| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| Feb 7, 2001 | Vol II #10 |
On Tuesday morning, February 6, 2001, at 9:43 am, Dr. Jack Hyles went to be with the Lord. The hundreds of thousands touched by this man's ministry will now mourn his passing from our presence while we also celebrate his arrival in the presence of our Lord.
The question that underlies the mourning of this great man is, "What happens now that Dr Hyles is gone?" The question is one that has been on the lips of many for years as Dr Hyles' health has slowly slipped away. The answer depends on how well Dr Hyles was able to get his message across to those closest to him.
The man in the ministry often misses the message being delivered. We tend to watch the delivery, note the homiletics, and admire the skill, but miss the message. Dr Hyles was a great preacher and it was not hard to get lost in the mechanics of his style. He also had a powerful message. The disciples Dr Hyles left behind will not be affected beyond mourning this loss if that message made its way to there hearts as Dr Hyles intended.
Contrary to the actions of many, Dr Hyles' message was not a methodology for building a huge church. Many have gone off to mimic his programs thinking it would produce the same results that were achieved in Hammond, only to be disappointed. Dr Hyles knew, and taught, that you build a great church by building great people. First Baptist Hammond is great people, not great programs and promotions.
Dr Hyles message was a three-fold message…The pre-eminence of our Saviour Jesus Christ, the authority of the King James Bible and the duty of the New Testament Church to carry out the great commission. If his followers properly assimilated his message, his ministry will live on until the Lord takes us all on to the glory Dr Hyles now inhabits.
The viewing of Dr. Jack Hyles' body will be held in the First Baptist Church auditorium on Friday, February 9, beginning at 10:00 am and lasting until 6:30 pm.
At 7:00 pm on Friday, there will be a memorial service to be attended by all out-of-town guests and friends, all non-First Baptist Church members, and all college students.
The viewing of the body will resume after the memorial service and will continue throughout the night until 9:30 am on Saturday morning,
February 10. There will then be a funeral service at 10:00 am for the First Baptist Church membership (this includes all First Baptist kids who are college students). There will be an official graveside service to be attended by the family only.
Flowers may be sent to:
First Baptist Church
523 Sibley Street,
Hammond, Indiana 46320.
I have many times asked people to give me their thoughts on certain subjects so that I can use them in my newsletters either directly or as fuel for thought for my own articles. When I do this, I usually send out many requests and get very few replies. Yesterday I sent out a few requests for brief articles on how Dr Hyles had affected their lives and ministries. Every one of them replied. A great tribute to the influence Dr Hyles had on so many people.
These are the replies I received.
When I was 15 years old I told my grandparents that I felt our Southern Baptist Church was changing for the worse since our older pastor of 27 years had left. My grandmother told me if I wanted to go to church in the stone ages to visit Hyles Baptist. I did. I went to First Baptist on a Wednesday evening and Dr. Jack Hyles preached for about an hour on "Why I am An Independent, F-U-N-D-A (and however else you spell it) Baptist)." I was hooked. The next Sunday I joined First Baptist.
Three years later, when I was 18 my fiancé called off our wedding. I went to Bro. Hyles' office and cried in his lap for quite some time until he finally told me to pull myself together and he said "Son, what you need is a date." He picked up the phone, called the college, and made arrangements for me to be able to take any girl on campus to any activity on campus at no charge for the rest of the semester. He would call me each week for a progress report of how many dates I had gone on and when he didn't feel I was dating enough he would set up dates for me. Once during this time, when I pulled up behind his car in the Rally Burger drive-through I got to the window only to discover he had already paid for my food. Another time he had his original hand written outline of his morning sermon delivered to me because I was sitting on the front row that morning and he noticed I was particularly moved by the message. The sermon's title was "You Can Call Me Daddy Today."
I surrendered to preach on a Friday afternoon as Bro. Hyles preached a message from Romans 12:1-2. Shortly thereafter I led my first soul to Christ as a result of taking his soul-winning course. Dr. Hyles taught me the truths of Baptist History, the local church, the King James Bible, separation, standards, justice, compassion, and he imparted into me a "fighting spirit."
He introduced me to the men who in later years would become my heroes: Lester Roloff, Lee Roberson, Harold Sightler, Bob Gray, and other great men of God, men with convictions, who's example I have been privileged to follow during the 13 years I have been in the ministry.
