Jack Hyles

Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926 - February 6, 2001) was a leading figure in the independent Baptist movement. He pastored the First Baptist Church of Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, from 1959 until his death. He was also well-known for being an innovator of the church bus ministry that brought thousands of people each week from surrounding towns to Hammond for services.Janega, James Rev. "Jack Hyles; Led bus ministry" Chicago Tribune, February 9, 2001] Jack Hyles built First Baptist up from fewer than a thousand members to a membership of 100,000. In 1993 and again in 1994, it was reported that 20,000 people attended First Baptist every Sunday, making it the most attended Baptist church in the United StatesLehmann, Daniel J. "Fundamentalists Shun a Society They Try to Save" "Chicago Sun-Times", June 6, 1993. pg. 5] Lehmann, Daniel J. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," "Chicago Sun-Times", June 2, 1993. pg. 5] Chalfant, H. Paul, "Religion in Contemporary Society" (3rd Edition), Itasca, Illinois: F.E. Peacock Publishers (1994); pgs. 363-364] In 2001, at the time of Hyles death, 20,000 people were attending church services and Sunday school each week.

Over the course of his nearly fifty years as a church leader, Hyles was criticized for sexual scandals in his church. His controversial doctrinal positions often put him at odds with other Christians — even with other fundamentalist Baptists.Falsani, Cathleen "Brother Jack Hyles of Hammond dies at 74" Chicago Sun Times, February 8, 2001.]

History

His early life and beginnings of his ministry

Hyles was born and raised in Italy, Texas, a low income area in Ellis County south of Dallas. Hyles often described his less-than-ideal upbringing which, he said, included a distant father. At the age of eighteen, Hyles was drafted into the United States Army and served as a paratrooper with the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He and his wife, Beverly, were married during the war.

After the war was over, Hyles completed his college education at East Texas Baptist University (then College) in Marshall, the seat of Harrison County. He also attended Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas. After his graduation from East Texas, Hyles started preaching at several small Texas churches, whose memberships began to grow. These churches included: Marris Chapel Baptist Church, Bogata, Texas; Grange Hall Baptist Church, Marshall, Texas; and Southside Baptist Church, Henderson, Texas. After receiving his education Hyles pastored at the Miller Road Baptist Church in Garland in Dallas County for about six years. During this time the congregation grew from 44 to 4,000 members. Hyles said he was "kicked out" of the Southern Baptist denomination because he was too conservative for them. Hyles then ran Miller Road Baptist Church as an independent preacher for a while.Falsani, Cathleen "Brother Jack Hyles of Hammond dies at 74" Chicago Sun Times, February 8, 2001.]

The move to Hammond, Indiana

In 1959, Hyles moved to Hammond, Indiana and became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond. When he arrived, the church had a membership of about seven hundred, said to be mostly "high-society types." About a third of the members left the church after hearing Hyles preaching style, which was much different than that to which they had been accustomed. Hyles then led the church to its status as an independent Baptist church -- freeing it from its ties with the American Baptists. Hyles started his bus ministry and soon shepherded the church from a congregation of several hundred to more than 20,000. In the early 1990s a national survey ranked First Baptist as the largest church in the nation, by average weekly attendance figures.

Beginning in 1969, and continuing for several years, First Baptist received recognition for the size of its Sunday School. In 1969, Dr. Elmer Towns wrote a book called "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Makes Them Grow" which analyzed First Baptist's Sunday School.cite web | url = http://www.fbchammond.com/the_voice/01%20decembervoice2003.pdf | title = First Baptist Church... Helping People for 116 Years, and Counting! | work = The Voice of First Baptist Church | accessmonthday = May 1 | accessyear = 2006] [cite web | last=Towns | first=Elmer | url = http://www.elmertowns.com/books/online/10_largest_ss/10_Largest_SS%5BETowns%5D.PDF | title = The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Makes Them Grow | publisher = Baker Book House | accessmonthday = May 1 | accessyear = 2006] Towns presented a plaque to Jack Hyles in 1971, naming First Baptist Church of Hammond the nation’s largest Sunday school. In 1972, and for several years following, "Christian Life Magazine" proclaimed First Baptist Church of Hammond to have "the world's largest Sunday School".

In 1972, Jack Hyles and Russell Anderson founded Hyles-Anderson College, an unaccredited bible college, to specialize in training Baptist ministers and Christian school teachers. [cite web | url = http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2001/005/11.25.html | title = Megachurch Pastor Jack Hyles Dead at 74 | work = Christianity Today | accessmonthday = April 2 | accessyear = 2001] Hyles-Anderson College never sought accreditation because Hyles insisted school accreditation would undermine his ability to control how the college ought to run, and for various other reasons. [ [http://www.jackhyles.com/accreditation.htm Accreditation] , Jack Hyles.]

