/.

P"

01074

TIHDMB-NAIL SKETCH K)R MISSIOHABY FAMILIES

TMs information will help with the preparation and! publicity of the Missionary Picture Book,
197^.
Husband.* s
Hame

Alvin Ray Carlson

Bom (place)
Date

St Louis, Mo

September 15, 1914-

Wife * s

Hame

Bom (Place) Cherokee, Iowa

Imogen Ena Paulson

Bate
Address

Cebu Christian Mission

Nation

March 2, 1911

City/state

Philippines

#1 C^
~6ior

ZIP Code

POEWAEDING AGENT

Name
Address

'

^i^st Christian Church

P. 0 Box 70

City/State Powiey. California

Roosevelt High School

ZIP Code

City/State

Cincinnate Bible Seminary

College

Seminary/Graduate
When & Where Baptized

City^tate

FAMILY FACTS

University

90241

&h 11a G0,111

Chicago7 111.

City/state

Cincinnati, Ohio

City/state

Bnid, Oklat

1926 Chicago , 111.

Single

Married

CHILDREN

Month/Day/Tear

Place of Birth

Names

Mark Robin Carlson

Enid, Oklahoma

February 16, 19^0

Lawrence Ray Carlson

Camp VI, Cebu, Philippines

February 2^, 19^2

Theodore Emil Carlson

Cebu City, Philippines

November 3# 19^7

CHEilSTIAN SERVICE

What

Where

When

LIST OF TEEMS OF MISSIONARY SERVICE

Starting Date
Second Term
Third Term
Fourth Term

Fifth

Term

Furloii^
Furlough
Furlough
Furlough
Furlough

Date
Date
Date
Date
Date

Mission Location
Mission Location
Mission Location
Mission Location
Mission Location

Short siammary of present missionary service and accomplishments;

(iJse back of this sheet or second sheet, if needed.)

MSSION

Cebu City, Philippines

Ray Carlson comes from Swedish stock. His paternal grandfather

came to America in the 1880*s settling in Jacksonville, Illinois,
where he and his wife were converted to N.T. Christianity in the
church there that was ministered to at one time hy Barton W, Stone.
His father, Smil Carlson, left the Disciples with his family in the
1930's after Edward Scrihner Ames of the Disciples Divinity House of

the University of Chic^o had dedicated the new church building of

the Irving Park Christian Church and the Church had decided on a
policy of open membership. Brother Carlson was sent to Cincinnati
Bible Seminary by the Metropolitan Church of Christ in Chicago where
Perry Updike ministered. The congregation had been led by Charles
Reign Scoville and J.H.O. Smith.

Brother Carlson ^aduated from C. B. S. in 1937#

The Carlsons were interned by the Japanese for- three^-vears

during W.W. 2.

They established Cebu Bible Seminary in 19^7#

There

are at the present time fifty churches in the Central Philippines

which have been established with the aid of many Filipino leaders.
An average of about 200 people have been baptized each year. Recently
Brother Rollie Lusoc has been called to be president of the school.

The Carlsons are proud that the Filipino brethren are now doing

all the planni^ and programing for the work and are taking more and

more responsibility in the support of these activities. However,

they regret that financial limitations have prohibited evangelism in
many provinces which need to be evangelized. There are at least 15

provinces (corresponding to our states) which need missionary families

in the provincial capitals.

The policy of the mission has been to approach no particular

individuals as mission prospects, but to wait for the leading of
the Lord in the hearts of those who are willing to dedicate them
selves completely without counting the cost for the Philippine field
of oin: Lord.

Imogene Carlson is a fourth generation Christian-only. Her

parents and all her mother's people were active in the ch\n:*ch. She
is a grandau^ter of R.D. Cotton, a nineteenth-century preacher and
a writer for the church. She has taught English, Comparative Reli

gions, Pedagogy and Restoration Literature in Cebu Bible Seminary.

She has been a church pianist and organist since she was thirteen.
All the church pianists and organists in the Visayan area of the
Philippines have been trsiined by her.

Mrs. Carlson met her husband at Cincinnati Bible Seminary

where they both received B,A. degrees.

evangelize the Visayan area.

She helped her husband

They were instrumental in founding

and teaching many Churches of Christ in the islands.

The yputh group from which came many well developed leaders
met in the Carlson home for years every Sunday afternoon.

in

CEBU cl3HRia!BlJlN;iMSSI0N
P. O. Box 41

Cebu City, Philippines

CHRISTIAN SERVICE

Where

What

When

Metropolitan Church of Christ

Chicago, Illiri^Qia

Rolls Bill Chxirch of Christ

Qincinnati, Ohio

Pleasant Drove Church of Christ

Leader of Youth Group

19-32

Student

1934

Flat Rock, India,r^iji

Student Mini ster

Newbern, Ii^dTfina.

