Featured First Baptist of Hammond, IN

Their website lists John Wilkerson as the senior pastor. According to Wikipedia, he followed Jack Schaap, Jack Hyles's son-in-law.

 

I don't know him but, yes, they needed that!

 

I've met Bro. Wilkerson and heard him preach. I agree that he is a good man, and just what FBC Hammond needs. He's much less bombastic than the two previous pastors (both of whom I knew).

 

I know what you mean. We were supported by FBC as long as we were in Japan, but did not have a good experience when we went there on furlough in 1986. I preached in training union and and offering was taken up: "All of this will go to the missionary." Whoever was in charge of that offering, we never saw it. And in the service, Bro. Hyles glared down at me and said to everyone, "Now you'll hear some real preaching."

(Never told this before on the BB or in public.)

 

Along about when that controversy started, he sent a card to all of us missionaries requiring us to sign it: "Dear Dr. Hyles: I believe in the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Hyles-Anderson College, and the leadership of these institutions. Not only am I not disloyal to the First Baptist church of Hammond, to Hyles-Anderson College and to the leadership of these institutions, but I openly defend them when attacked. I do not believe the rumors that have been spread about these institutions and their leaders.”

I didn't sign. How could I? I had 49 other supporting churches, and FBC Hammond wasn't even our home church.

 

That's sad. That whole thing damaged Fundamentalism. And Jack continued to do so as he became really radical in some areas. After Granddad died, several well-known preachers told me that they thought JRR held Jack in from his radical tendencies.

 

I heard him speak at a local pastor's fellowship during the time of the steep downward slide. He said he was against pastors fellowships except for the one in Hammond. The host pastor sat there dumbfounded.

 

I was going to stay out of this thread, but am compelled lest anyone misunderstand silence for approval.

First, what Hyles did was ungodly, and the people of the assembly agreed to it. They hurt their own and have remained unrepentant and not restoring what was taken from those they allowed and agreed to damage. The people of that place need to repent. They need to shut the doors and disband FBC Hammond, sell all assets, and then perhaps reorganize under the authority of another church until such a time as God will again be present in their midst.

They have sinned, greatly and remain basically unrepentant, and excuse begging blaming others for their own pride and sinfulness.

Second, The name Hyles is on much published materials. Such should be recalled, destroyed, and the minister held in discredit. He was NOT a good man, and he should never be allowed to be emulated. He was a con from the time he was at Miller Road Baptist Church, and sought his own glory and his own will placing himself in the authority of Christ.

Third, those that did harm to others (both physical, emotional, and slander) should be held in contempt by the churches until such a time as they have brought "fruit" demonstrating the worth of their own repentance. Good, Godly men who stood against Hyles were protected only by the Grace and Mercy of God from the savageness of those that sought to destroy them. And, the problem is that these same continue as if in some honored memory of Hyles they must denigrate those Godly people who chose righteous accountability over human favor.

Fourth, The schools and programs founded by that assembly and Hyles need to also be shut down, property sold, assets distributed and the restoration made to Godly professors and staff that had to withstand horrible onslaught because they dared to confront the unbiblical man and policies.

Fifth, God's judgement will remain upon that assembly, and although His word will still not return void, the expectations of approval and His leading will be in vain. God left that place. He left it with warnings that were ignored, with men who proclaimed the truth and were dismissed, and with examples of families devastated by the ungodliness of their children. They proclaimed they were right with God, but their god was Hyles.

Hyles was an adulterer, embezzler, liar, swindler, cheat, and was that way from the days of his youth. As he grew older, he became more belligerent, and protective of his empire just as any unrighteous person. He gloried in people's adulation and the power of being in total control of others. A full narcissist is better than the man.

IF he was saved, there is little evidence of his being lead by the Holy Spirit.

There is one redemption point.

He wasn't his son! That man was and is far worse than his father.