Jack Hyles
Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926-February 6, 2001) pastored the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana from 1959 to his death.
In 1972, Christian Life Magazine proclaimed the church to have "The World's Largest Sunday School". During his pastorate the church grew from a few hundred people to an average weekly attendance of approximately 20,000 through the church's large bus ministry.[1] That same year, Hyles co-founded Hyles-Anderson College (an unaccredited institution) with Russell Anderson to specialize in training Baptist ministers and school teachers.[2] He later received an honorary doctorate from the unaccredited Midwestern Bible College of Pontiac, Michigan.
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". He wrote over 50 books in his lifetime, including Is There A Hell?, which is one of his most famous messages preached at a National Sword of the Lord Conference. While Enemies of Soul Winning tackled many issues considered controversial in fundamental and evangelical circles, which include the doctrine of repentance, Lordship salvation, and the role of the church in soul winning. Calvary Contender wrote, "Dr. Jack Hyles will be remembered as a one-of-a-kind, ever controversial leader whose ministry touched the lives of multitudes."[citation needed]
After Hyles' death his son-in-law Jack Schaap became the pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond.
Controversy and criticism
Seeing eye dog controversy
On July 6, 1984, The Associated Press reported, Donald Baker "a man blind since birth says he's been told he cannot attend his church with a guide dog he acquired in February."[3] Baker "was told by the church's pastor that he could not attend services with his dog Casey because it "would disturb others."[4] Rev. Jack Hyles, was unavailable for comment, but the Rev. Keith McKinney "confirmed Baker no longer attends First Baptist but said he could make no official comment."[5]
Biblical teachings
Robert Sumner of The Biblical Evangelist argued "(1) Hyles adopted what could be considered a Mormon philosophy of celestial marriage to justify his relationship with Jennie Nischik, Vic Nischik's wife. (2) In 1971, when Jennie first demanded that husband Vic leave, Hyles came to Vic and reportedly asked if, once divorce had been granted, he had permission to marry her.(3) In 1985, when Vic demanded that Hyles give him his wife back, Hyles reportedly told Vic that he could have Beverly (Mrs. Hyles), with the same relationship Hyles enjoyed with Jennie."[6][7]
Church funds
On May 28, 1989 The Chicago Tribune reported "former associate Victor Nischik has accused Hyles of having an affair with his former wife Jennie" and questionable financial dealings.[8] Pastor Hyles replied by saying the charges were "false" and "he has given 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars to needy friends over many years but has kept no records of the transactions."[9]
Leadership/cult issues
Reverend Tom Neal, amongst others have been said to follow Jack Hyles in a "cultic" way. [10][11] Neal purported that Hyles took increasingly extreme positions, such as declaring the King James Version the only valid translation of Scripture and suggesting that people converted while reading a different translation were not truly Christians and teaching that one could earn "credits" with God to compensate for sins.
Hyles' college has always been unaccredited and has remained dependent on its graduates to fill positions as teachers and not schools from other institutions. As of the 2005-2006 academic year, every full-time faculty member (38 educators/adminstrators) has received at least one degree from Hyles-Anderson College [12], raising concerns about a lack of intellectual diversity and the level of commitment to Hyles' personal ideology.
Sex scandals
with Jenny Nischick in background
On May 25, 1989 The Chicago Tribune, explained former deacon of the First Baptist Church, Victor Nischik accused Jack Hyles of committing adultery with Nischik's wife and Hyles' long time assistant, Jennie Nischik. Allegations were first made public in the "Godfrey Letter," which was an informative letter sent by Evangelist George Godfrey to several hundred graduates, pastors, and former students of Hyles-Anderson college.[13] The letter did not specify sexual sin but raised questions about improprieties between Jack Hyles and his married assistant, Jenny Nischik. The Godfrey letter also specified other doctrinal and behavioral problems observed in Jack Hyles by this former faculty member.[14]
However, the publication that forced the scandals of Jack Hyles into the public view of Baptist Fundamentalism was a lengthy May 1989 expose printed by Robert Sumner in his newspaper (The Biblical Evangelist) under the title "The Saddest Story I've Ever Told."[15]
Eventually, Victor Nischik wrote a book about the scandal titled The Wizard of God. This work detailed the relationship between Jack Hyles and Jenny Nischik and charged Jack Hyles with alienating the affections of Jenny Nischik from her husband. Within a year, Fundamental Seduction by Attorney Voyle Glover, explored all the evidence surrounding the relationship between Jack Hyles and Jenny Nischik and Jack's son, Dave Hyles', actions surrounding the death of 18 of Dave's girlfriend's son Brent Stevens.
