The following precious information about Pastor Jack Hyles is from chapter 48 of the awesome book titled, “The Fundamental Man,” a biography by Mrs. Cindy Hyles Schaap. This chapter sheds light on the beautiful man that Jack Hyles was, living up to his promise to God as a 19-year-old preacher: “I WILL ALWAYS BE A FRIEND TO MY FRIENDS” (you can hear Brother Hyles explain his 5 great life's decisions in the MP3 sermon, “Filled With All The Fulness Of God.” ~by David J. Stewart
Proverbs 18:24, “A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
If
Dr. Jack Hyles sees a need, he tries to fill it. Every Wednesday, our
church takes an “others offering” instead of putting it into the church
budget. The purpose of the Wednesday offering is usually announced in the
service. Often the money goes to help a friend or pastor in need.
Sometimes Dad's friendship is shared with the people who are part of his own ministries. Hammond Baptist Junior High School Principal Tom Vogel once asked Dad's ideas for a fund-raiser to earn money for a church Little League concession stand. Brother Vogel left disappointed because Dad did not approve any of his plans. A few days later, Brother Vogel received $5,000 of Dad's personal money to pay for the concession stand.
The head of our church maintenance department, Randy Ericson, had a wife who was stricken with a brain tumor. Dorothy Ericson was left blind and unable to walk, and she had to be cared for like a child by her husband. Randy and Dorothy had no children, so Randy lived a very lonely life for 15 years. Every Christmas morning for 15 years, Dad took Randy out to a restaurant for breakfast. He also sent Randy deep-sea fishing at the Gulf of Mexico with his friend, Ray Chalifoux. Dad took Randy with him on a preaching trip every year. Dad often hugged Randy and said, “I love you,” to him. Randy appreciated this type of affection, whereas other men perhaps would not. Dad finds what each of his friends needs and how each likes to be treated, and he strives to treat his friends that way.
Brother Hyles gave money to a man who worked at the church to buy a glass eye. In the early days of his ministry, when a poor bus kid went off to Tennessee Temple College, Brother Hyles and the church staff boarded a bus, went to her house, and gave her a shower of college gifts. Brother Hyles paid her tuition for her first semester of college.
Dad went along on a trip with the junior-age children. He noticed a little bus girl with holes in her tennis shoes. He bought her a brand-new pair of shoes, even though they were in Water Tower Mall in downtown Chicago and the price of the shoes was extremely high. The bus girl looked at Dad and said, “I've never had a Christmas this good!”
When Todd Moffitt was sitting in a bar, at his wit's end about what to do with his messed-up life, Dr. Hyles' face came to his mind. Todd said that he knew Dr. Hyles was the one who would help him. Todd came back to church after several years of backsliding, and Dad gave him a job working as a church janitor to help Todd get back on his feet. Dad counseled Todd regularly. Though Dad hates motorcycles, he bought a motorcycle helmet for Todd because Todd loved motorcycles. Dad also bought Todd a new outfit form a men's clothing store.
When a personal friend is sick, Brother Hyles tries to meet his needs. He provided a car for good friend, Bob Keyes, for three years after his heart surgery. When evangelistic singer and friend, Bill Harvey, was sick, Brother Hyles provided a car for him.
Dr. Hyles is a friend in big ways. When a pastor friend was accused by the law, Dr. Hyles hired F. Lee Bailey to defend him. Dr. Hyles is a friend in small ways. When Pastor Mike Haynes mentioned that, as a kid, he had always wanted a Smokey the Bear hat, he received one a few days later—from Dr. Hyles.
Dad has given cars to missionaries. He has provided guest houses on the Baptist City property where missionaries on furlough are allowed to live free of charge. These guest houses are fully furnished and beautifully decorated. Dad also has loaned missionaries a church car to use during their furlough.
Monte Watts is a full-time evangelist who is crippled because of a life-threatening disease. He and his family have been given an apartment at Baptist City in which to live.
In 1992, Dad preached for pastor Jim Withers at the Grace Baptist Church of Beaver Dams, New York. He preached with Dr. Joe Boyd. As Dad drove to the church on Friday morning with Pastor Withers, he tapped Pastor Withers on the knee and said, “Give my love offering to Joe Boyd.” Each preacher was to receive $750. The two offerings combined equaled $1,500. When Pastor Withers told Dr. Boyd he was to receive both offerings, Dr. Boyd got a tear in his eye and said, “I just got off the phone with my wife Edith. She told me we are $1,000 in the red. The $1,500 will cover it. There are not many men like Jack Hyles.”
