Just the day before yesterday I had someone post the following comments on one of my posts:
I am purposely not putting up the garbage site that was provided! Instead, I thought I would research further, and have found nothing of worth to substantiate this scum's malevolent deed!
Pastor Jack Hyles Defended!
by David J. Stewart
I've created this web page as a personal tribute to one of my personal heroes, Pastor Jack Hyles (1926-2001). One day while browsing the internet, I decided to type in Brother Hyles' name and see what came up. To my dismay, some of the top articles listed on the search engine were slanderous articles (a bunch of distorted garbage I might add), attacking one of the greatest men ever to influence America for righteousness and God.
Americans owe a debt of gratitude which cannot be expressed in words to Pastor Jack Hyles. My website ministry wouldn't be here if it weren't for Dr. Hyles' Godly influence on my life, who taught me to uncompromisingly stand for truth.
Joseph Francis Farah, founder of the conservative Christian website, World Net Daily, has also been maliciously slandered on the internet, by none other than the vile Wikipedia website (please read, Wikipedia Lies, Slander Continue). Anyone can make allegations against anyone on the internet these days, and they do. Unfortunately, a person is deemed guilty until proven innocent in today's Godless and slanderous U.S. society. No wonder our nation is becoming a Police State. I agree with radio host Alex Jones, who stated on December 16, 2009: “America has become a rat-infested worm hole... wicked nations go into bondage.”
Billy Sunday was brutally persecuted by the same type of cutthroats who have wrongfully attacked Pastor Hyles...
“I've stood for more sneers and scoffs and insults and had my life threatened from one end of the land to the other by this God-forsaken gang of thugs and cutthroats because I have come out uncompromisingly against them.” —Billy Sunday
This web page is my defense and tribute (from an honest perspective) to one of the greatest preachers and pastors America has ever been blessed with—Dr. Jack Frasure Hyles!
To those who knew Brother Hyles even remotely, they knew that Dr. Hyles was a friend to his friends. Pastor Hyles taught that it was more important to be a friend, than to have a friend. I sat under Dr. Hyles' preaching for 8-years when I attended Hyles-Anderson College (1985-1993). Dr. Jack Hyles gave away countless millions of dollars throughout his ministry to help others. Volumes upon volumes could be written revealing the greatness and generosity of this Godly man. Those who criticize brother Hyles are barking up an empty tree.
Unjust Criticism
Much criticism has been launched against Dr. Hyles for bad things that OTHER people have done. Why are people attacking an innocent man because of things that he has absolutely no control over? In a word, hatred. Pastor Hyles' ministry had over 100,000 church members in 2001 when he passed into eternity, and he ministered to literally millions of people (directly and indirectly through his preaching tapes and books) throughout his 55-years of ministry.
Yet, Dr. Hyles' enemies take every sin committed by anyone who ever worked for him, or was a member of his numerous pastorates, and they blame him for it. Think about how unjust that is? To blame a pastor for the sins of a couple dozen people, out of millions of people he influenced over 55-years of pastoring, is the height of evil. God has given every person a freewill, to decide between good and evil for them self.
Using the same logic as Dr. Hyles' enemies, God must be a very horrible Person. Look at how sinful God's men were in the Bible. Noah got drunk. Abraham threw Hagar out in the street after impregnating her. Samson went with a harlot. David commit adultery and murder. Jonah wanted the Ninevites dead. Peter went fishing naked. These men all served God, and were called by God to preach His Word, so God must be connected with all those evils, right? That's exactly what Dr. Hyles' enemies are unjustly doing to him, i.e., guilt by association. It is evil.
I remember hearing in the news years ago about a teenage girl who became involved with an occult group, which led to a murder. Her father was an attorney who worked for Billy Graham a decade earlier. The rotten newsmedia tried to make a connection between Billy Graham and the occult killing. That's how evil the newsmedia are... they'll eat their young.
