Jack F. Hyles | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Senior Pastor of the First Baptist Church of Hammond | |
| In office 1959–2001 | |
| Preceded by | Owen L. Miller |
| Succeeded by | Jack A. Schaap |
| Chancellor of Hyles-Anderson College | |
| In office 1972–2001 | |
| 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 | |
| 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 a leading figure in the Independent Baptist movement, having pastored the First Baptist Church of Hammond in Hammond, Indiana, from August 1959 until his death. He was 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.[1] 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 States.[2][3][4] In 2001, at the time of Hyles's death, 20,000 people were attending church services and Sunday school each week.[1]
- ^ a b Janega, James Rev. "Jack Hyles; Led bus ministry", Chicago Tribune, February 9, 2001.
- ^ Lehmann, Daniel J. "Fundamentalists Shun a Society They Try to Save", Chicago Sun-Times, June 6, 1993, p. 5.
- ^ Lehmann, Daniel J. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out," Chicago Sun-Times, June 2, 1993. p. 5.
- ^ Chalfant, H. Paul, Religion in Contemporary Society (3rd Edition), Itasca, Illinois: F.E. Peacock Publishers (1994); pp. 363–364.