First Baptist Church of Hammond

FBC main lobby 26 March 2006

The First Baptist Church of Hammond is a fundamentalist Independent Baptist church in Hammond, Indiana. It is the largest church in the state of Indiana and one of the largest churches in the United States.^{[citation needed]} Though founded in 1887, it was under Jack Hyles' leadership from 1959-2001 that it became a megachurch, one of the first megachurches in the United States. It has a steady weekly attendance of around 20,000.^{[citation needed]} It also operates Hyles-Anderson College and K-12 schools. Jack Schaap, Hyles' son-in-law, succeeded as pastor after Hyles' death in 2001. Image File history File links Fbc01. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x3072, 2829 KB)First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indianas main lobby. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2304x3072, 2829 KB)First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indianas main lobby. ... It has been suggested that Independent Fundamental Baptist be merged into this article or section. ... St. ... Location in the state of Indiana Coordinates: County Lake Mayor Thomas McDermott, Jr. ... Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926-February 6, 2001) was a leading figure in the independent Baptist movement. ... The interior of Rev. ... Hyles-Anderson College is an Bible college Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana,[1] with a postal address at 8400 Burr Street, Crown Point, Indiana. ...

First Baptist Church also hosts three national conferences. The first Pastors' School invites pastors, assistant pastors, Christian leaders, school administrators, and Christian laymen to a week of training and learning. Youth Conference is held in mid-July and is for the youth and teenagers of Christian churches nationally. The final conference of the year, held every October, is the Christian Womenhood Spectacular for Christian women of all ages.

In July of 2006, The Church Report magazine named First Baptist number 24 on its list of the 50 most influential churches in the United States. [3] For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The church has been involved in a few controversies during its first 50 years, including a conviction of sexual molestation by one of its deacons in 1993, and accusations of adultery and financial misconduct made by a former employee.^{[citation needed]}

History

First Baptist Church was founded in November of 1887 by Allen Hill of Jennings County, Indiana. Its first meeting was on 14 November 1887 with 12 members on the 28th. However, it originally met in the Morton House Hotel which stood on what is currently the 100 block of Willow Court. Allen Hill's pastorate was short lived at approximately 4 months. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (971x668, 350 KB) Morton House Hotel in Hammond, Indiana (demolished) 100 block of the current Willow Court This image is in the public domain in the United States. ... 1887 (MDCCCLXXXVII) is a common year starting on Saturday (click on link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. ... Jennings County is a county located in the state of Indiana. ...

By April 1888, B.P. Hewitt became the church's permanent pastor and Allen Hill went on to start several other churches. Needing more room, Hewitt moved the church's meeting place to the Hohman Opera House at the corner of State and Hohman. In 1889, the church erected its own structure for $2,358 when Marcus Towle, Hammond's first mayor and member of FBC, donated land on Sibley Street to the church. Year 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Subsequently, on 3 January 1901 Pastor E.T. Carter proposed a new building, and the first service was held on 14 April 1901. On the 27th of November of that same year, Pastor Carter announced his resignation for a job at the Central Baptist Orphanage in Michigan. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1606x1323, 388 KB) First Baptist Church of Hammond 1889 on Sibley Hammond, Indiana File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): First Baptist Church of Hammond Metadata This file...

Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2123x1484, 1479 KB) First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1901 (demolished) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): First Baptist Church of Hammond Metadata This file contains...

Ministries and Outreach

First Baptist Church has several outreach ministries, including Hyles Publications, Hyles-Anderson College, Fundamental Baptist Missions International, Hammond Baptist Schools, City Baptist Schools, Chicago Baptist Academy, Memory Lane Cemetery, Christian Womanhood Magazine, First Baptist Church Little League, Nursing Home Ministry, Sailor Ministry, Truck Driver's Ministry, Bus Ministry, Blind Ministry, Pathfinder Ministry (Educable Slow), Homeless Ministry, Rescue Mission, Public School Ministry, Inner City Chapel Ministry, and Deaf Ministry. The church also has several services in Spanish and some Asian languages. Hyles-Anderson College is an Bible college Crown Point, Lake County, Indiana,[1] with a postal address at 8400 Burr Street, Crown Point, Indiana. ...

