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> Northwest Indiana Church Viewed Among 50 Most Influential Churches
Northwest Indiana Church Viewed Among 50 Most Influential
Churches
First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana was named “One of 50 Most Influential Churches in America.” The Church Report
magazine reported that “The 2006 survey was e-mailed to leaders of more than 2,000 of the largest non-Catholic
congregations in the nation by Church Growth Today in April and May. A small selected group of smaller churches was
also invited to recommend churches. Participants were asked to recommend up to 10 churches they considered to be among
the nation’s most influential. A total of 83 churches were recommended.The churches were recommended by other
church leaders as congregations that represent the passion and sense of mission mandated in the New Testament. The
recommended churches do not all share the same view of all biblical doctrine, their recognition came from other
churches, and they do not view themselves as better than other churches. Each just considers itself as a church
wanting to be pleasing and useful to God and their understanding of His mandates to them.
First Baptist Church of Hammond was ranked number 24 among the other churches on the list. First Baptist Church was
founded in 1887 and has influenced this area for decades. Then when Dr. Jack Hyles came as the new pastor in 1959, its
influence grew and became nationwide by 1972.
First Baptist Church is now pastored by Dr. Jack Schaap. Dr. Schaap became the Pastor in 2001. Under Dr. Schaap,
its influence has continued locally through its various programs to help those in our community. Its influence has
continued nationally by hosting three giant conferences each year. The church this year hosted a Pastors’ School which
packed out the 7,500-seat auditorium and also a Youth Conference that saw 10,119 youth and youth workers gather from
around the world. The church’s influence has also grown globally by planting missionaries and mission teams around the
world. First Baptist Church is located at 473 Sibley Street, Hammond, Indiana. Contact:
Dan Wolfe
553 E. State Street
Hammond, Indiana 46430
Phone: (219) 932-0711
E-mail: dwolfemedia@yahoo.com |