They That Live Godly in Christ Jesus Shall Suffer Persecution (2nd Timothy 3:12)
Some people are jealous of success. Other people despise those who are good (2nd Timothy 3:3). Most people hate to hear the truth (Galatians 4:16). Pastor Hyles was successful, he was a righteous man and he uncompromisingly preached the truth. Brother Hyles spent his life proclaiming the truth (which is one of the fastest ways to make enemies). Satan attacks those who are causing him the most grief. The Devil won't bother you if you sit on your blessed assurance and do nothing for God; but when you start making things happen, all the hordes of Hell will come after you (Ephesians 6:12).
Jesus spoke the truth and they literally killed Him for it (John 8:40). Stephen was killed for preaching the truth (Acts 7:54-60). James was killed for preaching the truth (Acts 12:2). Some people loved Jesus, but most hated him. Jesus said that the world would hate His disciples too (John 15:19). Dr. Hyles did a mighty work for God, and thus had many enemies who hated the Lord and the Bible. The world will tolerate religious ministers; but they absolutely will not tolerate a preacher who tells it like it is—calling sin by name, exposing false religions, preaching with authority and proclaiming the King James Bible as the inspired Words of God, the Final Authority!
Of all the tens-of-thousands of good works which Bro. Hyles did throughout his life and 55-years of pastoring churches, some ingrates and haters of God overturn every stone to find anything negative, trying to connect every dot with former employees who sinner with Bro. Hyles, posting it all on Wikipedia, grasping for straws in an attempt to destroy the name of a God-fearing man. Is it any wondering why God has given America over to Communism? You haven't seen nothing yet. If the Lord tarries His return, in ten years you won't recognize the United States!!! Judgment is upon us because of our love for wickedness. Just as they killed the prophets in times past, just as they crucified the Lord Jesus Christ, so has this wicked generation gnashed upon the righteous with their teeth.
A Nations of Evil Hypocrites!
David Lee Roth, lead singer of the Rock 'N' Roll band Van Halen, is infamous for his lewd antics, backstage sex orgies and demonic music (songs such as: Running With The Devil). According to the New York Post, Roth would pay his guards $100 the next morning at breakfast to bring women backstage for him to fornicate with. Writes author Ian Christie, “As far as intimacy went, it was a little like the invention of the drive-through window at McDonald's.” Yet, not one negative word is said about this evil man on Wikipedia. No mention is made of crimes committed by people who were at one time associated with David Lee Roth, or worked with his staff.
But Pastor Hyles is unjustly attacked, blamed for every crime ever committed by anyone who ever associated with him over 55-years of faithful ministry to the Lord Jesus Christ. David Lee Roth never did anything for anybody except himself; but Dr. Hyles helped millions of people throughout the years, not only through his Christ-centered down-to-earth preaching, but also by giving away millions-of-dollars to the needy, misfortunate and his friends who were hurting.
America is going to Hell!!! We are a society of ingrates, jerks and selfish losers! No one has anything negative to say about scum of the earth like Roth; but they assassinate the good name of a precious preacher and devout man of God like Pastor Jack Hyles! Why should God have any pity on this wicked nation? No wonder judgment is upon us!
Preaching the Book, the Blood and the Body
In general, those who belittle the King James Bible don't go soul-winning, don't memorize Scriptures, don't believe in a Pretribulation Rapture, don't defend the literal blood sacrifice of Jesus, don't defend easy-believism, and support worldly music in the Church. Dr. Hyles preached the Book, the Blood and the Body (i.e., the inspired King James Bible, the literal blood sacrifice of Jesus, and the local New Testament Church). That's why a lot of apostates hated him.
Jesus was hated without a cause, just as Pastor Hyles has been. We hear lying politicians all the time and yet continue to vote for them. Humans are so gullible. Let's face it, if a politician spoke the truth while campaigning for office... we wouldn't elect him. When a real man of God, like Pastor Hyles, rises above what is convenient and popular to speak the TRUTH, people either love him or hate him. Dr. Hyles wasn't a puppet as MOST pastors are, who are controlled by a pulpit committee, he said what needed to be said without apology. You held out your plate and he forked over the truth, whether you liked it or not. A friend is someone who tells you the truth!
