He was widely known for his involvement in the Promise Keepers movement and for being a prolific author and songwriter, with over 600 hymns and choruses in his catalog.
[8] After graduating in 1952, Hayford moved back to Los Angeles to attend Life Pacific University (formerly L.I.F.E.
Subsequently, after serving as the National Youth Director of International Church of the Foursquare Gospel, he joined the faculty of L.I.F.E.
[4] During this time, he began working on his second bachelor's degree, at Azusa Pacific University (APU), where he graduated in 1970.
[4][7] While Hayford had initially agreed to pastor the church for only a period of six months, he later felt compelled to remain permanently.
[4][12] In 2013, Hayford felt called to move the King's University to Southlake, Texas, under the stewardship of Gateway Church.
Hayford married Valerie Lemire the following year and lived in the San Fernando Valley of Los Angeles.