The history of the First Baptist Church of Hammond, Indiana

Why would anyone want to go to Hammond, Indiana? Allen Hill, Civil War veteran and son and grandson of soul-winning, missionary-minded Baptist preachers, had to answer that question. While pastoring and for three years serving as state evangelist establishing Sunday schools and new churches in Indiana and Illinois, Allen Hill presented a petition in 1887 to the Indiana Baptist Association for some financial aid to start a Sunday school in Hammond, Indiana. They flatly refused! They argued that the lawlessness and “total depravity” of the town gave a hopeless prospect for any success. The more than 2,000 men of the total population of 3,500 made Hammond like a Wild West boom town: There were more taverns than street corners, the major employer (Hammond meat-packing company employed 1,500 of those 2,000 men) threatened to pack up and leave any time the railroad did not give them favorable rates—8 railroads came through Hammond—and most housing was nothing more than temporary shacks. The Chicago Association had already tried to establish several evangelistic works there and failed. In other words, their reasons against starting a Sunday school in Hammond were exactly Allen Hill’s reasons for starting one. So since the associations wouldn’t help, his home church, the Coffee Creek Baptist Church of Paris Crossing, Indiana, donated to and supported him.

The first Sunday school met on November 14, 1887, and then on Sunday, November 28, 1887, the FBC was organized with 12 members meeting in the garret of the Morton House.

• Nursery Began—so the parents could enjoy the service—and probably everyone else!
• Began the Slaughter House ministry: the Young Army of the Nickel Plate
• Joined the Baptist Young People’s Union
• Built first FBC building–frame building on land donated by Marcus Towle on Sibley Street
• Choirs Began—adults, teens, and children
• Ministry began to women and children through the Home Workers’ Society

• A lecture hall and reading room were established for railroad men on layover to provide Christian atmosphere, keeping them out of the saloons.
• Began Sunday afternoon classes by taking street cars out to West Hammond, East Hammond, East Chicago, and Whiting—eventually starting churches there.
• Women’s Missionary Society was established.

• Young people were led to surrender to full-time Christian service and to go soul winning in Chicago (7¢ by street car).
• Church building was remodled to add seating and make baptism easily seen.

• Began supporting missionaries to India and Africa, as recommended by Missions Department at University of Chicago.
• Navigated through the economic downturn following the G.H. Hammond Meat Packing Co.’s fire— biggest pig roast ever!

• Began a church in East Hammond for Romanians and Hungarians.

• The “Church with the Dome” was completed, which became known as “The Stranger’s Church Home.”
• Missionaries were sent to El Salvador and Alaska.
• Started Sunday school in Burnham, Illinois.
• Began Boy Scouts Troop #1 of Hammond and Lake County.
• New Sunday school classes for men, taught them to lead others to Jesus Christ.

• Sunday school attendance was recorded: Men, women, children, and Polish–a ministry to immigrants.

• The Indiana Avenue Mission was established.
• VBS began—a month long, both at the church and in all 6 missions!

• The teen choir and church orchestra were promoted and grew vastly.
• Door-to-door visitation was augmented with the street preaching from the chapel on wheels – “The Gospel Wagon.”

• Began bus ministry: the street cars had stopped running.
• Began using publicity on radio and distributed fans in summer and calendars at new year.
• FBC began to minister in nursing homes, jails, and the Pacific Garden Rescue Mission.
• Began the distrubution of food baskets—any time of year, not just holidays.

• WMBI aired the morning church service, and we purchased time on secular stations.
• Began Wednesday evening Others’ Offerings.

• If you joined the church during his time, Pastor Miller met you and asked you what you could do—20 committees within the church included Prayer, Youth, Evangelism, and Music—everyone could serve!
• “Branch” churches were started in Munster, Cedar Lake, Dyer, and Griffith.

Dr. Jack Hyles saw us through growth, fire, and rebuilding by expanding and beginning many ministries, including—

• Ministries to the shut-ins, deaf, sunbeams, pathfinders, and blind.
• Soul-winning ministries for adults and teens, meeting nearly every day of the week.
• Spanish Department.
• Asian and Sailor Ministries.
• The “modern” bus ministry—eventually running 100-plus buses before Hyles-Anderson College.
• Pastors’ Schools and hosting Sword of the Lord Conventions.
• Hammond City Rescue Mission.
• “A” thru “G” Sunday schools, so buses and facilities could be used throughout Sunday.
• Sunday afternoon program for “B” bus kids.
• Hammond Baptist Schools.
• City Baptist School.
• Hyles-Anderson College.
• Youth Conference.
• Best Years Club for the senior citizens.
• Bible Clubs.
• Blue Denim & Lace Club for grade school girls.
• Christian Womanhood paper and Spectacular meetings.
• Truck-Stop Ministry.
• Youth Baseball League.
• Memory Lane Memorial Garden.

• Fundamental Baptist Missions International became a ministry of FBC.
• The Faith Promise missions-giving program was started.
• Several buildings were remodeled.
• Chapel ministries began in Chicago and South Holland.
• New auditorium building.
• Couples’ Retreats were started in English and Spanish.
• Chapter of Reformers Unanimous and Ladies’ RU Home were opened.
• Hometown Thrift Store was opened.
• FBC granted radio construction permit by the FCC.
• GSA transferred the deed to the Federal Building, today’s Administrative Office Building.

• FBMI expanded.
• WMS: Women’s Missionary Service expanded.
• Super Saturday Soul Winning—entire church family meeting together once a month.
• Adult Sunday school classes added.
• Leading to pay off auditorium loan, while supporting more missionaries.
• Started church in Albany Park, Chicago.
• Ladies’, Prayer, Missions, Servants’, and Youth Conferences invigorated!