Gateway to World Evangelization
by James G. Smith
The Philippine Islands became a Spanish colony during the 16th century. The islands were ceded to the United States in 1898 following the Spanish-American War. In 1935, the Philippines became a self-governing commonwealth. In 1942, the islands fell under Japanese occupation during World War II. In 1946, the Republic of the Philippines attained its independence.
Located in Southeastern Asia, the Philippine archipelago is made up of 7,107 islands, between the South China Sea and the Philippine Sea. The climate is tropical. The population of the Philippines is 12th largest in the world, with approximately 95 million people.
The two official languages are Filipino (based on Tagalog) and English. The eight major dialects are Tagalog, Cebuano, Ilocano, Ilonggo, Bicol, Waray, Pampango and Pangasinan. It is estimated that 80 percent of the population is Roman Catholic and five percent is Muslim.
Baptist Bible Fellowship International has had a presence in the Philippine Islands since our inception.
Frank and Elsie Hooge had been serving the Lord in Colorado when they surrendered to go to the Philippines as missionaries. They arrived for the first time in February, 1948. Elmer and Daisy Mae Gullion arrived as missionaries to the Philippines in October of 1949.
Both of these families became a part of the BBFI in 1950. Having very little financial support with which to begin, but with a pioneer heart, a dedicated spirit, and a biblical understanding of the Great Commission, the fruitful work of the BBFI in the Philippines had begun! Over the next few years many more families would go to the Philippines, having been sent and supported by BBFI churches.
Some great missionary families were approved by the BBFI in the 1950s:
Joe and Marguerite Vella, 1951
L.D. and Mava Lee Woosley, 1952
Fred and Lorene Null, 1952
Leslie and B’Etta Funk, 1954
Bob and Helen Hughes, 1955
Richard and Mary Schott, 1955
Bill and Dona Anderson, 1956
Howard and Eleanor Quinlan, 1957
David and Uldine Steffy, 1958
Lloyd and Edith Baker, 1959
Eventually, our contingency in the Philippines would be one of the largest we have anywhere in the world. We currently have 36 career missionary adults serving in the Philippines. That number is second only to Mexico in terms of BBFI career missionaries. They are listed in chronological order, using as our reference the year of their BBFI approval.
Current/Active:
David and Uldine Steffy, 1958
Lloyd and Edit Baker, 1959
Boyd and Donna Lyons, 1964
Frank and Finettie Howell, 1965
Delbert and Lora Lee Hooge, 1967
Bob and Sue Phillips, 1970
Herb and Brenda Hayes, 1971
Paul and Ellen Byars, 1975
Dennis and Gloria Ebert, 1978
John and Pam Quinlan, 1978
Mike and Sandy Reap, 1982
Greg and LuAnn Lyons, 1985
Gary and Jeanie Phillips, 1985
Mark and Michelle Johnson, 1986
Ed and Joyce Butler, 1987
Mike and Lenore Mislan, 1991
Lance and Melanie Gotcher, 1999
Bob and Gay Woosley, 2000
Faye Woods – STEP, 2003
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