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Preying from the Pulpit was a mini-news series produced in May 1993 by WJBK of Detroit, Michigan for the 10:00 PM news."

Description

The news report aired a six-part series stemming from child sexual abuse allegations against deacon Mark Foeller and associate pastor Timothy Leonard, both Hyles-Anderson College (an unaccredited institution) graduates, of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor." Leonard, "North Sharon's associate pastor and a graduate of Hyles Anderson College of Schererville, was charged in Michigan with first- and second-degree sexual assault of children." The San Diego Union-Tribune noted "the news report found seven U.S. churches - all with ties to Jack Hyles, it said - involved in sex scandals." Thus, the TV station noted alleged child molestations at a church "appeared to be part of a pattern among 'churches that follow the teachings and philosophy' of Hyles, First Baptist and its related Hyles-Anderson College of Crown Point, Indiana"

The mini-series "showed footage during its report of" Hyles "brandishing a rifle form the pulpit, along with "people with guns and walkie-talkies patrolling the outside of the church at times." Also "the station also recapped a sermon in 1990 in which Hyles pretended to pour poison into a glass and asked an associate pastor, Johnny Colsten, to drink from it. Colsten said he would." Furthermore, "The WJBK report said the sermon has the "ring of Jonestown to it - the mass suicide in Guyana in 1978 by followers of cult leader Jim Jones." In fact "WJBK also reported that Hyles, though never claiming to be God, has convinced a lot of people he is the next best thing to Him."

The report also described the links of "a deacon at First Baptist, A.V. Ballenger, was found guilty of one count of child molestation dating from 1991." Also discussed in the news report was the comments Hyles made to the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The Chicago Tribune in a 1991 article reported that Hyles was sued for $1 million by the parents of the girl molested by Ballenger. The paper reported the "lawsuit claims Hyles and the church had not fulfilled their obligation to ensure that children were protected from harm during Sunday school." This stemmed from there mention of the molestation to Hyles who then promised to "investigate." After two months of nothing being done, the parents went to the police. Furthermore, "the suit, filed last week, claims the minister told the child's parents that Ballenger 'just liked little girls,' and, 'You don't have a case.'" Hyles and the church settled out of court. Ballenger was sentenced to five years in prison.

Investigation

The Detriot news program was not the only one to study if there was a connection between deacon Ballenger at Hyles' church and the North Sharon pastors, who graduated from Hyles-Anderson College. The prosecuting attorney for Washtenaw County, Michigan went to the Ballenger trial "to watch, listen to testimony and observe similarities between this case and other cases involving a rural church Michigan." Soon after on May 14, 1993 "the FBI was asked to look into allegations minors were taken from Michigan to Northwest Indiana by employees or officials of North Sharon Baptist Church near Ann Arbor for events sponsored by Hammond First Baptist Church."

Although the FBI concluded "there is insufficient evidence to probe allegations," Sgt. Charles Hedinger, a Hammond police detective, described the investigation as "open-ended." Yet, on May 24, 2003 chief of the Hammond police detectives, Capt. Bill Conner stated, "there is no investigation of the First Baptist Church of Hammond or Jack Hyles". The area newspapers also published a letter from Hyles, denying that he ever condoned harming a child.

Controversy and criticism

One focus of the investigation publicly criticize the program linking child molestors to Hyles church "a dirty, abominable lie." In this single 2 hour interview he went on to defend the gun at the puplit as the only time he did such an act. As for child molestors he claimed "if a person commits it he should be put to death" while asserting convicted child molestor, AV Ballenger's innocence.

References

1. ^ "Preacher has links to molest suspects." The San Diego Union San Diego, Calif.: May 17, 1993. p. A.7
2. "7 accused of abuse linked to preacher." The Grand Rapids Press. Grand Rapids, Mich. May 17, 1993. pg. B.2
3. ^ Debra Gruszecki FBI won't continue with church sex abuse probe. Not enough Northwest Indiana Times" May 19, 1993
4. ^ Daniel J. Lehmann. "Pastor Linked to Sex Abuse Lashes Out." Chicago Sun-Times. June 2, 1993, Pg. 5
5. "Church leaders sued in sex-abuse case," Chicago Tribune. Oct 16, 1991. Pg. 3
6. "No Investigation of Church in Abuse Cases, Police Say" Chicago Tribune May 24, 1993

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