Dr. Jack Hyles

Jack Hyles began preaching at the age of 19 and pastored for 54 years. These pastorates included churches that varied in membership from 44 to over 100,000. All of these pastorates, other than First Baptist Church,were in the state of Texas: first, Marris Chapel Baptist Church of Bogata, Texas; then to Grange Hall Baptist Church in Marshall, Texas; from there to Southside Baptist Church of Henderson, Texas; and then to Miller Road Baptist Church of Garland, Texas. He pastored Miller Road Baptist Church for approximately 7 years and saw this church, with the Lord’s help, grow from a membership of 44 to over 4,000. It was from Miller Road Baptist Church that he was called to First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana.

Dr. Hyles was pastor of First Baptist Church from August, 1959 to February, 2001. This church has a membership of over 100,000 and averaged 10,000 baptisms per year for the last five years of his ministry. In 1972, the First Baptist Church was acclaimed to have the “World’s Largest Sunday School.” During Dr. Hyles’ ministry, First Baptist Church increased in property value from $70,000 to over $70,000,000.

Besides his position as pastor, Dr. Hyles was founder and chancellor of Hyles-Anderson College and superintendent of Hammond Baptist Schools, which enrolled approximately 4,000 students last year. The doors of Hyles-Anderson College opened in 1972, and Dr. Hyles led in the training of over 1,000 pastors and missionaries currently serving in the United States and on foreign fields. The First Baptist Church also owns and operates a rescue mission and cemetery which, along with the schools, are located within 20 miles of the church.

Dr. Hyles authored 49 books and pamphlets. Many of his sermons are available on audio and video tapes, as well as on CDs and DVDs. Dr. Hyles’ experience covered numerous evangelistic campaigns, Bible conferences, etc. He preached in virtually every state in the Union and in many foreign countries. He hosted 37 annual Pastors’ Schools, which have attracted thousands of preachers from all over the world.

Dr. Russell Anderson

Born in poverty in the mountains of eastern Kentucky, Dr. Anderson learned that money is to be earned by hard work and handled with caution and wisdom. In his biography he states, “Poverty is a blessing in disguise.”

With rugged determination and an old-fashioned work ethic, Russell Anderson partnered in business with God. Since 1959 God has miraculously blessed Dr. Anderson’s business exploits in direct proportion to his increased giving. By 1970 he was giving back to God 50% of what he was earning, and his financial status had gone from millionaire to multimillionaire. Dr. Anderson never took a business course and gives all of the credit for his business success to the Bible principles that he has applied.

Around the year 1960, Dr. Anderson heard Dr. Hyles preach for the first time. Dr. Hyles and Dr. Anderson developed a close friendship. In 1972 Dr. Anderson co-founded Hyles-Anderson College with Dr. Hyles. They were close friends through the years. Dr. Anderson has invested in Hyles-Anderson College along with other colleges in Kentucky, Michigan, and Texas.

Extending his vision to other parts of the world, Dr. Anderson has also played a major role in the birth of colleges in Haiti, Mexico, the Philippines, and Africa. He has also financed the building of more than 480 churches around the world.

Dr. Anderson, an accomplished soul winner, has pioneered in the efforts of funding foreign Bible college students on a full-time basis. He has seen over three million souls saved as a result of these wise investments.

In spite of his numerous business obligations, Dr. Anderson has also found time to travel extensively promoting soul winning and success through proving God in the area of finances.