Dr. Hyles was Not for Sale
Most preachers today will tell you whatever you want to hear, to get into your pocketbook. Dr. Hyles became the pastor of First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1959. Shortly thereafter, seven millionaire families quit the church because they couldn't buy the preacher. Dr. Hyles was not for sale! ... And neither am I. People will try to buy you off, test you, and see how much they can control you. Everyone knew where Brother Hyles' stood. Those silly-britches, milquetoast, panty-waist, cowardly ministers in other churches despised Dr. Hyles for being a real man, who had the courage to stand up against denominational committees, deacon boards (which he rightfully termed “demon” boards), and anyone else who tried to tamper with his preaching.
Dr. Hyles used to remind his congregation that the pulpit belonged to him alone, as God laid it upon his heart to preach, and he would never allow anyone to tell him what he could say, or could not say, from the pulpit. There is nothing worse than a church where you know the pastor is being controlled. I know a Baptist church where the pastor is forbidden from mentioning the name of the Catholic Church in his sermonettes, because the community is unanimously Catholic and the Pulpit Committee dare not offend family members and the congregation. It is wickedness and apostasy. The Gospel is hid.
Treating the Accused as Innocent Until Proven Guilty in a Court of Law is Constitutional
Dr. Hyles had employed thousands-upon-thousands of people over the decades. Is it surprising that a handful of them committed horrible sins? Is it surprising that people are going to be people? The Bible is very clear that God's harshest judgment is reserved for those hypocrites who condemn others. Mark 4:24, “And He said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete [measure], it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.” What you give out, God will dish back to you. The people condemning Dr. Jack Hyles are evil hypocrites. They are attempting to destroy his good name, desperately grasping for any straws they can find to do so. They have utterly failed.
Even with all their efforts, Dr. Hyles' enemies have failed to prove any of the malicious accusations against him. An indictment is nothing more than allegations, which is all that anyone has brought against Pastor Hyles. Some people claim that Dr. Hyles covered-up for the crimes of others; but that is simply not the case. The truth is that Dr. Hyles treated the accused as the U.S. Constitution provides by law, i.e., presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. It is wrong to treat someone like a suspect criminal based on mere allegations; but that's American society today. Anyone can say anything about anyone and society will treat the accused like a criminal until their name is cleared (which often takes years in court). It is often very difficult to prove one's innocence.
Meanwhile, the judges and lawyers involved make tons of money. The accused will likely lose their home to pay for legal expenses. They often lose their marriage, job, retirement savings, friends and everything else. Dr. Hyles knew this better than anyone, having counseled with several thousand of people throughout his decades in the ministry. Should it be surprising that Dr. Hyles would treat someone as innocent until proven guilty in a court of law? Dr. Hyles never defended anyone who admitted they were guilty. He defended those who maintained their innocence. Only an unjust hypocrite would demand that an accused person be treated as a criminal. America has gone insane! There have been laws passed in the U.S., and more are going to be passed soon, that punish people simply for what they think. The unjust people who support such perversion of the legal system won't agree with it when they are the accused.
Christians are at Best People, and People at Best are Sinners
I'm not condoning wrong doing, I'm simply saying that in ANY large group of people, you're going to have some major people problems. Brother Hyle's critics love to point out sin in the camp of fundamentalists; but overall, fundamental Bible-believing Christians are the most decent law-abiding citizens in America. In ANY large group, you're going to have problems. This is true of EVERY group or organization! To blame Pastor Hyles for the actions of ANY other person is wrong! It is unjust to hold a person accountable for something they have NO control over. If you do something wrong, you have no one to blame except yourself!
Dr. Hyles pastored over a million people throughout the 55-years he pastored churches across America. Is it surprising that a handful of those million people should break the law or do something horrible?
What has happened to common sense? The fact is that people only see what they want to see when they don't like someone. Dr. Hyles did more than any other preacher in America, revealing just how lazy and deadbeat most so-called “ministers” are. They serve themselves more than anyone.
