Jack Hayford, founding pastor of the Church on the Way in Van Nuys, Calif., came to national prominence when he took over the leadership of the International Church of the Four-square Gospel denomination, an evangelical group that includes Hawai'i megachurches Hope Chapel and New Hope Christian Fellowship.

That was in 2004. The denomination had been beset by financial problems after former president Paul Risser lost about $15 million of church money after investing profits from the sale of the church's radio station into what authorities have alleged were fraudulent investment schemes.

During a lunchtime beachside interview on Wednesday at the Moana Surfrider, Hayford called the actions of Risser "unwise," but says, "(he) wasn't crooked."

At this time, Hayford says, the denomination is looking to the future, with optimism.

Here for a meeting with more than 300 church leaders at a conference at Hope Chapel, Hayford took time to answer these five questions:

Q. What's the purpose of this Hawai'i trip?

A. We're here for the concluding of a series of conferences with all the credentialed ministers of the Foursquare Church across the United States. With them are many of the local leaders, though uncredentialed, who are pivotal people. We have nearly 2,000 churches across the United States. We have in excess of 10,000 leaders participating.

Q. What advice do you have for church leaders you're talking to?

A. Our focus is the people-sensitive nature of Jesus' ministry. His focus was on people. Church hierarchy and structures are mere formalities that we don't want to get in the way of our minister-mindedness.

We want to heighten and affirm that our priority is the ... human need of people to know the love of God, find Christ, find joy in their family relationships, health in their bodies, fulfillment in their pursuits, then to be discipled so they can multiply the influence of the living church wherever they are.

Our definition of church is Jesus' definition of church: The church is people, not an institution. The institution is a necessary vehicle to service human need. ... The focus on discipleship, on shaping people who touch people, is a major part of the conference.

Q. You and Tom Burnett of First Assembly of God in Phoenix are leading the counseling team for the Rev. Ted Haggard after his drugs and gay sex scandal. What can you tell us about how that's going and the nature of dealing with human frailty?

A. ... We'd been asked since the inception of this not to discuss this with the press (until there is a conclusion). I can say, two months into this, that we're feeling very hopeful for the Haggards' future, grateful for a realistic confrontation (of) the duration of time it will take for a full healing of the emotions and the psychological need of Pastor Haggard. He's shown an honesty, with acknowledgement of his need. It's always easier to deal with people who are realistic about their need.

We're encouraged by Mrs. Haggard's hopefulness, a real noble sense of partnership to walk through the challenges. We're feeling encouraged with the good prospects for the future. As we've said from the beginning that there's never been an intention of the return of Pastor Haggard to that congregation ... (we're working toward) a workable future for him.

Q. Even within the Christian community, you sometimes get flak for embracing human frailty. How do you respond to that?

A. Jesus was confronted by the religious community because he showed a willing embrace of broken people who had been shattered by physical, emotional circumstances or by personal failures, all the way through to sexual failure. He was not cavalier about his forgiveness, but he was thoroughgoing in it. He wasn't saying, "OK, don't do that again." It was bringing a person to wholeness so they don't compromise their own persons in the future.

So it is in the spirit of Jesus to restore people and to show a generosity to the broken.

Q. How hard was it to take leadership of the denomination after the difficulties that arose in the management of the preceding leadership?

A. There were several different responses that needed to be faced: We were in a marvelous and creative time of transition in many aspects of our structures across the nation. The early stage (we were in) introduced an element of confusion by reason of the upheaval. ... But our goals (were to see) our churches increase in their functionality, our pastors feeling they're truly being cared for. We've made great headway in that.

The morale of our staff ... it's been gratifying to see a deep sense of embracing our future.

I would not call it a difficult transition. It was demanding, but not difficult. The former president was not disagreeable; we didn't have to deal with internal strife by reason of his departure.

The team was ready to accept my leadership because I had longtime involvement with the movement and was favored with a lot of trust going in. So it's been an extremely fulfilling two years.