ELMER GULLION



Elmer Gullion was born in December 31, 1916 in Colorado, U.S.A. He was raised by a family with a  rich Baptist heritage. During the Second World War, he served in the artillery unit of the U.S. Army. After serving in New Guinea, he was destined in the Philippines. He did not forget about God and continued to read his Bible. He became a shining light not only to his fellow soldiers but also to Filipinos. Soon, he was asked to hold a prayer service where three families attended.  This was followed by more prayer services.

World War 2 came to a close and he had to go. But he was asked to come back not as a liberator but a missionary. One of his attendees, told him, "You have liberated us from the Japanese, but we face a greater enemy. Please come back and show us how to get spiritual victory."

Elmer surrendered even before being shipped out of Manila. He entered Bible college and there he met  Daisy. whom he married. The Gullion family arrived in the Philippines in December 1949. He helped with the mission works in Manila, Mandaluyong, and eventually in Dagupan. 

Gullion met his Creator and King in December 5, 2000. 

A.B. Fernandez Avenue , Dagupan Circa 1986

Through the years of service, the Gullion family had had their share of floods, drought, fire, and even death threats.  When asked about the key to his long service, Gullion replied, 

"When we came here, we knew why we came. We knew Who sent us. We had no doubt that God wanted us to do this work." 

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Photos: Years of Blessing 1936:1967, Phil. Daily Inquirer, March 11, 2000.
Source: Personal Interview with Elmer Gullion (Baptist Tribune)
whatsupdagupan.blogspot.com

Pimentel

One of the Filipino Baptist pioneers was a Tagalog named Pimentel. Being a former revolutionary and eventually a supporter of the Americans as a product of their mission work, Pimentel became a target of both Filipino revolutionaries as well as American soldiers.


He was arrested by the Americans and then tortured for several hours. (not actual photo) Left for dead on the ground, he survived.




He was then arrested by Filipino policemen who clubbed him with the butt of a gun fracturing his skull and disfiguring his face.

His spirit was not broken and he became a preacher in various towns within Panay Island. He refused to get foreign financial support.

His preaching message was reported to be centered on the theme: "All Sufficiency of Christ -- Christ alone stands between men and their God, Christ alone forgives sin and therefore persons should confess their sins to Christ alone. Christ alone has all power and all right in the world.

One day, he was hacked to death by assassins who were believed to be paid by either a Catholic priest he might have offended or by revolutionaries who were at war with the Americans.

Source: N.D. Bunda (A Mission History of The Phil. Baptist Churches...)
photo: philippineamericanwar.webs.com