For Immediate Release, April 26, 2005 Contact: Jana Muntsinger, 804-754-2118
Manifest Presence: Expecting a Visitation of God’s Grace Through Worship
Respected Pastor Shares His Insights After 50 Years in Ministry
Worship. It is one of the biggest trends in the Christian church. The #1 selling gospel CD in 2003 was “Worship Together.” Even Chevrolet got in on the action by sponsoring a “Come Together and Worship” music tour. It seems that worship has become trendy. But is worship more than a style of music or a spiritual mindset? Does God have anything to say about how He wants to be worshipped? Manifest Presence: Expecting A Visitation of God’s Grace Through Worship (Chosen Books, June 2005, Hardcover), wades through these muddy waters with an experienced guide, Dr. Jack W. Hayford.
Pastor Hayford, founding pastor of the 10,000 member The Church on the Way in Van Nuys, CA, is no stranger to worship. He spends the bulk of his time counseling and training pastors, and leading intensive seminars on worship in the church. He has written more than 40 books, 600 hymns and choruses. Although he has been at the forefront of the worship movement, Pastor Hayford wrote Manifest Presence with the future in mind: “Worship is changing in the Church,” he writes in the introduction to Manifest Presence. “For at least two thirds of my fifty years in pastoral ministry, I've observed—and participated broadly—in an evolving awareness and renewal of worship.”
Manifest Presence is both practical and inspirational. It is filled with real examples from Pastor Hayford’s life and ministry. And it is strongly Biblical – Hayford writes about worship using wide and varied Scriptural exposition from Genesis to Psalms to Revelation. He examines the role of worshipping God via the lives of Biblical heroes such as David, Abraham, Isaiah, Jehoshaphat, Moses, Paul, John and of course Jesus. Hayford’s goals in writing this new book are simple: helping readers gain an understanding of true worship and encouraging readers to experience the power of worship in their own congregations.
Pastor Hayford positions himself not as the “expert:” on worship, but as a life-long learner, offering in the pages of Manifest Presence a bit of the wisdom and experience he has gained along the way. He believes Manifest Presence is needed now for two reasons: 1) the timeliness in this season of history and 2) the test he believes all Christians face. Hayford writes: “Our times are those that ‘try men’s souls;’ and our testing as believers is in what will determine whether our worship prevails at this season in history or not.”
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Manifest Presence by Jack Hayford, page two
Manifest Presence is divided into three parts – The Call to Worship (why we worship), The Power of Worship (the benefit of worship) and The Pursuit of Worship (how we worship). Hayford shares insight on both the larger issues in worship as well as the specific and practical, including:
· What is today’s worship about?
· What is God’s response to our worship?
· Should we raise hands in worship?
· How does a pastor promote orderliness in worship and at the same time promote the moving of the Holy Spirit?
· How does spiritual warfare affect worship individually and corporately?
· How can one use worship to bless their home and family?
· How should the arts be used in worship?
· Does God move as a response to our worship?
· What kind of worship does God want from the church and Christians?
Chosen Books will be promoting Manifest Presence heavily to consumers through a national advertising campaign. Jack Hayford Ministries will be using this book as a premium for both its international radio and television ministries, as well as promoting on www.jackhayford.com. Hayford will also be attending the International Christian Retail Show (ICRS) in July 2005 to promote Manifest Presence to retailers and media in attendance.
In addition to his “pastor emeritus” role at The Church on the Way, Jack Hayford is the chancellor of the International Church of the Four Square Gospel, as well as the president and founder of The King’s College and Seminar, The Hayford Bible Institute, and The Hayford School of Pastoral Nurture. He can be seen in all 50 states, Canada and 40 other countries, on “Spirit-Formed,” his half-hour television show broadcast on the Trinity Broadcasting Network. A long-time radio broadcaster, Pastor Hayford’s radio program, “Living Way,” can be heard in more than 26 states. In addition, he speaks to an average 20,000 leaders annually. He lives in southern California with his wife of more than 51 years, Anna, and has four children and eleven grandchildren.
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April 2005
Manifest Presence:
Expecting a Visitation of God’s Grace Through Worship
By Pastor Jack Hayford
Chosen Books
ISBN: 0-8007-9341-2
Release Date: June 2005 Price: $19.99
Format: Hardcover Trim Size: 6x9
Category: Worship and Liturgy