Is it surprising that the religious do-nothing community would get upset with Dr. Hyles? Most preachers are apostate, milking their congregation for a salary to do next to nothing. Dr. Hyles believed that the Pastor was supposed to work harder than any other person in his church (and he did!). There's a bunch of lazy, deadbeat ministers all across America that despise Brother Hyles, because he exposed them for what they truly are, bums. If you don't believe me, ask the average working man or woman on the street what they think about preachers and churches. It's not good!
It's amazing how someone who has never built a hotdog-stand will criticize a man who has built a great work for God. This seems to be the trend of our day. Men and women who have done much to help others are critiqued, having their character assassinated by ingrates who don't deserve anything. You just can't seem to win with people these days (negative, negative, negative). You're going to be criticized no matter what you do.
Brother Hyles taught his congregation not to be critics and gossipers. We live in a slanderous and critical society. Pastor Hyles built a mighty soul-winning, Christ-honoring, people-loving ministry in Hammond, Indiana from 1959 to 2001. The church grew to a membership of over 100,000, with millions of people coming and going over the 42 years of his pastorate.
It's pathetic that people who have never ran a popsicle-booth will foolishly criticize a successful man for the way he runs his business (or church). MOST of the people criticizing Dr. Hyles have never even met him once. It's just like the judge who sentenced Terri Schiavo to death in 2005. Terri's crime was being unable to feed herself. The judge never met Terri, not even once, yet he condemned her to a torturous and inhumane death by dehydration and starvation. I wouldn't want to be in that judge's shoes for all the money in the world on Judgment Day when he stands before God.
Those who spread manure against brother Hyles, solely based upon the ALLEGATIONS of a few disgruntled people, are destructive hypocrites (Proverb 11:9). A man used to be innocent until PROVEN guilty. Unfortunately in America today, a person is deemed guilty by society until proven innocent. There is not one shred of PROOF of any of the evil allegations which have been launched against Pastor Jack Hyles. Dr. Hyles is an innocent man.
Justice, the Word of God and the U.S. Constitution
I'd like to also say here that there is a horrible misunderstanding of justice in this nation. No person should ever be convicted and punished based on circumstantial evidence alone. Many innocent people have spent their lives in prison (even gone to the electric chair), because of nothing more than circumstantial evidence.
This is where a lot of people fail to understand Dr. Hyles. Pastor Hyles followed the Bible's clear teaching that at least TWO witnesses MUST be witness to a crime for it even to go to court...
"One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established." (Deuteronomy 19:15)
This Law was to protect the innocent. It is better to let ten criminals go free, than to imprison one innocent man. In today's world, many would disagree with this, unless IT WAS THEM (then they would agree). God is a just God. He gave us Deuteronomy 19:15 for a good reason—to protect the innocent. This is our Bill of Rights.
The Patriot Acts allow the government to completely violate your fourth Amendment rights (i.e., unlawful searches in your home or on your property). This is as evil as it is wrong and unconstitutional!
Dr. Hyles NEVER defended anyone who was PROVEN to be guilty of any crime. Dr. Hyles believed that a person is innocent until PROVEN guilty. Any just person believes this, which is why it is included in the 5th Amendment. A man is to be deemed innocent until PROVEN guilty.
So all this garbage being spread that Dr. Hyles was covering up for criminals is absolutely UNTRUE. Dr. Hyles simply (and rightfully) refused to condemn a man based on mere allegations. This is justice (and true friendship might I add)!
Dr. Hyles wrote an entire book called “Justice” that you ought to read.
In over 30 years of operating a bus-ministry (with several MILLION kids riding the busses to-and-from church EVERY Sunday), how many accusations have there been of sex-abuse? Only ONE allegation! And that ONE was never proven. How unfair is it then that the enemies of Dr. Hyles try to paint such a dark picture of him (based on what someone else allegedly did)?
Do you see the evil at work here to assassinate the character and reputation of an innocent man? Any honest person deals in FACTS, not hearsay or allegations.
What Expert Liars, Such as Adolf Hitler, Say
Here's an enlightening article from World Net Daily about expert liars, who know that the best way to destroy an innocent man, is to tell BIG LIES ...