In 1993, a Michigan news team, following up on allegations in five different fundamentalist churches of children molested by church workers, traced each alleged perpetrator back to Hyles-Anderson college.[16] This news team produced a 30-minute documentary called "Preying from the Pulpit" for the Detroit Michigan Eyewitness News program (Preying from the Pulpit pt. 1, pt.2, pt.3, pt.4, pt.5). In this documentary they reported on the "repressive" manner in which women were treated at Hyles-Anderson college, and they focused part of their report on the story of AV Ballenger, a deacon charged with molesting a seven year old girl in her Sunday School class room. [17]
AV Ballenger
AV Ballenger was a 58 year old Hammond Baptist Church deacon and church bus driver. In 1991 he was accused of molesting a 7 year old girl during a Sunday school class.[18] Furthermore, "a church worker reportedly witnessed the act and removed the girl from the room, police said."[19] During the criminal trial Jack Hyles "told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'"[20] The parents later filed suit for one million dollars against Hyles and his church."[21] Ballenger was found guilty for molestation and sentenced to five years.[22]
1997 allegations of abuse
On December 8, 1997 Christianity Today reported Jack Hyles and the First Baptist Church of Hammond were being sued by a "mentally disabled church member" for being repeatedly raped and assaulted for six years.[23] The lawyer for the women, Vernon Petri, "says Hyles is a defendant because he failed to protect the woman", such that "Controls have to be set to be sure things are conducted appropriately, Petri says."[24]
References
- ^ "Membership and Geography data for 4,300+ religions, churches, tribes,ect". Adherents.com. Retrieved Feb 23.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Megachurch Pastor Jack Hyles Dead at 74". Christianity Today. Retrieved April 2.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Blind Man Says Church Bans Him, After He Gets Guide Dog," The Associated Press, July 6, 1984.
- ^ "Charges All Lies, Hammond Pastor Says," Chicago Tribune, May 28, 1989.
- ^ "The Jack Hyles Story" (PDF). The Biblical Evangelist.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Charges All Lies, Hammond Pastor Says," Chicago Tribune, May 28, 1989.
- ^ "Hyles' Supporters are Blind Followers of Men". Way of Life. Retrieved January.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Hyles-Anderson College Catalog (pages 8-23)" (PDF). Hyles-Anderson College. Retrieved academic school years.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 1993.
- ^ "AV Ballenger," South Bend Tribune, August 30, 1996.
- ^ "Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," Chicago Tribune, Oct 16, 1991.
- ^ "Baptist Megachurch Faces Sex Suit". Christianity Today. Retrieved Dec. 8.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ http://home.hiwaay.net/~contendr/2001/3-1-2001.html | title = Calvary Contender March 1,2001 issue |
Hyles' Bibliography
- Blue Denim and Lace
- Enemies of Soul Winning
- Logic Must Prove the King James Bible
- Is There A Hell?
- Jack Hyles Speaks on Biblical Separation
- Teaching on Preaching
External links
Hyles Ministry
- The Jack Hyles Home Page - Books, sermons, links
- Hyles Publications
Criticism
- The Jack Hyles Story by Robert Sumner
- Criticism on Jack Hyles and his son by Jeri Massi (Includes audio programs and a copy of the Godfrey Letter)
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