The Church Jack Hayford Built — And Nobody Could Replace Him
SpadeLonely
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Jack Hayford turned a dying 20-person congregation into The Church on the Way, one of the first true American megachurches, wrote the worship classic "Majesty," and became one of the only Pentecostal leaders ever trusted to bridge nearly every denomination in American Christianity — from the National Association of Evangelicals to the Billy Graham Crusade to the Azusa Street Centennial. But when he retired in 1999 and handed the pulpit to his son-in-law, Scott Bauer, tragedy struck: Bauer died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2003, just four years into his tenure, forcing a grieving Hayford back into the pulpit to steady his congregation. A year later, he was called back again — this time to lead the entire Foursquare denomination through a $15 million financial scandal. This is the full story of Jack Hayford's life and legacy: his childhood healing from polio, his 63-year marriage, his 600+ hymns and 50+ books, the devastating succession crisis that followed his retirement, and why, even after his death in 2023, so many still say nobody could ever truly replace him.
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Timestamps: 0:00 The night Scott Bauer collapsed 1:15 A childhood built on survival 4:00 From 20 members to a movement 7:30 The pastor the whole country called on 11:30 The voice, the pen, and the song that outgrew the church 15:00 Handing off the pulpit 17:30 When the founder had to come back — twice 20:30 The years after 22:30 Jack Hayford's final years and legacy
#JackHayford #ChurchOnTheWay #Foursquare #Pentecostal #Megachurch #ScottBauer #Majesty #ChurchHistory #ChristianLeadership #VanNuys #WorshipMusic #EvangelicalHistory #PastoralSuccession #ReligionNews #SpadeLonely
4 Comments
His brother Jim always welcomed me when I showed up late for his class from overnight Prayer Tower.
What you did not share is how Robert Morris abused and took advantage of Jack nearly all gone to Alzheimer's at 83 and took all the property rights of his teachings - books, cd, dvd, then got ARRESTED himself for his own scandal.
Disgraceful is as disgraceful does.
Tell me, do you think a man of Pastor Jack's caliber needed to re-marry at what near age 84 to the house-keeper care-taker? Can you tell me why this smell stinky and odd? Because it is!
It is a shame. I was a member of Church on the Way while in Bible College, and when we lived while we lived in LA. I got baptized there. I knew Scott, Jim Tolle was one of my classmates. Steve Cauble used to be Jack's music organist/pianist. Many good people came out of that church. Time can't rewind but what we knew of Jack in his teaching and character was only good and blessing.
The Church Jack Hayford Built — And Nobody Could Replace Him
SpadeLonely
5,143 views
Jack Hayford turned a dying 20-person congregation into The Church on the Way, one of the first true American megachurches, wrote the worship classic "Majesty," and became one of the only Pentecostal leaders ever trusted to bridge nearly every denomination in American Christianity — from the National Association of Evangelicals to the Billy Graham Crusade to the Azusa Street Centennial. But when he retired in 1999 and handed the pulpit to his son-in-law, Scott Bauer, tragedy struck: Bauer died suddenly of a brain aneurysm in 2003, just four years into his tenure, forcing a grieving Hayford back into the pulpit to steady his congregation. A year later, he was called back again — this time to lead the entire Foursquare denomination through a $15 million financial scandal. This is the full story of Jack Hayford's life and legacy: his childhood healing from polio, his 63-year marriage, his 600+ hymns and 50+ books, the devastating succession crisis that followed his retirement, and why, even after his death in 2023, so many still say nobody could ever truly replace him.
🔔 Subscribe for more real stories behind the leaders who shaped modern American Christianity.
Timestamps: 0:00 The night Scott Bauer collapsed 1:15 A childhood built on survival 4:00 From 20 members to a movement 7:30 The pastor the whole country called on 11:30 The voice, the pen, and the song that outgrew the church 15:00 Handing off the pulpit 17:30 When the founder had to come back — twice 20:30 The years after 22:30 Jack Hayford's final years and legacy
#JackHayford #ChurchOnTheWay #Foursquare #Pentecostal #Megachurch #ScottBauer #Majesty #ChurchHistory #ChristianLeadership #VanNuys #WorshipMusic #EvangelicalHistory #PastoralSuccession #ReligionNews #SpadeLonely