Controversy and criticism

Teachings

The Richmond Times-Dispatch quoted ex-Hyles follower and later critic, Robert Sumner, who said "Jack Hyles, runs his church in an authoritarian, almost 'cultist,' manner." ^[1] Sumner, like most others with strong independent religious views, disagrees with a number of doctrinal issues with Hyles. Sumner, who has a personal website which he publishes and edits himself, called The Biblical Evangelist, was also quoted criticizing Hyles in another newspaper. This newspaper documented disputes that Sumner had with Hyles. Each of Sumner's charges were refuted by Hyles, who termed the accusations as "lies'.^[2] According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch Sumner's article had over 100 allegations.^[3] The Richmond Times-Dispatch (RTD or TD for short) is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond, Virginia the capital of Virginia, and is commonly considered the newspaper of record for events occurring in much of the state. ... Robert Sumner is a Reverend and Christian author. ... Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926-February 6, 2001) was a leading figure in the independent Baptist movement. ...

In 1993 a news report "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."[4] 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."[5] In fact "WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him."[6] Also the station "showed footage during its report of" Hyles "brandishing a rifle form the pulpit, along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times." [7] Houses in Jonestown Jonestown was the communal settlement made in northwestern Guyana by the Peoples Temple, a cult from California. ... This article is about the cult leader; for other people named Jim Jones, see Jim Jones (disambiguation). ...

In the current pastor Jack Schaap's book on Marriage, titled Divine Intimacy (published by Hyles Publications, 2005), Schaap teaches that When a person acts out by his life actions that lie about the truth of the Bible, God gets very upset. Nothing symbolizes more of what God has with the believer like the romantic, intimate, physical intimacies between a husband and wife. The wife receives her husbands body. Ephesians 5:23 says that the husband is Christ in the home. When a wife receives her husband's body, she is saying, "I just want to remind you, Christ, that I am receiving You."^[4] A pastor is a minister or priest of a Christian church. ...

When a person takes the bread during the Lord's Supper, he is not actually eating Christ's body. That person is saying, "This element represents something."

“The person who deeply loves Christ understands that when He receives Christ as Saviour, it is a spiritual intercourse. A person receives the body of Christ. A Christian is the female gender in the spiritual realm, and God is the male gender of the spiritual realm. When a person receives Christ as Saviour, he is receiving Christ as a lover.^[5]

Jack Schaap also says that the love a Christian has for the Bible should be similar to an intense romantic love. He cites that in Psalm 119:30 (I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgements have I LAID before me...) David uses the word "laid", which means sexual intercourse.^[6] He then points out that David "got more graphic" in the next verse, Psalm 119:31 (I have STUCK unto thy testimonies...) Pointing out that "stuck", means penetration. ^[7] The word "dabaq" is also translated "cleave" as in Ge 2:24 Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh. This Gutenberg Bible is displayed by the United States Library of Congress. ...

In pastor Jack Schaap's book called For Christ's Sake, he puts forth the belief that "God cannot and He will not personally come to anyone and try to reconcile with him^[8]". This is contrary to the commonly accepted meaning of John 3:16 (For God so loved the world that He sent His only begotten Son...) He also teaches a pelagian view of salvation, that God does not draw man to salvation, but that man has to make the first step^[9]. Later in the book he deviates from the Christian doctrine of the Trinity, and introduces Arianism by claiming that God the Father was unwilling to redeem and forgive man, and had to be "convinced" by Jesus to accept a salvation plan.^[10]. Jack Schaap then claims that unregenerate man can "bargain with God"^[11], in opposition to what is orthodox Christian doctrine. A pastor is a minister or priest of a Christian church. ... Pelagianism is a belief that original sin did not taint human nature (which, being created from God, was divine), and that mortal will is still capable of choosing good or evil with no Divine aid whatesoever. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... Doctrine, from Latin doctrina, (compare doctor), means a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. ... For other uses, see Trinity (disambiguation). ... This article is about theological views like those of Arius. ... Separate articles treat Eastern Orthodox Christianity and Orthodox Judaism. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Christianity. ... Doctrine, from Latin doctrina, (compare doctor), means a body of teachings or instructions, taught principles or positions, as the body of teachings in a branch of knowledge or belief system. ...

