Jack Hyles facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jack F. Hyles
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| Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond | |
| In office 1959–2001 |
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| Preceded by | Owen L. Miller |
| Succeeded by | Jack A. Schaap |
| Chancellor of Hyles-Anderson College | |
| In office 1972–2001 |
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| Vice President | Wendall Evans |
| Preceded by | Office established |
| Succeeded by | Jack A. Schaap |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 25, 1926 Italy, Ellis County, Texas |
| Died | February 6, 2001 (aged 74) Hammond, Lake County, Indiana |
| Cause of death | Heart failure |
| Nationality | American |
| Spouse |
Beverly Hyles
(m. 1945) |
| Children | Four (Dave, Cindy, Linda, Becky) |
| Alma mater |
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| Occupation | Senior Pastor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Branch/service |  United States Army |
| Years of service | 1943-1946 |
| Rank | SGT |
| Unit | 82nd Airborne Division |
Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926 – February 6, 2001) was an important leader in the Independent Baptist movement. He served as the main pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, from August 1959 until he passed away. He was famous for starting a special bus ministry. This ministry brought thousands of people every week from nearby towns to his church for services. Under Hyles's leadership, First Baptist Church grew from less than a thousand members to 100,000 members. In the early 1990s, it was one of the largest Baptist churches in the United States.
Contents
About Jack Hyles's Life
Early Life and Ministry Beginnings
Jack Hyles was born and grew up in Italy, Texas. This was a small town in Ellis County. When he was 18, Hyles joined the United States Army. He served as a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne Division during World War II. He married his wife, Beverly, during the war.
After the war, Hyles finished his college education. He attended East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. After graduating, Hyles began preaching at small churches in Texas. These churches started to grow in size. He pastored Miller Road Baptist Church in Garland for about six years. During this time, the church grew from 44 to 4,000 members. Hyles then became an independent Baptist pastor.
Moving to Hammond, Indiana
In 1959, Hyles moved to Munster, Indiana. He became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond. When he arrived, the church had about 700 members. Hyles's preaching style was new to many. Some members left, but the church soon grew. Hyles made the church an independent Baptist church. This meant it was free from its old ties with the American Baptists.
He started his famous bus ministry. This helped the church grow from hundreds to over 20,000 people. In the early 1990s, First Baptist was known as the largest church in the nation. This was based on how many people attended each week.
The church's Sunday School also became very large. In 1971, it was named the nation's largest Sunday School. For several years, Christian Life Magazine called it "the world's largest Sunday School."
In 1972, Jack Hyles and Russell Anderson started Hyles–Anderson College. This college trained Baptist ministers and Christian school teachers.
His Ministry Work
One of the most important parts of Hyles's work was his church bus ministry. This idea helped many churches grow. In 1975, Time magazine wrote about it. They said First Baptist Church of Hammond had a record attendance of 30,560 people. This was thanks to the bus ministry.
At that time, the bus ministry used 230 buses. About 1,000 workers helped bring 10,000 people every Sunday. By 2001, over 200 buses were bringing 7,000 to 15,000 people each week.
Hyles also spoke at conferences and held his own "Pastor's School." This school still brings thousands of visitors to Hammond every year.
He wrote about 50 books during his life. Over 14 million copies of his books were printed. One popular book was Is There A Hell?. Another was Enemies of Soul Winning. This book talked about important ideas for Christians. People often called him "Brother Hyles."
Hyles taught that the King James Version of the Bible was very important. He believed the church started in AD 31. He also taught that the Catholic Church began later, in AD 313.
Jack Hyles's Passing
On January 30, 2001, Hyles had a heart attack. He had another one on February 5. He then had surgery at the University of Chicago Hospital.
Jack Hyles passed away on February 6, 2001. His funeral was held at First Baptist Church of Hammond. He was survived by his wife, Beverly, their four children, and many grandchildren.
Jack Hyles's Legacy
Honors and Praise
Jack Hyles received many honors during his life. He also received an honorary doctorate from Midwestern Baptist College.
The Washington Post newspaper said that Hyles's preaching was very powerful. Jerry Falwell, another famous pastor, praised Hyles. He said Hyles was a leader in sharing the Christian message. Falwell also said Hyles inspired him to help others.
The Chicago Sun Times wrote about Hyles after he passed away. They said he chose to help poor, inner-city kids. People thought his church would not succeed, but he proved them wrong. He built one of the largest churches in the country. He also started a college and several schools.
Matthew Barnett, who works with an inner-city ministry in Los Angeles, learned from Hyles. Barnett said Hyles was a great influence in the Chicago area.
Hyles is honored at his college, Hyles-Anderson College. There are statues of him and his wife in Founder's Park.
Jack Hyles's Family
Jack and Beverly Hyles had four children: Dave, Cindy, Linda, and Becky.
After Jack Hyles passed away in 2001, Beverly Hyles moved to Texas. She taught Sunday School at the Southern Baptist-affiliated First Baptist Church of Dallas. Beverly Hyles passed away at age 88 on August 30, 2017.
David Hyles was the youth pastor at First Baptist in Hammond. He later left the ministry.
Hyles's daughter, Cindy Hyles, married Jack Schaap. Jack Schaap became the senior pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond after Hyles passed away. Cindy later divorced Jack.
Works by Jack Hyles
- Seeing Him Who Is Invisible—Sword of the Lord Publications (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 Publications (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 Publications (1972) ISBN: 0-87398-504-4
- Hyles Church Manual—Sword of the Lord Publications (November 1982) ISBN: 0-87398-372-6
- Church Bus Handbook—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1970)
- How to Rear Children—Hyles-Anderson Publications (January 1, 1972) 193 pgs.
- How to Rear Infants—Hyles–Anderson Publications (January 1, 1979) 143 pgs.
- How to Rear Teenagers—Revival Fires! Publishers (January 1, 1998) 155 pgs.
- Blue Denim and Lace—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1972)
- Let's Go Soul Winning—Sword of the Lord Publications (January 1980) ISBN: 0-87398-503-6
- Hyles Sunday School Manual—Sword of the Lord Publications (November 1982) ISBN: 0-87398-391-2
- The Blood, the Book and the Body—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1992)
- Enemies of Soul Winning—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1993) 148 pgs.
- Please Pardon My Poetry—Hyles–Anderson Publications (January 1, 1976) 123 pgs.
- Logic Must Prove the King James Bible.—Hyles–Anderson Publications
- Is There A Hell?—Hyles–Anderson Publications
- Jack Hyles Speaks on Biblical Separation—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1984) 112 pgs.
- Salvation is more than Being Saved—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1985) 150 pgs.
- Teaching on Preaching—Hyles–Anderson Publications (1986) 153 pgs.
- Grace and Truth—Hyles–Anderson Publications (January 1, 1975) 222 pgs.
- The Miracle of the Bus Ministry—Ray Young Publications (1996)
- Fundamentalism in My Lifetime—Hyles Publications (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
- Introduction to the Dino J. Pedrone book What is It All About? Sword of the Lord Publications (2000) ISBN: 0-87398-932-5
- Introduction to the Beverly Hyles book Woman, the Assembler (Making Your Husband a Leader) Hyles Publications (1995)
Images for kids
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Jack Hyles
