If even some of the things Linda Murphrey said about her dad and his wealth were true, Mrs. Hyles would have had more money than she could ever spend.
Very few IFB pastors or assistant pastors have any kind of wealth at all. Most of their success comes from the generous benefits they may be offered as pastor and from the money from speaking engagements. I'm not sure Hyles Publications sold enough books to generate any kind of serious income and Dr. Hyles was known to give some of that money away.
Jack Hyles should have had a million dollar policy on himself so she would be cared for. Pastors wives are usually asked to leave the parsonage and sometimes live in poverity after their pastor husband dies. Most IFB pastors I know have no pension, 401K or significant savings when they retire.
My 401K, which I rolled over into an IRA, came from BOEING. I add to it sparingly with my paycheck from the church I pastor. I have never heard one of my deacons ask me, Pastor, let's have the church set up a 401K for you. They literally couldn't care less if I have to work until I'm 80.
I remember when we had a business meeting when I was a layman. The pastor asked if the church would pay for a life insurance policy for him.
Another layman said, preacher, shouldn't your family trust God to meet their needs?
I can give you his name b/c it has always stuck in my mind about that mans generosity towards the preacher.
About a year and a half ago, I had to ask for an unheard of raise b/c the median household income in our area was 100K, but I was getting paid about 45K, with a few benefits, like the church pays my wife and my cell phone, they pay about 250 a month for my wife's insurance.
My kids have always had state paid for health insurance and I'm a veteran and I go through the VA, though it's not free, it's very reasonable.
I own my house, I don't live in the parsonage...
I make about 60K a year now, but still have to work a part time job and my wife cleans buildings several nights a week.
Grateful for the raise, but we're not rolling in the dough.
Interesting that I was making more than 60K a year when I left Boeing back in 2002.
Not complaining in the least, but if I still worked for Boeing, I would probably have more than 500K in my 401K, my pension would be at least 1K a month if not more, and I could retire in a couple of years.
A little different now.
Now, I pray God will take me before I'm 66 so my wife can get the term life insurance that I pay for.
Our church is not struggling financially, btw.
Thanks for letting me share this.