Student Minister

1935-36

Loveland. Ohio

Student Minist^-r

1936^37

Bavard. Nebraska

Located Minister

1937-'?0

Student Minister

193040

Bahlta. Qjtlahoma
Chicago, ixiinois

Logan Square Church o-F Christ

Established new Church

^Minister

March 1935
Jan. 1958

LIST OF TERMS OF MT;rsIONARY SERVTHR

Furlough Date
Starting Date
Second Term
Third Term

Mission Location

March 2^, mi July 5. 19^6

May 15. 19^7
Sept. 8, I950
Jan. 6, 1952

Fourth Term

F_^. 8, 1958

S 4th1"Teisa.a;;
Seventh Term

SM-i
raarcn Zt, 1973

Cebu City, Philippines

Cebu
City, Philippines
Leave of absence
Cebu City, Philippines
^^11 i955-Jaiu58
Gl

w
Cebu City, Philippines

TL L

Iji^ r j

That you may knoR..

I

BACKGROUND OF CEBU

Cebu is outstanding in the pages of Philippine history. It

was at Cebu Harbor that Magellan landed upon his arrival in the
Islands in April of 1521. Also, the first Sp2uiish settlement was
established on Cebu. With the Spanish conquerors also came the
Roman Catholic friars, who set about to convert the pagan inhab
itants of the Islands. Before the Spanish-American War, almost

the whole of the population was Catholic (in name at least). In 1898,
after the American occupation, the first Protestant missionar
ies were allowed in the Islands. As a result of the comity agree
ment a few years later, to which the Disciples of Christ sub
scribed, Cebu was designated as Presbyterian territory.

The predominant Roman Catholic religion has much in

fluence on the customs of the people. Fiestas (religious feasts)

are held on all important days. Processions with lighted torches
and idols are common sights.
II

HISTORY OF THE WORK

In 1941, the Vernon Newland and Ray Carlson families

arrived in Cebu and evangelized until they were interned by the
Japanese for three years.
Churches have been established in several towns on the

Island of Cebu and the near-by islands of Panay, Negros, Surigo, and Mindanao.

Miss Betty Yarbrough, j [raduate of Atlanta Christian College, came in November of 195< ; to strengthen the teaching staff

of the Cebu Bible Seminary.

Brother and Sister Elston Knight arrived on the field in

August of 1953. They are helping in general evangelizing as well

as in the Seminary.
Ill

THE WORK TODAY

The churches that have been established, including prea

ching points, are as follows: In Cebu City are the churches at

Matires, led by Brother Jose Villagracia; Cebu Provincial Jail,
ministered to by Brother Ignatio Tagalog; Carreta, with Elder

Juan Maramara in charge; and Pelaez, under the leadership of

Ray Carlson.

Other churches on the Island of Cebu, which comprises one

province, are the churches at San Isidro, led by Brother Pedro
Panoy; Balamban, led by Brother Narvisco Curacha; Buyog, star-

ted and led by Brother Liboncogon of the Balamban church; San

tander, ministered to by the Joyohoy brothers; and the preaching

point at Tuyan, Naga.

In Surigao province, Brother Juan Consigna has alone led

the Buhing Calipay church and recently established another con
gregation at San Isidro, Numancia. The work on the Island of
Negros was begun in 1939 by Brother Justo Dusoc, who was killed
by the Japanese during the last World War. The church at Guil-

jiingan is a direct result of his work and is now being directed by

one of the elders, Brother Albino Lacson. Sister Florista Millen-

dez has long assisted in the woman's and children's work. The
Camingdanga church is the result of efforts initiated byGuiljungan
elders led by Brother Felipe Vallebagoso.
In the province of Davao, which is the center oftheabacca

(Manila hemp) industry. Brother Santiago Bernabe, who was with

us in Cebu CiW for several years, is now working. He has a con

gregation at (jatalunan Grande, Davao City. Brother Jubay, of
Mahayag, Davao City, is holding regular services for the people of

that barrio. Recently a new field has been opened up for the Gos
pel with the conversion of the active leader. Brother Win Parreno.

He and his good wife are spreading the Lord's table and evangel

izing Uie city of Bacolod in Occidental Negros. He has also begun

preaching in the local provincial jail with gratifying results. Bro

ther Parreno also has heen instrumental in leading the church at

Rizal, Estanzuela, in Iloilo City to come out of denominational-

ism. A preaching point at barrio Lapus in Iloilo City has been

carried on for some time by Brother Leo Castellano.

Since 1941, approximately 1000 persons have been bap

tized. We ask that you remember all of these churches and their
ministers in your prayers.

Only three congregations have their own buildings Guiljungan, Santander, and Martires. Martires church does not own

its land, and the mission owns no propertyyet.

The Cebu Christian Mission has only three full-time na

tive workers. They are Jose Villagracia, Cresencia Labrado,

and Florista Millendez. Part-time workers include Ignatio Tagalog,

Teodore Rendon, and Juan Maramara.

All other men that have

been previously mentioned are sacrifically giving their time,

money, and talents without remuneration from the Mission.