In his 1925 autobiography "Mein Kampf," Hitler – who actually did lie his country into war, and a whole lot more – explained with remarkable insight the fantastic power of lying:
… [I]n the big lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods. It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe that others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think that there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying. These people know only too well how to use falsehood for the basest purposes. ...
Let's bring this explanation down to earth with another example: Suppose, right before an election, one candidate accuses his opponent of immoral or illegal behavior. Even if the charges are totally false, and even if the accused answers the charges credibly and effectively, "the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it." Which means, no matter how effectively the accused candidate answers the charges, some people will still believe he's guilty, and many others will still retain varying degrees of doubt and uncertainty regarding the accused, who may well lose the election due to the cloud hanging over his head. This, as Hitler said, is the magic of lying that "is known to all expert liars in this world …"
SOURCE (World Net Daily--Why politicians lie, and why we believe them—April 10, 2006)
Dr. Hyles' enemies have stooped lower than low in an attempt to destroy his reputation and his ministry; but thank God, their lies have failed!
Joseph Goebbels, Hitler's Nazi Propaganda Minister
Joseph Goebbels stated:
“If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. The lie can be maintained only for such time as the State can shield the people from the political, economic and/or military consequences of the lie. It thus becomes vitally important for the State to use all of its powers to repress dissent, for the truth is the mortal enemy of the lie, and thus by extension, the truth is the greatest enemy of the State.”
SOURCE: Nazi propaganda minister Joseph Goebbels
“You have to keep repeating things to catapult the propaganda.”
SOURCE: U.S. President George W. Bush
Pastor Hyles was a Godly and Decent Man (1926-2001)
You either loved him or hated him. This is true of all of God's great men. The man who preaches the truth will make many enemies. Stephen spoke the truth and was stoned to death. James spoke the truth and was beheaded, as was John the Baptist.
I believe that brother Hyles will receive a martyr's crown in Heaven, I really do. What he endured in the last 10 years of his life was worse than death. Dr. Hyles truly paid a dear price for his stand for the truth. He sacrificed so much in order to try to save a nation from itself. I wouldn't want to be in the shoes of Pastor Hyles' enemies for all the money in the world. They are so foolish (and they know exactly what they are doing).
Dr. Hyles is NOT responsible for what others have done, nor is he wrong for defending those who maintain their innocence. Especially when there has NOT been sufficient evidence to rightfully convict them.
Also, let me say that just because a jury convicts a man does not necessarily means he is guilty. Kangaroo courts do exist. A talented prosecutor can sway a jury easily.
As an example, look at the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. The man who allegedly shot King has been rotting in a cell for the past 40 years. Though convicted in a court of law, King's own family believes and proclaims the innocence of the man accused and behind bars. There was NO PROOF. That man should have never been convicted, nor imprisoned. Their are tens-of-thousands of such cases, based solely upon circumstantial evidence. Is it any wonder why 6,000,000 Americans are rotting behind bars in this country? Although the United States represents less than 5% of the world's population, over 25% of the people incarcerated around the world are housed in the American prison system. Land of the Free? I think not!
Dr. Hyles gave away everything he owned. Anyone who implies that pastor Hyles gave money to anybody for improprietous reasons is distorting the truth. The truth is that Dr. Hyles gave away millions-of-dollars to other people. Brother Hyles was good to his staff, just as ANY good employer would be kind to his or her employees. Pastor Hyles lived in a normal house, owned no car, and ate at McDonalds like any true American does. He was my kind of guy, what we call “real people.” Brother Hyles was real people.
Benjamin Franklin rightly said, “Any fool can criticize, condemn and complain and most fools do.” Yes, they do! The Bible teaches in Proverb 11:9, “An hypocrite with his mouth destroyeth his neighbour.” A hypocrite is not someone who sins, that is what the Bible calls, “a sinner.” A hypocrite is someone who views another person as being a bigger sinner than them self, because James 2:10 teaches that all mankind are equally guilty in God's eyes.
Americans owe a debt of gratitude which cannot be expressed in words to Pastor Jack Hyles.
END
A tribute to my friend and mentor,
Dr. Jack Hyles!