In pastor Jack Schaap's sermon titled: "If you can't be a King, be a KingMaker (sic)^[12]" he states his belief that Mary and Joseph had to teach Jesus "all the points of the law" and that Jesus as a child had no idea of His Divinity but had to be taught it through the Scriptures by Mary and Joseph, and that Joseph and Mary are responsible for making Jesus into a "king".^[13] A pastor is a minister or priest of a Christian church. ...

Jack Hyles

On May 25, 1989 The Chicago Tribune reported that Victor Nischik, a former deacon of the First Baptist Church, accused Hyles of committing adultery with Jennie Nischik, Nischik's wife and Hyles' long time assistant. On May 28 the Tribune repeated this and added Nischik's allegations of questionable financial dealings.^[1] Hyles replied by saying the charges were "false" and indicating that "he has given 'hundreds of thousands' of dollars to needy friends over many years but has kept no records of the transactions." Hyles was not ever charged with a crime. ^[2] Front page of the Tribune incorrectly reporting that Dewey won the 1948 presidential election The Chicago Tribune, formerly self-styled as the Worlds Greatest Newspaper, remains the leading newspaper of the Midwest of the United States. ...

In 1989 allegations were first made public in the "Godfrey Letter," sent by Evangelist George Godfrey to several hundred graduates, pastors, and former students of Hyles-Anderson college. The letter did raised questions about improprieties between Jack Hyles and his married assistant, Jenny Nischik. Husband of Jenny and Hyles' church member, 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 Hyles with alienating the affections of Jenny Nischik from her husband.^[14] Reportedly, Hyles "told Vic that he could have Beverly (Mrs. Hyles) with the same relationship Hyles enjoyed with Jenny."^[15]

Within a year of Nischik's work, the Northwest Indiana Times reported "The pamphlet, Fundamental Seduction: The Jack Hyles Case, written by Voyle A Glover, delves into Texas-based evangelist Robert Sumner's allegations of moral laxity, doctrinal heresy and financial impropriety by Hyles."^[16] The work also explored the evidence surrounding the relationship between Jack Hyles and Jenny Nischik and Jack's son, Dave Hyles', actions surrounding the death of Dave's girlfriend's 18-month-old son Brent Stevens.^[17] In May 24, 2001 Glover was interviewed about his claims against Hyles by "The Channel 2 News" over the 1993 scandals.

AV Ballenger

In 1993 a First Baptist deacon was found guilty of molesting a seven year old during a Sunday school class. Chicago Sun-Times reported, "in March, 1993, a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991."^[18] During a Sunday school class "a church worker reportedly witnessed the act and removed the girl from the room, police said."^[19] The Chicago Tribune in a 1991 article reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger.^[19] The paper reported the "lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school."^[19] Furthermore, the lawsuit "claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'"^[19] The church settled the lawsuit out of court and the terms were not disclosed.[8] At the trial three young women testified that Ballenger "had fondled them years ago."[9] One of those girls testified that she was molested on the Hammond church bus.[10] A former security officer at the church testified he saw Ballenger fondle a young girl in 1978 or 1979 in a Sunday school room after being called to the room by a female teacher.[11] In 1993 Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.[12]

The Northwest Indiana Times noted "regrettably, Hyles does not seem to think that Ballenger's conviction is something that should require the former deacon to be removed from any contact with church children.^[20] Hyles noted, "The family, the parents of the daughter should not have gone to court and they wouldn't have if a crooked lawyer hadn't got a hold of 'em. They shouldn't have gone to court. They should have come to me. That's what they did. They had only one witness. I told them in my office, I'm sorry, I cannot investigate a case unless there's two witnesses."[13] After Ballenger was convicted of molestation and appealed, police witnessed him handing candy out to children at Hammond Bapitst.[14] The Deputy Prosecutor Clarence Murray said "that the church has maintained 'a conspiracy of silence' by closing ranks behind Ballenger.[15] The Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. ...

