Woman Raped by Former Youth Pastor at Megachurch Speaks Out

Transcript She was a member of the largest church in America and traveled the country as part of its music group. To outsiders, everything in Joy Ryder’s life looked perfect. But Ryder had a horrible secret. Her youth pastor was sexually abusing her. In this episode of The Roys Report, Julie talks with Joy Ryder—a woman who recently filed a lawsuit against the estate of the late Jack Hyles, his Indiana megachurch, college, and son, David Hyles. Ryder says David Hyles repeatedly raped her in the late 1970s, when Ryder was a teenager in Hyles’ youth ministry. But Ryder says that when she blew the whistle, church officials covered up Hyles’ crime and did nothing to help her. In this gripping podcast, Ryder tells her story. She also explains why she’s seeking justice now and offers hope for healing for others who have been abused. Transcript SPEAKERS JULIE ROYS, JOY RYDER JULIE ROYS  00:04 She was a member of the largest church in America and traveled the country as part of its music group. To outsiders everything enjoy writer’s life look perfect, but Ryder had a horrible secret; Her youth pastor was sexually abusing her. Welcome to The Roys Report a podcast dedicated to reporting the truth and restoring the church. I’m Julie Roys. And today Joy Ryder joins me to tell her story and to highlight the problem of clergy sexual abuse and what we can do about it. Ryder’s abuse happened in the 1970s when she was a teenager. However, several months ago Ryder filed a lawsuit against not just her alleged abuser David Hyles, but against the estate of his father Jack Hyles, Hyles-Anderson College and First Baptist Church of Hammond. Ryder says all these institutions and Jack Hyles knew about her abuse, but they did nothing. Hyles, by the way, was a leading figure in the Independent Baptist movement and pastor of the extremely well known First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana. At one point First Baptist had an average attendance over 20,000 people, and it was famous for its innovative ministry, which included bussing people to services each week from surrounding towns and even Chicago. Today the church remains one of the largest, if not the largest churches in Indiana with attendance over 13,000 and Ryder’s alleged abuser David Hyles runs a ministry called Fallen In Grace Ministries, which ironically helps pastors who have sinned and fallen from their positions. Yet Hyles has never publicly acknowledged the sins that he’s committed against Joy Ryder and many others. And even though the allegations against him are criminal, Hyles has never served time for what he allegedly did. Joy Ryder’s story is extremely important and I’m so looking forward to talking with you. But first I want to thank the sponsors of this podcast, Judson University, and Marquardt of Barrington. If you’re in the market for a car, I highly recommend my friends at mark or to Barrington to view their entire showroom online. Just go to BuyAcar123.com. Also I want to let you know that Judson University is planning to resume in person classes this fall for traditional transfer and adult students. And it’s not too late to apply you can choose from more than 60 majors and learn in a Christian environment known for its spiritual values, leadership opportunities, and strong financial aid. Judson is located just 36 miles outside Chicago on a beautiful 90 acre campus. To schedule a visit, just go to JudsonU.edu/visit. Well again, joining me today is Joy Ryder, a sex abuse survivor and the plaintiff in federal lawsuit against the estate of Jack Hyles, David Hyles, First Baptist Church of Hammond and Hyles-Anderson College. She’s also the founder of Out Of The Shadows, an advocacy group for sex abuse victims. So Joy, I welcome and thank you so much for taking the time to speak with me today. JOY RYDER  03:01 Thank you, Julie. JULIE ROYS  03:02 And your story is just abso