Several people around the country know that from November - January I was very hard on Bro. Hyles because he was not willing to stand with his neighbor, Dr. Greg Dixon, at the Indianapolis Baptist Temple. I called on him both privately and publicly to drive the 2 hours to come and support the Baptist Temple. I stated my disagreement with his objection to Dr. Dixon from the pulpit. Part of the reason I was there at IBT fighting is because Dr. Hyles taught me to be a fighter. The cause at IBT, Christ's sole and absolute headship over His church, which is a local church, is a conviction I had learned from Bro. Hyles. The conviction that a church ministry should not be licensed by the state, the other chief reason for the IBT battle, was likewise a conviction I had learned from Bro. Hyles. I could not understand, and still do not understand why Dr. Hyles was not there. But I do know that I would not have been there, I would not have stood, and I would not have fought, had it not been for the fact that I had grown up under the preaching and ministry of Dr. Jack Hyles. Dr. Hyles instilled in me the convictions that drew me to Indianapolis and he taught me to fight for those convictions.
Dr. Hyles' book The Church is still the greatest book of the 20th century and I thank God for it and for him.
I have given The Church to several non-denominational and "convention," "association," and "fellowship" Baptist pastors who, as a result of reading that book, have become Independent Baptists.
I thank God that I was able to spend my formative years under the ministry of a man who dared to preach the truth, and, who dared to demand that I make a decision. Who loved me, and who equipped me for the battles of life and for the battles of the ministry.
Our loss is heaven's gain.
Edward R. DeVries, Th.D.
President
School of Biblical & Theological Studies
Lake Charles, Louisiana
www.bibleschool.edu
By Pastor Chris Grimbilas
On Tuesday, February 6, 2001, Dr. Jack Hyles went home to be with the Lord. Some will say it's the end of a dynasty. Some will say good riddance. Some will say "I claim the throne of the 'Fundamental Man'." Some will divide. Some will come together. What can not be denied is that Jack Hyles had a greater impact on fundamentalism than any other individual in the last twenty years.
I can't even begin to assess the multitudes touched by his ministry. He has left behind the largest independent fundamental Baptist church in the country, if not the world, with an average Sunday attendance in excess of 20,000. He has left behind the largest independent fundamental Baptist college in the country. The current enrollment at Hyles-Anderson College is in the neighborhood of 3,500 students.
Many disliked Dr. Hyles. Many believed the gossip that was published in the mid 1980's, which later was proven to have no basis in fact. Of course, like the secular media, Baptists relegated the accusations to the front page, but the truth to the back page. Many didn't care for his methodology, his belief in confrontational soul-winning, or his stand on the King James Bible. Because of those dislikes, they lost an opportunity to know one of the most influential men of our generation.
Many may not understand the way Jack Hyles was able to touch individuals. My first experience with Dr. Hyles came while I was a student at Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri in the summer of 1992. My brother-in-law was a student at Hyles-Anderson College. He had spent months trying to convince us to come to Hammond to visit him and we finally decided to go. I had a very negative reaction to First Baptist Church. Church time was like a New York subway station during rush hour. When Dr. Hyles came out, everyone stood up and applauded. I was appalled. This appeared to me to out and out worship of the man. After church, my brother-in-law dragged me out back behind the church just to shake hands with Jack Hyles. I thought my brother-in-law was a nut. It wasn't a good experience. Besides, I was BBF born and bred and when I die I'd be BBF dead. At the same time however, I listened to Dr. Ray Pratt tell me that 1 John 5:7 wasn't a valid proof text for the Trinity because "it wasn't in some of the better manuscripts." I wondered why the Bible teachers at BBC didn't really believe what the Bible said.
After two years on staff with then Baptist Bible Fellowship president, Dr. Parker Dailey, I went to Pennsylvania and to plant a church. The pastors of the Pennsylvania BBF got behind me and supported me. The church began to grow and God blessed the work. My brother-in-law was, at this point, on staff at a church in New York. He had to go right past our home to get to Pastor's School and he invited me to come. I went because I knew it was the only way to get him off my back, and besides, the subject intrigued me: the King James Bible. My attitude upon arriving was again negative and critical. I went in challenging God for a blessing. Four days later, I left elated and as fired up as I had ever been for the Lord.
Some time later two things happened. Dr. Hyles personally sent me a one time gift for some much needed support. Also, I began to make some of the dumb mistakes that many men make in their fist pastorate. I called my pastor acquaintances in the BBF. I was told I was the problem and my regular monthly support was dropped. My brother-in-law put me in touch with some other men from the Hyles school of thought. They made some practical suggestions for change that helped me. It was also during this time that Dr. Hyles personally counseled with me regarding my mother, who, as a result, subsequently made a profession of faith in Christ.