I love the occasion when Dr. Hyles was out of town on a speaking engagement. He had stopped in a restaurant for breakfast by himself. The waitress was rude and ignored him throughout his meal. When pastor Hyles was finished, he left a $10 bill on the table as a tip.
The waitress came running as he was about to leave the restaurant. She said, "Mister, you left your money on the table." Brother Hyles cordially replied, "Don't they give tips here?" She said, "But I was rude and mean to you."
He explained to her that he was a pastor and that he realized she was probably having a hard time. He said he understood that she was most likely a working mother with burdens. She began to cry, and Dr. Hyles had the opportunity to win her to Christ. What a wonderful event.
On another occasion, several teenagers were throwing rocks at Dr. Hyles office window in back of the church. They had been asked to stop, but kept up their misbehavior. So one day Brother Hyles came out the back door of the church which a fist full of quarters. He shouted, "scramble guys," as he tossed several dollars worth of quarters into the air and then went back into the church. You know what? Those rowdy teenagers never did throw any more rocks at the church. What a lesson for all of us to learn. Brother Hyles wasn't perfect, but he sure put most of us to shame when it came to serving Christ. Most people would have just called the police on those boys or cursed them.
Dr. Hyles was a very ethical man. The First Baptist Church of Hammond had burned to the ground in the 1960's. The churches insurance company paid to rebuild a brand new building. Decades later, one of Brother Hyles' employees said he had figured out a way for the church to save a couple hundred-thousand-dollars a year by switching insurance companies.
Brother Hyles said "no," explaining that the churches' original insurance company had stood by the church decades ago when it had burned down, "now were going to stand by the insurance company." Dr. Hyles explained to the man that the insurance company had lost a lot of money due to the fire decades ago. He felt it was only fair and ethical that the church stick with the same insurance company to offset their losses. Wow! How many people do you know today that think or care about others like that? I dare say hardly anyone.
Brother Hyles cared about people very much. Unfortunately, as his ministry grew bigger and bigger, it was impossible for him to spend the quality time he wanted to spend with the tens-of-thousands of people in the church. Sadly, some people get upset and become disgruntled if they don't get enough attention. In Dr. Hyles latter years, he was greatly saddened that he couldn't help all the people that he wished he could help. So many hurting families, so many people in need, one man can only do so much. Oh how America needs more men of God like Brother Hyles!
To those who have read the criticisms of Dr. Jack Hyles, I surely hope that you are smarter than the average bear. In Dr. Hyles book, "The Science Of The Christian Life," he says that "it is often the most sincere people that become the most bitter" down the road. Why? Because they were sincere! They sincerely thought things would turn out a certain way if they did what they were supposed to do. Unfortunately, life is what happens to you while you're making big plans. Many of Brother Hyles biggest critics were very sincere at one time. They expected things to work out a certain way, but things usually don't work that way. So they became disgruntled and bitter.
Success in itself brings many woes and challenges. Many people were jealous of Brother Hyles. I like what Mrs. Hyles says in her book, "Life As Viewed From The Goldfish Bowl" (a great book indeed!). She says, "Men are 1% muscle, 1% chivalry, 1% strength and 97% ego." I couldn't agree more. I think this is the simple truth behind a lot of the accusations hurled at Dr. Hyles... plain ole green envy. I thank God for Dr. Hyles and his entire family.
Brother Hyles did his very best to influence America for Christ. Unfortunately, many people don't realize (or don't care to realize) the great sacrifices he made. Dr. Hyles could have easily stayed at home with his family every weekend, barbequing and going fishing instead. He could have stayed home, spending all his time with his family and letting America go to hell.
But thank God, he didn't (or I wouldn't be here typing this article). Of course, Dr. Hyles did spend quality time with all his family, but not near the amount of time he could have spent if he had just given up on America. Brother Hyles flew millions-and-millions of miles across America to reach people for Jesus Christ. Oh how America owes a debt of gratitude to this great man of God!
I thank God for Pastor Jack Hyles!
Many of the criticisms hurled against Brother Hyles had nothing to do with him whatsoever. It's tragic that people try to blame Dr. Hyles for what other people do. Is that fair? No!
