J Douglas Gilmore

January 1975-May 1978 Youth Pastor at Wiley Church, Marlton, NJ while attending seminary.

June 1978 - July 1980 Assistant Pastor - Wiley Church.

May 1978 joined the Eastern Conference of The Evangelical Church and began the process to become an Ordained Elder.

August 1980 - July 1987 was assigned Pastor of the Sawyer Evangelical Church, Bradford, PA.

May 1982 was ordained as an Elder of The Evangelical Church and entered into the Itinerancy.

1982 - to the present I have served in various Conference and Denominational offices and boards.

My entire life has been surrounded by the sense that God's love for each one of us is a reality that is clearly manifested in the life, death and resurrection of his Son, our Savior, Jesus. My father and mother, Cecil and Virginia Gilmore, devoted their entire lives proclaiming and living out that core truth. I grew up in the atmosphere of ministry at Wiley Mission. Dad and Mom were both ordained ministers and served as leaders of Wiley Mission, caring especially for the elderly.

At the age of 14 years old I was attending an afternoon worship service at Seyfert Holiness Campmeeting near Reading, PA. During that service the Holy Spirit came upon me and I had a spiritual experience that led me to a profound sense that God was calling me to pastoral ministry. It was a moment in my life that guided my life and decisions about my future education and vocation.

After I graduated from college I met and fell in love with Linda Thompson. Linda and I graduated from Lenape Regional High School in 1970 but did not really have any connection until after college. Linda graduated from Grove City College, Grove City, PA with a BA in Education. We were married on June 24, 1978. The Lord blessed us with four daughters, Becky (husband Mike), Pamela (husband Matt), Katie (husband Jimmy) and Virginia. We have seven beautiful grandchildren: Nikki and Desi, Celena and John, Jimmy, Ryan and Hunter.

We love the ocean, hiking and traveling. We are Phillies and Eagles fans, though I'll confess Linda is the more ardent sports fan. Gardening is a joy that I hope to enjoy more now that I'm retired (as of August 31, 2023).

I love the church. I have only one mission in life, to tell everyone about Jesus. I am a sinner saved by grace and I need that grace daily.

My life verse is Galatians 2:20 (KJV):

I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.