From Pennsylvania, I went to Florida to start another church. I went to the Florida BBF meeting when I arrived. I was snubbed and treated like an outcast. No one, even preachers I had known for years, welcomed me or showed an interest in a new preacher in the state. I left discouraged. This time, I called First Baptist Church in Hammond, and they put me in touch with Mark Rhodes of the First Baptist Church of South Brevard in Melbourne. What a blessing Brother Rhodes was then, and still is.
These years also included Dr. Leland Kennedy's refusal to dismiss Ron Minton from the BBC staff based on Mr. Minton's inflammatory statements regarding the King James translation of the Bible. This went hand in hand with the earlier failure to believe what the Bible says. In another move, the Trustees of BBC decided to lower the dress code standards since "everyone was doing it anyway.' That's always a good reason to change, isn't it? J
After taking the pastorate of Shiretown Baptist Church in Houlton, Maine, I was admonished by my BBF mentor not to forget my roots in the BBF. In reflecting on that statement I realized that I hadn't forgotten my roots in the BBF, they had forgotten me. Those who fellowshipped with Jack Hyles, however, had not forgotten me. They came out and helped me knock every door in town. They counseled with me about spiritual growth, numerical growth and personal growth. I have grown as a pastor and our church has tripled in size in 18 months. The BBF had nothing to do with it.
Today, I do participate in the Maine BBF. These guys believe we should go out and get people saved. So did Jack Hyles. These guys believe the King James is the Word of God preserved in English. So did Jack Hyles. I still go to Pastor's School every year. I haven't missed one since the first one.
Did Jack Hyles impact my life? Certainly. Did I follow lock step with what he said or take any marching orders from Hammond. Certainly not. I do, however, believe I can learn from the life and ministry of Jack Hyles. He has been a blessing in my life and I am thankful that the Lord gave me the privilege of knowing him and learning from him.
[ Pastor Grimbilas is pastor of Shiretown Baptist Church in Houlton, Maine and chancellor of Crystal Sea Baptist Bible College. ]
I remember hearing Dr. Hyles preaching at the Open Door Baptist Church in Kansas City, Kansas, when Dr. Dick Meiers was pastor there. Hyles was there on a Wednesday night and preaching on Hebrews 11:10, "For he looked for a city which hath foundations, whose builder and maker is God."
I was later to sit in on soul winning classes, where we listened to his taped messages on soul winning, and was privileged to be used to lead others to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.
Here is a man, like many others who have gone on before him, that was mightily used of God to win others to the Lord, lead many men to give their lives for the cause of Christ and instill a burning desire to remain true to the Word of God.
Jerry W Jones Sr PhD
Biblical Transcribing Service
29525 442nd Ave.
Irene, SD 57037
God called me to preach in 1973. I heard Dr. Hyles preach his first sermon via cassette in 1975. I was so impressed with the power that he had yet the simplicity of his messages. He has inspired me my whole ministry. He was the pastor that was an example to me. Even though I knew I couldn't be a Dr. Hyles, I wanted his kind of power and his kind of love. He has affected my preaching. When I first started preaching as a young man, I was harsh and did not have the patience and compassion a preacher should have. Dr. Hyles taught me how to preach with love and yet be firm at times. He also taught me to have patience with people. I have loved this man with all of my heart. I have told my congregation that he is my favorite preacher. Dr. Hyles has given me advice from time to time that I considered valuable.
I am going to miss him. I know God has a reason for wanting him in Heaven
[ Dr Paul Dabdoub is pastor of Ridge Memorial Baptist Church, Slidell, Louisiana and president of Slidell Baptist Seminary. ]
My husband and I were searching for God, we knew that it would only be through Him that our lives would be different. We were living in Germany in 1997, when we found a small missionary church just outside of the army post that was for American soldiers. We arrived in time for the Sunday morning service, and I walked out of there a child of God. My husband had been born-again as a child, but we were so happy that we would be following the Lord in baptism together.
We have seen many blessings in our lives since then. Our children accepted Jesus as their Saviour and were baptized in this small missionary church and we found the truth of God's Word and how to apply it to our lives. Our youngest son has recently given his life over to the Lord for full time service and is praying for direction.
Since arriving back in the States, we have always been able to remember what we were taught there, "compare everything to Scripture". This has helped us immeasurably in our daily lives.
What has all this to do with Dr. Jack Hyles? The Pastor of that small missionary church was a graduate of Hyles-Anderson College. I did not know Dr. Hyles personally, but because of Dr. Hyles' burden for souls that was passed along to this pastor in Germany, our lives have become complete in Him who saved us...and we will one day be in Glory to worship our Saviour!
I believe that this is what "spiritual fruit" truly means. Not just the making of the fruit, but the fruit itself bearing a tree and bringing forth more fruit. That is what Dr. Hyles' has done.
Dawn Bastounes
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