Over the years, Brother Hyles had employed thousands-upon-thousands of people to work for the church, college, school, et cetera. Should it be surprising that a couple dozen of them messed up (out of several thousand)? Not at all.
Read the papers and you'll find that people are people. Look at any organization you want and you'll find less than perfect people. Hey, did you know that 6,000,000 people in America are behind bars? That's around 1 out of every 60 people. So why should it be surprising that any church would actually have a few less than perfect people?
Dr. Hyles had some of the wisest and hardest working men any business could ever hope for. The truth is that some people are just critics! They're slanderous individuals who dig and look for anything (no matter how trifle) to attack an innocent man. Some people go around with a magnifying glass, overturning rocks and looking for someone's sins to destroy them. It is just pure hatred (Proverb 10:12).
John 10:10 comes to mind where Jesus warns us about “the thief” who comes to “kill, steal and destroy.” So, don't allow any unjust critics to distort the truth about Brother Hyles. The snake destroyed Adam and Eve's life and then disappeared in Genesis. It is not surprising to me in a society that has murdered 50,000,000 of it's own precious children, that the same people would attack a Godly soul-winner such as Dr. Jack Hyles. It is not surprising to me in a society that flocks to SIN CITY to commit sin, that those same people would slander God's man and try to assassinate his character.
It is not surprising to me in a society that brags of being THE WITCH CITY, that such a society should hate preachers. It is not surprising to me in a society where the divorce rate has sky-rocketed, and homosexuals are now being given in unholy-matrimony, that such a society should have no gratitude for God, nor His Word, nor His faithful preachers. Dr. Jack Hyles was the greatest preacher and pastor of the 20th century!
With a church membership of well over 100,000 people, there's bound to be someone who is going to get in the papers for the wrong reason. Leave it to Godless, unthankful, selfish, immoral, oversensitive, greedy, indifferent, apostate, sin-loving Americans to slander God's men and embrace those who slander God's men. It is wickedness.
Brother Hyles was an honest and very financially responsible man. When his critics accused him otherwise, he proved his integrity by documenting his finances. How many corporate businesses can do that?
Brother Hyles didn't believe in defending himself; but he'd fight to the finish to defend his family, church and friends. Through it all, Brother Hyles made it! He ran the straight and narrow path for the Lord. He ran a faithful race.
Despite the few UNFOUNDED accusations, brother Hyles never quit, never slowed down, never compromised his convictions. Only God alone knows the tens-of-millions of people who have been saved as a result of Dr. Jack Hyles' 55 faithful years of service to the Lord. He started pastoring a church in Texas at age 19 and never turned to look back.
Through many pastorates, he eventually was led by God to pastor the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana in 1959. There he taught his people to walk with God and reached Chicago for Christ, through the the world's largest bus ministry and Sunday school. Dr. Hyles loved his people with an unfeigned love. He led his people for 42-years until his graduation into glory in February of 2001. Life for the Christian begins at death.
As I mentioned before, I created this web page as a tribute to Dr. Jack Hyles, the world's greatest preacher. But even more than a preacher, Brother Hyles was a man's man, a friend of friends, a pastor of pastors, a business man of business men, a man who walked with God. Brother Hyles quite often spent Sunday afternoons sitting beside his mother's grave, walking with God and thinking about his people.
Dr. Hyles refused to wear a robe or clergy outfit because he wanted the average Joe in the church to be able to relate with his pastor. Brother Hyles wore a business suit, clothing that any man in the church could wear. Brother Hyles often said, "There are no big shots in this church, only little shots."
On one occasion, one of the wealthiest men in the church had bought Brother Hyles a brand new Mercedes car. Brother Hyles kindly thanked the man, but declined his offer because he didn't want to drive a car any better than what the average man in his church drove. What a great pastor! How many ministers do you know who would turn down a Mercedes? Not many! It meant everything to Dr. Hyles that the average person off the street could relate to him (their pastor).