The ministry of Hyles

One of the most notable aspects of Hyles is his church bus ministry that he helped innovate. As early as 1975, "Time" magazine described the phenomenon in an article titled, "Superchurch." The "Time" article notes that First Baptist Church of Hammond Sunday School, which regularly ran almost 14,000 people, pushed the church to a record attendance of 30,560 on March 16, 1975, thanks to a boisterous contest between two bus route teams." [http://www.time.com/time/archive/preview/0,10987,913788,00.html Superchurch] " Time December 1, 1975 (retrieved June 4, 2006)] In that year, the First Baptist bus route ministry consisted of 1,000 workers using 230 buses to ferry as many as 10,000 people every Sunday. In 2001, a fleet of over 200 buses was regularly ferrying 7,000 to 15,000 people from all over the area.

Hyles was also a leader in the Independent Baptist movement through his speaking at 'The Sword of the Lord' conferences with John R. Rice and his own annual "Pastors School". The school continues to attract as many as 7000 visitors to the Hammond area. [cite web | last = Zabroski | first = Steve | year = 2006 | url = http://nwitimes.com/articles/2006/03/24/news/lake_county/2970eb71e3fc94308625713b0014b869.txt | title = Faithful flock to Hammond | work = Northwest Indiana Times | accessmonthday = March 24 | accessyear = 2006]

Hyles wrote approximately fifty works in his lifetime with over 14 million total copies in circulation, including the popular "Is There A Hell?", based on a sermon he preached at a National Sword of the Lord Conference. Another work, "Enemies of Soul Winning" tackled many issues considered controversial in fundamentalist and evangelical circles, which include the doctrine of repentance, Lordship salvation, and the role of the church in soul winning. The "Calvary Contender" wrote, "Hyles will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind, ever controversial leader whose ministry touched the lives of multitudes." [cite web | year=2001 | url = http://home.hiwaay.net/~contendr/2001/3-1-2001.html | title = Jack Hyles Succumbs To Heart Attack | work = Calvary Contender | accessmonthday = May 1 | accessyear = 2006]

Jack Hyles was better known as "Brother Hyles" to his tens of thousands of congregants.

Hyles often held nationwide speaking engagements. In 1984, for instance, he addressed a large gathering in the small city of Snyder, Texas, the seat of Scurry County, hosted by pastor L.W. "Buck" Hatfield (1929-1995) of Faith Baptist Church. Independent Baptists from throughout the area, such as Ross J. Spencer from Bethany Baptist Church in Lubbock, organized bus trips to the convention hall in Snyder.

In his book, "Enemies of Soulwinning", Jack Hyles taught that one could not be born again if any other Bible except the King James Version was used. ["Enemies of Soulwinning" by Jack Hyles pg 46-47]

Honors, award, and praise

In contrast to the criticism, Hyles has been the recipient of praise, an honorary doctorate, and other accolades throughout the course of his life, even continuing past his death. The "Washington Post" compared the "meek" preaching style of Jerry Falwell to the "spit and fire" of Jack Hyles. The Post suggested that after you heard a preacher like Hyles, "you knew that you'd been preached to". [Harrington, Walt "What Hath Falwell Wrought?" Washington Post July 24, 1988, pg W19] Falwell said that "Hyles will be remembered as a leader in evangelism through the local church." Falwell also said, "He inspired me as a young pastor to win others to Christ through Sunday school, the pulpit, and personal witnessing. He made a great contribution to the calls of Christ".

Hyles received an honorary doctorate from Midwestern Baptist College, an unaccredited Bible college. [As discussed along with his misuse of the title on Preying from the Pulpit in May 1993 by WJBK of Detroit, Michigan]

In 2001, Hyles' church bought his childhood home and shipped it from Texas to Hyles-Anderson College to build a museum. Ray Young, a close friend of Hyles, said, "We have 5,000 to 7,000 independent Baptists who come here each year for conventions. Reverend Hyles was very much adored by independent Baptists across the country. It should be a major attraction for them." [Associated Press "Texas childhood home of prominent minister planned as Indiana museum" Schererville, Ind. November 6, 2001]

The "Chicago Sun Times" wrote about Hyles on the occasion of his death, "When he chose the interests of poor, inner-city kids over millionaire church members, they said he'd never keep the doors of his church open." However, Hyles "proved them all wrong. In the process he built one of the largest congregations in the country, a college, six schools, and a vibrant ministry that will now have to survive without him."