Dad honoured his dear Gospel-singing friend, Bill Burr, with a new car at Pastor's School. When a pastor friend and his teenage son were having trouble getting along, Dad flew them to Chicago and paid their tickets to a White Sox game.
When a pastor in Dayton, Ohio, had the roof blown off his church building by a tornado. Dad sent money to pay for a new roof. Evangelist Tom Williams' wife contracted spinal meningitis during a trip to Israel. When he wanted to make a film about his wife's life, Dad collected and gave $50,000 to Brother Williams for the making of that film.
These are just a few examples of the many kind deeds Dr. Hyles has done consistently throughout his lifetime. So many times I have written this biography, I have come a cross a subject and said to myself, “This subject should be a book in itself.” I feel this way more about Dr. Jack Hyles, the friend, than any other chapter. I could not begin to do justice to a description of the good deeds Dr. Hyles performs for his friends.
One of Dr. Hyles' best friends is Dr. Russell Anderson, the man whose name is attached to Hyles-Anderson College. Dr. Hyles calls Dr. Anderson the brother he never had. Dr. Anderson accredits Dr. Hyles for teaching him to be a soul winner and a good Christian, as well as for teaching him to succeed in business.
Dr. Anderson gave Dad a deed to a complex of apartments worth $69,000 at the time. These apartments would have provided Dad with $620 a month of income for the rest of his life. Dad appreciated Dr. Anderson's offer, but he said, “If I ever own an apartment, these arms are going to get it.” Dad has never signed the deed. Still. Dr. Anderson's friendship has been one of generosity.
When Dr. Anderson wanted to retire several years ago, Dad talked him out of it. Dr. Anderson is happier and more successful in his multi-million dollar business than he has ever been. He accredits much of his success to the principles he learned in Pastor's School. These two men have stood together through thick and thin and typify Christlike friendship.
Evangelist Joe Boyd lived three blocks from Dad during their childhood. Dr. Boyd was a gang member whom Coystal Hyles warned her son to avoid. Then Joe Boyd got right with God because of the prayers of his mother, and he surrendered to preach. Joe Boyd says that Brother Hyles has been a true friend. He has helped Dr. Boyd to become a better soul winner. When Brother Hyles and Brother Boyd were out soul winning in Marshall, Texas, they met a very poor woman who lived alone with several children. Brother Boyd saw Brother Hyles, as a poor college student, take a $100 bill out of his wallet and give it to the lady for groceries. Brother Hyles gave Brother Boyd the plans to his church building at Miller Road. Brother Boyd used those plans to build his first church building at the Open Door Baptist Church in Texas where he pastored.
As an evangelist, Dr. Boyd has been the object of First Baptist Church “others offerings” time and time again. When a tire from Dr. Boyd's bus blew out at the Grand Canyon, he called Brother Hyles' secretary. Brother Hyles wired Brother Boyd $1,000 the next day.
When Joe's wife, Edith Boyd, had to have emergency surgery, and Joe could not get to her on time, Dr. Boyd called Dr. Hyles. Dr. Hyles went to be with Edith during her surgery. When Edith Boyd had heart surgery and almost didn't survive, Dr. Hyles called Dr. Boyd and sent money to help meet the financial needs.
When Dr. Boyd recently had heart bypass surgery at a hospital near Hammond, Indiana, he woke and saw Dr. Hyles' face. It was one of the first faces he recognized. Dr. Hyles bent down and kissed Dr. Boyd's forehead. Dr. Boyd wept as he told about this. Dr. Hyles told Dr. Boyd in the hospital that day, “Don't worry, Joe, I'll take care of you.” Dad paid for Brother Boyd's motel room, provided a car for him while he was in the area, and paid for Brother Joe's and his wife's meals. When the doctor ordered Brother Joe not to preach for five weeks, Dad gave him $5,000. In recent years, Dad paid for the Boyds to take the honeymoon they never had. Dr. Boyd said, “If you're Dr. Hyles' friend and you have a need, you don't have to call him; he'll call you and take care of you.”
