Today, Jack Schaap was sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for his crime. I wrote about this issue when it happened, and recently the lurid details were unveiled by the prosecuting attorney. (More here and here.)
Linda Murphrey, daughter of Jack Hyles — the former pastor of First
Baptist Hammond, at one time the self-proclaimed largest church in the
world — has written an open letter to the church
at this time, knowing Schaap’s sentencing was scheduled for today.
Schaap is her brother-in-law, and Linda grew up on the inside of the
ministry, and in the very home of, the most powerful man in
fundamentalism in the 1970s and 80s. Her letter includes an apology and
an admission of the secret double life that Hyles lived, and Schaap
perpetuated.
For anyone who knows something of the history of First Baptist of
Hammond, and Jack Hyles, this letter is quite amazing to read. It is
written with such grace and humility, fervor and love, and above all,
honesty. I encourage you to read it
and pray for the future of First Baptist of Hammond. The current
leadership there has a vested interest to deny the truth of Linda’s
letter. This wing of fundamentalism cannot admit that Hyles was phony.
So much of their very ethos is tied to his persona — at least
it would seem. But I pray that many who have been shaken by these events
can find grace and help in her first-hand testimony. May her final
words come true: Continue at Bob Hayton
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