Order of the Faith

Orion B. Gleason was born April 10th, 1914, in Oregon City to Turner and Flo Gleason. Orion being the oldest son, it fell his responsibility to help support his family. It was The Depression era and jobs were not to be found. Money was scarce and life was sheer survival. He had become attracted to a girl by the name of Laurabelle Judd, who was in the same situation needing to support her family. But eventually on February 19th, 1938, Orion and Laurabelle were married. To this union, three children were born: Joanne, Turner and Janette.

Orion had quite an aptitude for business. He operated a small farm with a few dairy cows, built a chili factory on his property, and sold chili to a restaurant in town, worked three service stations, with the last one being specifically built just for him and he could operate it as he saw fit. Therefore, this station was not open on Sundays. Also if you purchased a full tank of gas, Orion would give out a loaf of homemade bread as a thank you made by Laurabelle. They worked as a team – without the one you would not have the other.

In 1949, Orion feeling called to the ministry, moved the family to St. Paul, Minnesota. They purchased a two-story house and made four two-room apartments out of it. Orion's family of five lived in one of the units, boarded three Bible school students in one of the units, and the other units were rented to other families going to school in St Paul.

In 1952, Orion graduated from ABI, but Laurabelle too had graduated from three years of hard labor as a dress maker, cook, bottle washer, keeper of children and the house in very tight quarters, but they all survived. The house was sold and everything packed up for the Orion Gleason family was going home.

In the fall of 1952, the family moved to Albany, Oregon to start a United Pentecostal Church. He purchased a big house that could be used as a church, as well as a living quarters. Orion sold Fuller Brush door-to-door to help keep food on the table while trying to grow a church. Eventually the house was outgrown, and the little congregation rented the Moose Lodge and later, a dance studio up two or three flights of stairs, until their own church building could be found.

The little church building purchased was at 230 East Pine Street, and is still a United Pentecostal Church to this day. No more setting up chairs, taking down chairs, or cleaning up trash left behind from other people. The foyer of the church there today was their whole auditorium! A very nice church has been added on and still stands as a witness in Albany, Oregon – co-pastored by Dennis and Nathaniel Johnson.

Orion's youngest daughter, now Janette Vidon, remembers her father wanting to purchase living quarters across the street from the church. Orion and Laurabelle were operating a rest home across town, but Orion wanted to be closer to the church. In due time, living quarters went for sale across the street from the church. However, the day he went to sign for the sale, the lady said she had changed her mind and was not going to sell. Janette remembers being devastated by the news, but Orion very calmly said, "It's okay, honey. I asked God to throw a monkey wrench in this if it was not His Will." In about two weeks, he was asked to be president of Conquerer's Bible College, which would entail a move to Portland. That was a blessed lesson that has lasted a lifetime! Trust God for His Will, is not necessarily what we think we want.

Orion was elected Northwestern District Superintendent in 1963 and remained President of Conquerer's Bible College in Portland, Oregon until 1966. He remained Northwestern District Superintendent until 1965, when the Northwestern District broke up into individual districts - each state being their own District.

Orion became the first District Superintendent of Oregon, being both Superintendent of the Northwestern District and President of CBC. His main goal was to be in touch with the people, not only the school, but also the District.

At this time, he had five states to cover and decided to take a summer to travel and get in touch with the people. He had a Volkswagen Bug and planned to get his 6'2 frame in there, along with his wife and daughter, a saxophone, accordion, a bass viola, and all the luggage needed for a 3-month trip. He figured out a way to strap the bass on top of the Volkswagen with a strap around the neck, which was fastened to the hood of the car. Needless to say, it was quite a sight. Packed in the car like sardines, they traveled for three months to encourage the churches with music, fellowship, and the Word. Janette said the one thing about their music together was that Dad played by ear and Mom played by note. Mother was always trying to find printed music, while Dad would just whistle the tune and expect us to start playing. Orion's music ability was very much a gift from God. He had only one music lesson on the sax, and that was the scale.

Orion Gleason became ill with multiple myeloma and had to give up his position in 1971. He received cobalt radiation for his cancer and it eventually went into remission. Not wanting to waste any time, he became Pastor in Rupert, Idaho for approximately nine months before the disease resurfaced with a vengeance.

Orion Gleason's life was one of giving with no resentment. He lived the same principles in whatever service he was called to do: food business, service stations, rest home care for the elderly, pastoring a congregation, president of a bible college, or superintendent of the Northwestern District and later Oregon. He lived what he preached and desired to bring glory to God in all of his life activities. That which was within came out through his actions. He passed from this life on July 17th, 1973. He fought a good fight and kept the faith, and has gone on to receive his reward.