashed potatoes chill and a film forms on the gravy. But do make your table prayer special; do have a part of your table talk related to the Lord's working in each family member's life; do keep spiritual reality "natural" to the family circle; do sing together (and laugh and cry and worship in the Spirit). Yes. Do. Have communion. The elements of the Lord's Supper ought, I believe, to be available in every home. I do not recommend such common use of this New Testament privilege that it becomes glib or meaningless, and all should be aware that Scripture gives firm warnings to those who partake in "an unworthy manner." Sensitivity, sobriety of mood, scripturality of participation—all these factors ought to be observed. Pray ... while feeding on the Word. Personal practice of devotions is obviously essential. Family times of sharing in the Word and prayer are great, too—if they are alive! I personally prefer using my parental influence to lead my children in cultivating their own private devotional life on a daily basis, while family prayer and reading the Word are occasional rather than daily. As each one in the family grows, sharing your answers to prayer and your discoveries in the Word become enriching to all. The home as worship center ... think on that idea. Better still, act on it. What a heritage to pass along to our children ... memories of home intertwined with memories of praise and laughter and song and the strong, undergirding arms of the living God.
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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.