Matthew Barnett, while discussing his work at an inner-city Los Angeles ministry, explained how he learned from Jack Hyles. Barnett also expounded on how Hyles was a tremendous soulwinner and how Hyles had great influence throughout the entire Chicago area. [ [http://www.christianitytoday.com/le/2005/001/3.22.html High hopes: Matthew Barnett's secret is to inspire others to dream what God can do—and dream big] The Leadership Interview from "Leadership Journal" January 1, 2005]

Hyles was honored by his church with a huge portrait of Hyles and his widow, Beverly, dominating the skyline of the town. He is also honored in Founder's Park at his college, where they laid 30,000 bricks as flooring for life-sized statues of Hyles and his widow. [ [http://nwitimes.com/articles/2001/10/20/export348149.txt News briefs Illinois edition: Dedication to unveil college founder] October 20, 2001 Northwest Indiana Times]

Controversy and criticism

Allegations by Nischik, Sumner, and Glover

In May 1989, Victor Nischik, a former deacon of the First Baptist Church, accused Hyles of being a "cult leader" who committed adultery with Nischik's former wife and Hyles's long time assistant, Jennie Nischik (Née Jennie Corle). [Victor Nischik. "The Wizard of God: My life with Jack Hyles." Buchanan, Mi.: Sychar Pub. Co., 1990."] Nischik, a church accountant, also accused Hyles of questionable financial dealings."Charges All Lies, Hammond Pastor Says," "Chicago Tribune", May 28, 1989.] Hyles said, "Everything that I am charged with is a lie," and claimed Nischik was an "immoral man" that Nischik's wife supposedly found Victor "alone in his pajamas with another woman." Hyles also responded to the charges of financial impropriety by pointing out that his salary was only $18,308 per year. He said, "I'm not a wealthy man...I could have been, but I have chosen not to be." Hyles pointed out that the Nischiks and other workers and needy friends regularly received many gifts from himself, including new cars Hyles said that he received "love offerings and honorariums" from his nationwide speaking engagements and he said that gifts given to him he shared with others, especially those that worked with him. Hyles said that "money doesn't mean anything to me" and that he has given away "hundreds of thousands of dollars to needy friends" but he doesn't keep records of all the gifts he has given out over the years.

Robert Sumner, a Baptist evangelist and an author, accused Hyles of running his church in an authoritarian, almost 'cultist' manner in an article called "The Saddest Story We Ever Published" in Sumner's "The Biblical Evangelist" newsletter. Sumner detailed Nischik's charges and contended that Rev. Hyles has strayed from biblical teaching and into cultlike mind control.Ed Briggs "Fundamentalists' House Displaying Widening Cracks" "Richmond Times". Richmond, Virginia.: July 22, 1989. pg. A-9] [Michael Hirsley, "Pastor denies adultery, 2 other charges." "Chicago Tribune". Chicago, Illinois.: May 25, 1989. pg. 1] Sumner's article had over 100 separate allegations of wrongdoing, including one that alleged that Hyles had "sex satellites" in Petersburg, Beaumont, Texas; and Anniston, Alabama. Hyles responded to Sumner's accusations by calling them "all lies".

In 1990, Voyle A. Glover, [http://brevia.com] a local attorney who attended First Baptist Church of Hammond for nearly twenty years before leaving in 1987, published a 420-page book called "Fundamental Seduction: The Jack Hyles Case." The book dealt with the cultic and idolatrous attitudes displayed by members, and detailed facts about moral and financial improprieties. Glover's book raised numerous questions about the ministry of Hyles. He also revealed the details of the mysterious death of little Brent Stevens while in the care of David Hyles and Brenda Stevens. The child had earlier been found to have multiple bone breaks. The investigator for the state of Illinois, Paul Celino, felt that David Hyles was a prime suspect in the death. David Hyles took the Fifth Amendment at the Coroner's Inquest. [Voyle Glover. "Fundamental Seduction: The Jack Hyles Case." Schererville, Indiana: Brevia Publishing, 1990. ] [Gruszecki, Debra [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1991/10/22/export135951.txt Church's alleged acts questioned. Local lawyer charges] "Northwest Indian Times" October 22, 1991 ]