Don't believe the slander about Dr. Hyles' marriage either. It makes me sick that people would even attack Dr. Hyles' and his wife, claiming they had marital difficulties. For gosh's sake, they celebrated their 50TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!
I watched Mrs. Hyles faithfully sit in the choir, behind her husband during every service, while he preached a life-changing sermon. She sang gracefully and was a happy person, having the joy of the Lord, standing by her man. Only a complete idiot would believe that a couple who made it 50-years together was having marriage problems. Most people only wish they could have problems like that.
There's no perfect anything in this world, but I have to hand it to any couple who makes it to their 50th wedding anniversary. Amen and amen! To Brother Hyles' critiques, may I eloquently say... Oh, shut up!
Brother Hyles was perhaps one of the most misunderstood men of the 20th century. Not misunderstood by those who knew him well, believe me... we all knew where he stood. Brother Hyles was misunderstood by those who didn't know him very well. At a distance, many people mistook Dr. Hyles stand against sin as hatred; on the contrary, Brother Hyles built a church with a heart; hundreds of ministries, all reaching out to the deaf, blind, poor, homeless, abandoned and distraught.
Dr. Hyles' no-nonsense approach to getting things done sometimes caused people to mistake him for an unreasonable, cold-hearted man. On the contrary, Dr. Hyles had a heart of gold and was one of the most reasonable men I had ever known, he simply had a better way of looking at things than most of us did. That is why God used him to accomplish great things. Dr. Hyles was a vessel for the Lord.
I once heard someone say they "had never met a successful man who was reasonable." There is much truth to this. The truth is that they are very reasonable men; we are the unreasonable ones - that is why they are successful and most people are not. Dr. Hyles had an immense determination in everything he set out to accomplish. He had "a drive," a drive that so many people lack. Brother Hyles made it a point to show the Christian world that multitudes of people could still be won to the Lord in the new millennium.
Dr. Jack Hyles uncompromisingly preached that the King James Bible is God's preserved and inspired Words for the English-speaking world today. Dr. Lee Roberson believed that the King James Bible was inspired too.
He refused to compromise (move to the left), but was always willing to move to the right if he was in the wrong. To those who sat under Dr. Hyles preaching for any length of time, there is no comparison. Pastor Hyles was the best of the best and I miss him so dear. Truly, God has blessed America with such a great man of God!
I still remember my graduation night back in Hammond, Indiana, at the First Baptist Church in 1993. It had been 8-long years of sleeping in my car between school and work, driving 60 miles from Chicago to Crownpoint, Indiana 3-days a week, braving the ice and snowstorms, and ten-below zero weather. Then I'd drive another 70-miles from the college to My job in Melrose Park, Illinois. It was rough; but it was all for my precious Lord Jesus Christ. I survived on 4-5 hours of sleep a night. I hade driven 35,000 miles for the bus-ministry for about 4-years. I was burned out by the time I humbly walked across the platform to receive my earned degree in 1993. I had finished what a began 8-years earlier.
What I cherished the most that night, and still do to this day, isn't the degree I earned; but knowing that I had been privileged to sit under Dr. Jack Hyles' preaching for those 8-years. Now that He's gone onto Heaven, it means so much more to me that he handed my diploma to me.
I was crying in tears as I walked up to get my diploma, and I thanked and told Brother Hyles that I loved him. I was overwhelmed, tired, everything was wrong in my life; but I was finally graduating after 8-years of struggling, and I wanted Brother Hyles to know that I was with him as his friend.
Thank you, Brother Hyles, you are greatly missed and loved so much!!!
I hope and pray that you will listen to many of Dr. Jack Hyles sermons on MP3, freely available online.
Lord, let me live from day to day
In such a self-forgetful way
That even when I kneel to pray,
My prayer shall be for others.
Others, Lord, yes, others;
Let this my motto be.
Help me to live for others
That I may live like Thee.
—Dr. Jack Hyles
Quotes by Pastor Jack Hyles
Printed Sermons and Books
MP3 Sermons by Dr. Jack Hyles
Hyles-Anderson College
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Yesterday evening I had the biggest and most beautiful surprise of my life: at my front door stood the handsome young man who said he was
