Sunday school
Beginning in 1969, and continuing for several years, First Baptist received recognition for the size of its Sunday School. In 1969, Elmer Towns wrote a book called "The Ten Largest Sunday Schools and What Makes Them Grow" which analyzed First Baptist's Sunday School. Towns presented a plaque to Hyles in 1971, naming First Baptist Church of Hammond the nation's largest Sunday school. In 1972, and for several years following, "Christian Life Magazine" proclaimed First Baptist Church of Hammond to have "the world's largest Sunday School".