exual molestation at First Baptist

In March 1993, a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from a 1991 incident in which a church worker reportedly witnessed Ballenger molesting a 7-year-old girl during a Hammond Sunday school class.Lehmann, Daniel J. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," "Chicago Sun-Times", June 2, 1993. pg. 5] In 1991, Hyles and First Baptist were sued for $1 million by the girl's parents who believed that Hyles and the church should have done more to protect their daughter."Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," "Chicago Tribune", October 16, 1991.] The parents said that the molestation was brought to Hyles' attention when it happened, but Hyles did nothing about it, so they finally reported it to the police.Amanda Beeler. [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1996/03/31/export273632.txt One step closer to the end] . "Northwest Indiana Times" March 31, 1996] The parents claimed in the lawsuit that Hyles told them that Ballenger "just liked little girls," and "you don't have a case." ["Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case" "Chicago Tribune". October 16, 1991. Pg. 3] The lawsuit against Ballenger and the church was settled out of court in 1994. Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison in 1993, but he remained free on appeal until August 19, 1996, when he was finally ordered to report for prison.Mark Kiesling [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1996/08/28/export293052.txt Convicted of molestation, ex-deacon to go to prison] "Northwest Indiana Times" August 28, 1996] The "Northwest Indiana Times" criticized Hyles because he allowed Ballenger to continue working at the church and have contact with children during Ballenger's appeal. [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1993/05/19/export63023.txt Baptism by innuendo] "Northwest Indiana Times" May 19, 1993] Hyles and his followers insisted that he always believed that Ballenger was wrongly convicted, but the leading prosecutor in the case said the church maintained "a conspiracy of silence" by closing ranks behind Ballenger.Ed Evans and Mark Kieslong. [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1993/03/27/export53318.txt Church deacon guilty] . "Northwest Indiana Times" March 27, 1993 ]

In May 1993, WJBK, a Detroit, Michigan area news team, did a six-part story called "Preying from the Pulpit" where it followed up on allegations of child molestation at area churches."7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." "The Grand Rapids Press." Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. pg. B.2] The news report said that seven U.S. churches with ongoing molestation controversies all had preachers that attended Hyles-Anderson College. ["Preacher has links to molest suspects" "The San Diego Union-Tribune." San Diego, California: May 17, 1993. p. A.7] The WJBK report linked the abuse cases to Jack Hyles and it also accused him of running a cult. The news station "recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would."Debra Gruszecki. [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1993/05/28/export140427.txt Hyles: I'm no dictator. First Baptist leader defends] "Northwest Indiana Times" May 28, 1993] Furthermore, "The WJBK report said the sermon has the "ring of Jonestown to it - the mass suicide in Guyana in 1978 by followers of cult leader Jim Jones." The mini-series also "showed footage during its report of" Hyles "brandishing a rifle from the pulpit, along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times."

In response, on May 19, 1993, the "Northwest Indiana Times" ran a story entitled "Baptism by innuendo", which criticized the stories that ran on WJBK-TV and later on WLS-TV in Chicago. The Times also suggested that the May ratings period, which is traditionally known for such similar sensationalized stories, was not a good enough excuse to make up for the poor journalism the stories displayed, concluding that the stories were "a monstrous overreach". Hyles spoke to 1300 supporters in which he disputed the latest reports point by point and he branded the recent news reports as "ridiculous assumptions and malicious lies". During that speech, Hyles claimed some people in the report had not even attended the school to destroy the bus ministries operated by his church and others like it. Several hundred followers signed a statement supporting Hyles' in an advertisement placed in the Tuesday June 1, 1993 "Chicago Sun-Times".

After the WJBK news report, the FBI was asked to look into accusations that minors were taken without parental permission from Michigan churches to events at the First Baptist Church of Hammond where they were then allegedly abused.Debra Gruszecki [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1993/05/19/export89550.txt FBI won't continue with church sex abuse probe. Not enough] "Northwest Indiana Times" May 19, 1993] The FBI concluded there was insufficient evidence of any federal crimes and turned the matter over to local authorities. On Wednesday, May 19, 1993 Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as "open-ended." Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation and he attended a meeting with city officials to discuss it. Hyles emerged from the meeting saying that there was no investigation. Confirmation of this came on Monday, May 24, 1993, when the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner and the prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases or investigations involving Hyles or his church.

