Honoring the Life and Legacy of Pastor Jack Hayford
Pastor Jack Hayford
(Tulsa, OK.) Jack Hayford, whose faith and leadership impacted millions worldwide, transitioned from this life on Sunday, January 8, 2023. Known to most as simply “Pastor Jack,” Hayford sought a life of worship and intimacy with Christ, evidenced in his more than 50 books and some 500 hymns and choruses, including the internationally renowned and widely recorded Majesty. Pastor Jack often spoke on maintaining fidelity to God’s Word, leading to his serving as the editor of the Spirit-Filled Life Bible. Following his 30-plus years as pastor of Church on the Way, his ministry continued to build bridges for leaders and future generations.
While influencing both mainline evangelicals and the Spirit-empowered community, Hayford
was adamant that the experiences read about in the Bible could and should be witnessed
in the modern world. He gently invited people to see the work of the Holy Spirit
in their lives through his thoughtful and articulate teachings that made the supernatural
suddenly accessible. Many pastors, leaders, and believers looked to Pastor Jack as
an example of how to trust God in their own lives.
“My heart is saddened to hear of the passing of Jack Hayford,” said Oral Roberts University
(ORU) President Dr. William M. Wilson. “Pastor Jack was one of the most respected
ministers of his generation. Among his many earned and honorary degrees, he received
an honorary Doctor of Divinity from ORU. Jack served Empowered 21 (E21) and the Pentecostal
World Fellowship (PWF) with his anointed signature statesmanship and dignity. Of the
hundreds of songs he wrote, Majesty ignited the spirits of worshipers across the world.
Jack was the gold standard for leading a Christian life and much more. He was the
quintessential pastor of both his family and his flock. Pastor Jack will be missed.
Indeed, he has heard Jesus say, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!’”
In 1984, ORU bestowed on Hayford an Honorary Doctor of Divinity. That same year, Hayford
also presented the baccalaureate address, challenging the students to live before
God with integrity and to “…look beyond achievements, success, and prosperity, and
strive for a purity of motive, simplicity of spirit, clarity of conscience, and a
transparency of soul before God.” In 2013, Hayford provided a special message for
the inauguration ceremony when Dr. Wilson was installed as President of ORU. Pastor
Jack’s prayerful support added a meaningful touch to the University as the only higher
education institution in the world founded on the Holy Spirit.
His love for leaders prompted Hayford to serve alongside Dr. Wilson as the inaugural Global Co-chair for E21, the world’s largest relational Spirit-empowered network. Hayford’s tenure lasted from 2010 until 2014, when he became an honorary member of the Global Council. In one of his last sessions with the E21 leaders, Hayford spoke from Exodus, and used Moses' experience with the burning bush when presenting the question, "Who am I that God can use me?" "There is a call of God upon every one of us," Hayford said. "Sometimes you may feel as if you are marking time, but as He did with Moses, God redeems time ... God's call on you is an unquenchable one."
Hayford’s leadership expanded to serve as president of the Foursquare denomination and was also recognized by the PWF. Hayford’s social decorum and intellectual approach helped the global recognition of mainstream Pentecostalism. Pastor Jack’s consecration to the “passion for fullness” contributed to the growth and acceptance of the Spirit-empowered community. For his contributions, the PWF made him an honorary member of the Advisory Committee.
As a musician, Hayford won the Gospel Music Association's Dove Award for his part in the album God with Us, as well as serving as worship leader on the Men in Worship album. In March 2014, Hayford was inducted into the National Religious Broadcasters Hall of Fame.
Dr. Wilson reflected, “Jack Hayford was a father to the Spirit-empowered movement.
Some people leave this earth without sharing much of their wisdom. Jack left this
earth with his wisdom distributed in lives across the world.”
ABOUT ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY
ORU is a Christian, Spirit-empowered, interdenominational university in Tulsa, Oklahoma, with over a decade of consecutive enrollment growth. Regionally accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, ORU offers over 150 majors, minors, concentrations, and pre-professional programs at the bachelor’s level, ranging from business and engineering to nursing, ministry, and more. Under the leadership of President Dr. William Wilson, ORU is preparing students from all 50 states and 142 nations (from 2019 to 2022) to be whole leaders for the whole world.
The Wall Street Journal ranked ORU as the #4 university in the nation for student engagement. This ranking is based upon faculty interactions, collaborative learning, critical thinking, real-world applications of student learning, the extent to which classes challenge students, and whether students would recommend a university to others. Niche recognizes ORU as one of the most diverse colleges in America.
ORU has been ranked by U.S. News & World Report as:
- #1 in Undergraduate Teaching
- #2 in Most International Students
- #3 in Best Value
- #6 in Best College for Veterans
- #7 in Best Regional Colleges in the West
For more information, visit www.oru.edu.