Iowa Baptists mourn loss of native son missionary Bill Hyde
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| Missionary Iowans Bill Hyde, killed March 4 in the Philippines, and his wife, Lyn, were described as key missions advocates among Iowa Baptists. |
O. Wyndell Jones, retired executive director of the Baptist Convention of Iowa, described the Hydes as key missions advocates as Iowa Baptists grew from fellowship status in the Southern Baptist Convention in the early 1970s to state convention status in 1995.
"They were kept real busy" during their furloughs in Iowa, said Jones, who led Iowa Baptists for 15 years and is now interim pastor of the Hydes' home church, Immanuel Baptist in Cedar Rapids. "Everywhere they ever spoke, people really did appreciate them. Iowa Baptists felt real proud to have them as foreign missionaries."