Hyles and church sued for negligence

In October 3, 1997, Hyles and his church were sued by an attorney of a mentally disabled woman and her sister for negligence in connection with sexual assaults alleged to have happened over a six-year period.Debra Gruszecki [http://nwitimes.com/articles/1997/10/04/export247369.txt Suit claims rape at church] "Northwest Indiana Times" October 4, 1997] cite web | year = 2006 | url = http://www.ctlibrary.com/ct/1997/december8/7te63a.html | title = Baptist Megachurch Faces Sex Suit | work = Christianity Today | accessdate = 2006-05-01] The lawyer said Hyles was sued because he failed to protect the woman, in 1996, from being raped by two or three males while another church member stood watch. Earlier, in 1991, a teacher at First Baptist had reported to the police that the same woman was abused by someone at the church. The "civil suit filed in Lake Superior Court in Gary claims the Chicago woman was "induced by agents" of the church in 1991 to ride a bus to attend Sunday."

Despite the rape and abuse claims by the woman's lawyer, it doesn't appear that any criminal charges were filed in the 1991 case or the 1996 case. Hyles denied the allegations that the woman was abused after 1991 in newspaper advertisements and pointed out that his church has costly missions devoted to helping the disabled. Hyles alleged that church records showed that the girl had not even attended the church since the 1991 abuse incident.

Works by Hyles

Books

*"Seeing Him Who Is Invisible" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (1960) ISBN 0-87398-754-3
*"How to Boost Your Church Attendance" -- Zondervan (January 1, 1961)
*"Let's Build an Evangelistic Church" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (1962) ISBN 0-87398-502-8
*"Kisses of Calvary and Other Sermons" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (1965) ISBN 0-87398-479-X
*"Let's Hear Jack Hyles (Burning Messages for the Saved and Unsaved)" -- Sword of the Lord (1972) ISBN 0-87398-504-4
*"Hyles Church Manual" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (November 1982) ISBN 0-87398-372-6
*"Church Bus Handbook" -- Hyles-Anderson (1970)
*"How to Rear Children" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (January 1, 1972) 193 pgs.
*"How to Rear Infants" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (January 1, 1979) 143 pgs.
*"How to Rear Teenagers" -- Revival Fires! Publishers (January 1, 1998) 155 pgs.
*"Blue Denim and Lace" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1972)
*"Let's Go Soul Winning" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (January 1980) ISBN 0-87398-503-6
*"Hyles Sunday School Manual" -- Sword of the Lord Pub (November 1982) ISBN 0-87398-391-2
*"The Blood, the Book and the Body" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1992)
*"Enemies of Soul Winning" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1993) 148 pgs.
*"Please Pardon My Poetry" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (January 1, 1976) 123 pgs.
*"Logic Must Prove the King James Bible." -- Hyles-Anderson Pub
*"Is There A Hell?" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub
*"Jack Hyles Speaks on Biblical Separation" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1984) 112 pgs.
*"Salvation is more than Being Saved" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1985) 150 pgs.
*"Teaching on Preaching" -- Hyles-Anderson Pub (1986) 153 pgs.
*"Grace and Truth" -- Hyles-Anderson (January 1, 1975) 222 pgs.
*"The Miracle of the Bus Ministry" -- Ray Young Publications (1996)
*"Fundamentalism in My Lifetime" -- Hyles Pub (2002) ISBN 0-9709488-4-0
*"What Great Men Taught Me" -- Berean Publications (2000)
*Truman Dollar, Jerry Falwell, A.V. Henderson, & Jack Hyles "Building Blocks of the Faith (Foundational Bible Doctrines, Special Faith Partner Edition)" -- Fundamentalist Church Publications (1977) ISBN 0-89663-006-4

Other

*Introduction to the Dino J. Pedrone book "What is It All About?" Sword of the Lord (2000) ISBN 0-87398-932-5
*Introduction to the Beverly Hyles book "Woman, the Assembler (Making Your Husband a Leader)" Hyles Publications (1995)

References

External links

Hyles Ministry

* [http://jackhyles.com/ The Jack Hyles Home Page] -- books, sermons, & links
* [http://www.hylespublications.com/ Hyles Publications] -- a publisher of books and bibles including many by Jack Hyles
* [http://www.jackhyles.net JackHyles.net] - An unofficial Jack Hyles site with archival copies of books and sermons

Criticism

* [http://www.rapidnet.com/~jbeard/bdm/exposes/hyles/ Biblical Discernment Ministeries] criticism of Hyles
* [http://www.lavenderliberal.com/conservativebabylon/hyles-jack.php Conservative Babylon: Jack Hyles]
* [http://www.biblicalevangelist.org/pdf/thejackhylesstory.pdf The Jack Hyles Story] by Robert Sumner