Dr. Jack Hyles may have best displayed his friendship in his relationship with the famous preacher, Dr. John R. Rice. Dr. Hyles remembered Dr. Rice every Father's Day. He looked for Dr. Rice's every need. If Dr. Rice's shoes looked worn, Dr. Hyles bought him a new pair of shoes. If his overcoat looked worn, Dr. Hyles bought him a new overcoat. He constantly wrote Dr. Rice thoughtful notes.
Dad traveled and preached with Dr. Rice for 22 years. As Dr. Rice got older, some churches quit giving Dr. Rice a predominant place on the conference program. Dad always was offered the predominant place of closing speaker because he was the younger, more popular preacher. Dad often refused to close out the conference, demanding that spot on the program be made available to his friend, Dr. Rice. His friendship and loyalty to Dr. Rice can best be summed up in three statements: (1) Dr. Hyles was his friend; (2) Dr. Hyles did not monopolize his time; and (3) Dr. Hyles did not expect him to reciprocate.
Dad pretty well tries to fill whatever need he sees in the lives of those whom he calls his friends. Yet, he does not necessarily spend a lot of time with his friends, not only because he is busy, but mainly because he does not want to be a bother. His purpose for friendship is not to fill his own selfish need to feel special or important, but rather to be sure the friend's needs are met.
Dad does not expect his friends to treat him as well as he treats them. His feelings are not easily hurt. Even people who might consider Dad an enemy are often the recipients of Dad's friendship. Once Dad has decided someone is his friend, nothing can change that. I know people who won't even speak to my father to whom Dad has sent gifts, including items like a Bible or even a car.
At a particular time that a man attacked Brother Hyles about a doctrinal issue. When that preacher became ill, Brother Hyles sent him a note with $1,000 enclosed. Brother Hyles received word that he was the only preacher who had helped this man financially.
Brother Hyles often said the following: “Friendship is like marriage; you never seek divorce.” He has retained friendships with all of his former assistant pastors.
Even if a person disappoints Brother Hyles, he helps that person when he is in need. As Keith McKinney said, “Brother Hyles stays with people when all others leave them and when they fight among themselves. Once he has decided to be their friend, he is their friend.”
Many of those who travel and speak around the country frequently hear comments about this from pastors and their wives: “When I was having a problem, Dr. Hyles was the first to call. He asked, 'What do you need?' Then he met my needs. He called to ask how things were going.” Dr. Hyles does not practice friendship by just saying, “God bless you, brother.” To Dr. Hyles, friendship means time. Friendship means sharing of his finances. Friendship means standing by a friend so that others can see his support.
Marlene Evans mentioned to me that as she waited in line for an appointment with Brother Hyles, she noticed the many types of people who waited in line with her for his help. One was an unkempt, unlovely single woman with a child. Yet, there were also several “important” people of the church in line.
A lady once visited First Baptist Church of Hammond. She saw a refined lady in a mink coat across the isle from a young boy with a hole in his bluejeans. The visitor remarked that this pictured to her what First Baptist Church is all about. This also pictures the friendship of Dr. Jack Hyles—he is a friend to everyone.
Mrs. Evans' daughter, Joy Ryder, and Joy's husband are missionaries to Papua New Guinea. They live in the jungle where there are no roads. There is not even a river nearby for washing clothes. Because of this, a generator is needed. The inferior quality generator owned by the Ryders went out, and they sat in darkness; that is, until my Dad heard about it. He sent immediate word to the Ryders: “Get the generator you need.” He then paid the $7,500 needed for it.
Because of Mrs. Evans' cancer, Dad brought Jeff and Joy Ryder from the jungles of Papua New Guinea to Pastor's School. He went through a lot to make this happen and stayed on the idea until it came to fruition. Dad was wise enough and a good enough friend to allow Jeff, Joy, and their children three days of seclusion before they were brought before the people at Pastor's School as a surprise to Dr. and Mrs. Evans. He also saw to it that the Ryder family was secretly taken to a shopping mall to buy appropriate clothes for their visit.
When one of our first “home-grown” missionaries, David Carter, left to go to Japan for the first time, Dad wrote his parents a poem. When two other “home-grown” missionaries, Robert and Rhoda Smith, left to go to Nigeria for the first time, Dad surprised them by showing up at the airport gate to see them off and to comfort and pray with their parents.
This is the summary of Dad's attitude, not only toward his good friend, Dr. John R. Rice; but it is also the summary of every aspect of the life of Dr. Jack Hyles, the friend.
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