................................................
Jack
Hayford
“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – (Romans 6:23)
Understandable
excitement filled the house this Christmas Eve.
All
the children and the grandchildren were there, gathered from points far and
near.
A
festive yet holy atmosphere filled the room, as lights were dimmed and only
multi-colored Christmas tree lights now twinkled. Presents would soon be
unwrapped, but first, at the gentle beckoning of Grandpa’s hand, the room
quieted to the very youngest grandchild.
Smiling, Grandpa began, as all harmonized with
him in song: “… so loved He the world
that He gave us His Son.”
Then
all worshipfully bowed as Grandpa prayed:
“Precious
Father, before we open our gifts tonight, first we thank You for the greatest
gift, Jesus, Your Son, our Savior. In the light of this tree, we are reminded
of the tree, the cross, where Your gift of eternal life was presented to us.
So, from the foot of this tree, we bow at the foot of the one from which the
Light of the world sheds Your glory to all of us. Please be praised, O Lord, as
our giving in love here remembers Your Gift of Love there. Amen.”
Jack Hayford knows
the awesome power of God firsthand. When he was a baby, he was gripped by a
life-threatening illness. But as a result of the earnest prayers of friends and
family, he was miraculously healed. The doctors had no other explanation except
that the grace of God snatched him back from the brink of death. Several years
later, Jack was struck down again by sickness. This time it was polio. The
church elders anointed him and prayed for his recovery. God heard their
petitions and granted a second miracle. These two extraordinary events ignited
in Jack's heart a passion for God and convinced him that the Holy Spirit is
alive and active in the contemporary church. "Contrary to our
preconceptions, God is not economical with healings and miracles. Such wondrous
works are frequently attending the proclamation of truth in Jesus' name,"
asserts Pastor Jack.
Jack
Hayford serves as Chancellor of The Kings University (formerly The King's
College and Seminary) in Los Angeles and Dallas, which he founded in 1997. From
2004 to 2009, he also served as President of The International Church of the
Foursquare Gospel. He is probably best known, however, as "Pastor
Jack," founding pastor of The Church On The Way in Van Nuys, California,
where he served as senior pastor for more than three decades. A prolific and
best-selling writer, Pastor Hayford is the author (or co-author) of more than
fifty books and has composed 500 hymns and choruses, including the
internationally known and widely recorded "Majesty."
He is
an acknowledged "bridge-builder," helping to forge healthy bonds
among all segments of the Body of Christ. He is recognized for his balance in
preaching the Word, avoiding extremes while not diluting or compromising the
demands of truth. Pastor Jack's heart to bring unity across all denominational
and racial boundaries has given him an open door to minister in all kinds of
settings
Dr.
Hayford and his wife, Anna, have four children, eleven grandchildren, and a
growing number of great-grandchildren.
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