Independent Fundamental Baptists Face Scrutiny Over Sexual Abuse Scandals in New HBO Max Documentary

The Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB) church movement, comprising 6,000 congregations and approximately 8 million members, has come under scrutiny following the release of the HBO Max and Investigation Discovery docuseries *Let Us Prey: A Ministry of Scandals*. The four-part series delves into the stories of sexual abuse survivors within the IFB, highlighting the movement’s history and the systemic issues that have allowed such abuse to persist.

Survivor Ruthy Heiler, one of the individuals featured in the series, emphasizes the urgency of sharing these stories to protect other young girls from similar harm. “I’m doing what I need to do to protect other girls because I don’t think men are just going to stop abusing young girls in the IFB,” she says. Heiler’s testimony underscores the need for awareness and action within the IFB community.

The docuseries also explores the origins of the IFB movement, tracing its roots to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It emerged as a reaction against what its members perceived as modernism and theological liberalism within the broader Baptist denominations. In 1933, J. Frank Norris founded the World Baptist Fellowship in Fort Worth, Texas, while the Baptist Bible Fellowship International was established in 1950. Many churches that left the Southern Baptist Convention identified as IFB without joining any other fellowship.

*Let Us Prey* traces the movement’s development to Jack Hyles, who led First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana, from 1959 to 2001. Hyles’ decision to break away from formal Baptist denominations marked the beginning of the IFB movement. As Sarah Smith of the Houston Chronicle noted, First Baptist Hammond became the “mothership” for the IFB, setting the stage for its growth and influence.

The series also highlights the hierarchical structure within IFB churches, where men are positioned over women and children. This dynamic has been a recurring theme in documentaries about church abuse, illustrating a pattern that has allowed abuse to flourish in certain environments.

The IFB movement was formed in response to cultural changes and concerns over the erosion of traditional values. As Eric Skwarczynski, the series’ producer, explains, “Culture was changing. We were losing that 1950s American values and people were getting nervous. And when a culture’s extremely nervous, it gives someone a chance to come in and say, ‘I’m going to fix this.’”

The docuseries raises critical questions about the movement’s theology and its impact on congregations. It challenges the broader evangelical community to examine the roots of such movements and the potential dangers they may pose. The stories shared in *Let Us Prey* serve as a reminder of the need for accountability, justice, and the protection of the vulnerable.

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