Detriot News and fall out

In May 1993, WJBK of Detroit, Michigan area news team, did a story called Preying from the Pulpit where it followed up on allegations of child molestation.^[21] The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations last fall against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard, both Hyles graduates, of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor."^[22] The San Diego Union-Tribune noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to Hyles, it said - involved in sex scandals."^[23] WJBK (FOX2) is the Fox-owned and operated television station in Detroit, Michigan. ... Motto: Speramus Meliora; Resurget Cineribus (We Hope For Better Things; It Shall Rise From the Ashes - this motto was adopted after the disastrous 1805 fire that devastated the city) Nickname: The Motor City and Motown Location in Wayne County, Michigan Founded Incorporated July 24, 1701 1815  County Wayne County Mayor... Official language(s) None (English, de-facto) Capital Lansing Largest city Detroit Area  Ranked 11th  - Total 97,990 sq mi (253,793 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 491 miles (790 km)  - % water 41. ... Preying from the Pulpit was a mini-news series produced in 1993 by Detroit Michigan Eyewitness News. ... Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

In the Chicago Sun-Times remarked that Hyles "disputed the latest reports point by point in a speech to Midwest ministers and businessmen, brought together by COMPASSION - Churches Organized & Mobilized for Preservation and Safety for Sunday Schools in Our Nation." Hyles also claimed out that one person said to have attended Hyles-Anderson College had not really attended the school. Also Hyles spoke at a church in Denver, Colorado Hyles to defend himself ^[24]

The prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County, Michigan also took interest in the First Baptist ties to the North Sharon Baptist Church attended the Ballenger trial. [16] Soon after on May 14, 1993 "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church."^[25] However, while the FBI concluded "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations," Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the investigation as "open-ended." Furthermore, the article noted "The Rev. Timothy Leonard, North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children."^[25] Washtenaw County is a county in the U.S. state of Michigan. ...

On May 14, 1993, soon after Preying on the Pulpit was aired, "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church."^[25] The FBI concluded, "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations." ^[25] On Friday, May 19, 1993 Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the Hyles investigation as "open-ended."^[25] Jack Hyles said that he welcomed an investigation of the police 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 Wednesday, May 24, 1993, the Chief of Police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner was quoted in the Tribune saying that, "There is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles".^[26] On June 1, 1993 The Lake County (Indiana) prosecutor's office stated that it did not have any cases involving Hyles or the First Baptist Church of Hammond.^[27] On the same day, the Hammond Police Department reaffirmed the statement it made the previous month when it confirmed that there was no investigation of Hyles or the church. ^[27] May 14 is the 134th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (135th in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... May 19 is the 139th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (140th in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... June 1 is the 152nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (153rd in leap years), with 213 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ...

Allegation of negligence

On December 8, 1997 Christianity Today reported that Hyles and his church, the First Baptist Church of Hammond, were being sued for "for negligence in connection with alleged sexual assaults on a mentally disabled church member over a six-year period"^[28] The lawyer for the woman, 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."^[28] However, Christianity Today pointed out that no criminal charges were ever filed in the case. Also, Hyles denied the allegations that either he or his church were negligent in the care of the woman in an October 12 advertisement in the Hammond Times.^[28] Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. ...

According to the lawyer, "a church program instructor led her to a room and served as a lookout while two to three males raped her."^[29]The women developed a "serious" infection and doctors "found, embedded in her, a plastic object."^[29] "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."^[29] Lake Superior, bounded by Ontario and Minnesota to the north and Wisconsin and Michigan to the south, is the largest of North Americas Great Lakes. ...

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."^[30] Baker "was told by the church's pastor that he could not attend services with his dog Casey because it "would disturb others."^[30] 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."^[30] Associated Press logo This article concerns the news service. ...

List of Pastors

Jack Frasure Hyles (September 25, 1926-February 6, 2001) was a leading figure in the independent Baptist movement. ...

References

The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... The Richmond Times-Dispatch is the primary daily newspaper in Richmond, Virginia. ... The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois and owned by the Tribune Company. ... The Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. ... May 24 is the 144th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (145th in leap years). ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago. ... June 2 is the 153rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (154th in leap years), with 212 days remaining. ... 1993 (MCMXCIII) was a common year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar and marked the Beginning of the International Decade to Combat Racism and Racial Discrimination (1993-2003). ... Christianity Today is an Evangelical Christian periodical based in Carol Stream, Illinois. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... The Times of Northwest Indiana is a daily newspaper headquartered in Munster, Indiana. ... Associated Press logo This article concerns the news service. ...

External links

• First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana– Official

Criticism

• The Jack Hyles Story by Robert Sumner -- Criticism of Jack Hyles
• Biblical Discernment Ministeries -- Criticism of Jack Hyles