Seven leaders from C4SO’s So-Cal Deanery gathered on Wednesday, May 14, with the Rev. Dr. Jack Hayford. The meeting was an opportunity for young church planters to glean wisdom from Pastor Jack on church planting, pastoring, and leadership.

“This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for us all,” noted the Rev. Michael Swanson, Dean of C4SO So-Cal and organizer of the event. “I was struck by Pastor Jack’s argument that the priority for evangelism is worship.”

Speaking on a number of issues, ranging from formation to family life, Dr. Hayford greatly inspired, encouraged, and equipped those in attendance. He shared that the single most evangelistic feature of his church’s services throughout the years was awareness of the presence of God. He encouraged those present to be intentional about facilitating an atmosphere in their ministries that deeply values openness to God’s presence. “Too often God is praised, but not encountered,” Dr. Hayford explained.

Jack Hayford Bio

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.”

 

*Image taken from GatewayChurchTV, found here.