The Cebu Bible Seminary, in order to meet a long-felt need

for better trained workers, opened classes in 1947. Five gradu
ates have completed four-year courses. The present student body
is 45. All the missionaries are teaching, in addition to Brother
Jose Villagracia and Sister Cresencia Labrado.

We have inaugurated a monthly church paper in the Cebuano

dialect, called "ANG KRISTOHANON" (The Christian).

It con

tains the Bible school lessons and church news. It will not be self-

sufficient for some time. We consider it as indispensable.

A weekly radio program over DYRC and DYH2 is aired for
15 minutes every Sunday morning at 7:45. Many are hearing it
and we are surely reaching folks otherwise unreached. It costs
$7. 50 a week.

IV

NEEDS

The present call for housing for the Mission is important

because of the six needs which are constantly felt. First of all, we
need four well-equipped class rooms. We need a dormitory for
boys, accomodating at least 25 students. We need the same for

firls. We should have a chapel building with seating capacity of

50, and a library. The Mission office and bookstore are at pre
sent improvising.

Other continual needs of the Mission, taking into consider

ation the needs of expansion, are as follows:

Support for fulltime evangelists$60 a month minimum

Support of Cebu Bible Seminary students at $10 a month
$25 a month to underwrite the monthly paper, "Ang Kristohanon"
$30 a month to pay for the weekly radio program

Food parcels

First-aid kits equipped with common house-hold medicines,

and vitamin pills of all kinds

Used Bible School literature

Reference books for Cebu Bible Seminary library

Hymn books

Clothing suitable for a climate only 10 degrees north of the

Equatorespecially garments for men and new babies
35 mm Kodachrome film to use in taking slides of the work

SUGGESTION TO MISSIONARY GROUPS

Slides of the work with explanatory scripts are available

from Mission Services, Box 968, Joliet, Illinois.

Coconut banks are also available upon request.

We refer

you for this and all other information concerning the work to our
forwarding agents who are:
1. For the Carlsons

Mrs. Raymond Jackson

P. O. Box 7, Latonia Station

Covington, Kentucky

2. For the Knights

Mr. and Mrs. Ray S. Tolliver

P. O. Box 924
Lios Gatos, California

3. For Miss Yarbrough

Mrs. J. L. Bartley
708 Woodland Ave. S. E.

Atlanta, Georgia

Write the missionaries of the Cebu Christian Mission on

the field at P. O. Box 41, Cebu City, Philippines. They are:

Ray and Imogene Carlson
Elston and Mary Knight
Betty Yarbrough

Ordinary mail to the Philippines is 5c; airmail, 25c for

each half ounce, and airletters (with no enclosures), 10c.

We wish to acknowledge the churches that have faithfully

and substantially helped this work. Those deserving mention are
as follows: Latonia Christian Church, Covington, Kentucky; and
First Christian Church, Inglewood, California. These two chur
ches have underwritten the support of the Carlsons since 1940.
Churches supplying livinglink for the Carlson boys are the Church
of Christ, Cherokee, Iowa; Petersburg, Indiana, church; and

Greenville, Illinois, church. Miss Yarbrough's supporting church

is the Grant Park Christian Church in Atlanta, Georgia. The
Knights wish to mention that their livinglink support i s pledged
by approximately 125 individuals and 18 different church groups.
Space does not permit the listing of all the individuals, but every
contributor, whether an individuals or a group, i s considered

equally important in this enterprise of Faith. Regardless of the

size of the contribution, it is a sincere desire to thank God for all

who share, and give Him all praise for the contributions, for He
alone knows that degree of love and sacrifice that motivates and
accompanies the gifts given, and only He can adequately reward

each one. The 18 different groups that regularly contribute a given

amount toward the livinglink support of the Knight family are as

follows: The Church of Christ and its Youth group, Gardena, Cal
ifornia; West Side Church of Christ, and its Loyal Daughter's
Class, Springfield, Illinois; Alvarado Church of Christ, Los An-

feles, California; Fairview Christian Church, Manchester, Okla-

oma; Napa, California Christian Church; Lakewood Church of

Christ, Long Beach, California; Christian Church, Lorane, Ore
gon; Youth Group and High School Class of Church of Christ,

Chadron,

Nebraska;

Church of Christ,

Dunsmuir,

California;

Senior C. E. of Ridgecrest Christian Church, Albuquerque, New

Mexico; Win-A-Chum Class of Church of Christ, Willow Springs,

Missouri; Junior Class of Church of Christ, Merced,

California;

Men's Bible Class of Christian Church, Zillah, Washington; Eu

nice Circle of Central Christian Church, Beloit, Wisconsin; Junior

Endeavor of Church of Christ, Pierre, South Dakota.

THE WORK NEEDS YOUR PRAYERS,

AND OUR EVANGELISTIC

EFFICIENCY DEPENDS TO A LARGE EXTENT ON YOUR GIFTS

WE LAY THE SALVATION OF THE FILIPINO PEOPLE

ON YOUR

HEARTS