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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. 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. It also operates Hyles-Anderson College, a non-accredited institution, and two K-12 schools, called City Baptist Schools (for children of the bus route of the church) and Hammond Baptist Schools (for children of the members of the church). Jack Schaap, Hyles' son-in-law, succeeded as pastor after Hyles' death in 2001.

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.

History

First Baptist Church was founded in November 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.

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.

Subsequently, on 3 January 1901 Pastor E.T. Carter proposed a new building, and the first service was held on 14 April 1901. On 27 November of that same year, Pastor Carter announced his resignation for a job at the Central Baptist Orphanage in Michigan.

In July 2006, the Church Report magazine named First Baptist number 24 on its list of the 50 most influential churches in the United States.

Activities

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.

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. Its 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.

List of pastors

References

External links

• First Baptist Church, Hammond, Indiana – Official

Criticism

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

• Megachurches
• Baptist churches in Indiana
• Religious organizations established in 1887