My Appreciation for Pastor Jack Hayford

I have been reflecting recently on those people in my life whom have had tremendous influence on my heart and my mind.  While there are many (!) and they all certainly would be a joy to write something about in an honoring manner, I would like to take a few moments to mention Pastor Jack Hayford.

Pastor Jack does not know me personally, but he has had an enormous influence upon my life through his ministry.  Many years ago while I was in Bible school, I worked in a Christian radio station where his daily program was one of several that we aired.  Being the on-air announcer I had the privilege of overseeing the technical side of playing his program and listening to it in its entirety.  This was like having an additional Bible school class time - it was great!

Pastor Jack is known as a man of balance.  What impresses me (and thus influences me) is that his balance is not borne of compromise (political correctness, etc), but rather of adhering to the full body of the scriptures with the obvious assistance of the Holy Spirit.  The balance that he has pursued throughout his ministry does not seem to have been with an eye on somehow seeking the "balancing center" within the conservative vs. liberal theological conflicts.  His eye seems to have rather been on avoiding the extremes that can be borne of incomplete studies of the Word and insensitivity to the Holy Spirit.

I trust that the expressing of my appreciation for him does not give the false impression that I think of him more highly than is healthy or spiritually safe.  I doubt that I do.  The scriputre encourages us to allow God-given teachers to hold a special place in our hearts and in our lives.

While the best type of teacher and student relationship includes personal interaction in the teaching and mentoring process, that certainly does not disqualify God's use of a teacher that He has gifted to influence the lives of people beyond their sphere of personal relationship.

Pastor Jack's website may be accessed at www.livingway.org.  From there, links are provided to numerous other "outlets" for his ministry, including print, radio, television, conferences, etc.