Rev. Gustaf Johnson 

    Gustaf Johnson was born November 30, 1861 in Dunker, Södermanland, Sweden.  He was converted in 1883 and baptized in 1884 at Lucas, Iowa.  He attended what is now Bethel College and Seminary in 1887 and graduated in 1890.  He was a pastor at South Bend, Indiana from 1888 to 1891.  Then he went to Albert Lea, Minnesota from 1891 to 1893.  Then to Creston Iowa from 1893 to 1896, Salem, Wyoming from 1897 to 1899.  He served as a missionary in Kansas, from 1899 to 1900.  Was pastor at Sharon Springs, Kansas from 1900 to1901. Then Rev. Johnson came to Oregon as a missionary in 1901 and served until 1905.
    This account from the book, "Seventy-Five Years" of Bethel Theological Seminary.

    Temple was without a pastor for nine months in 1902, during which time the pulpit was supplied by former Pastor Uno N. Brauer and the Rev. Gustaf Johnson, who came to Oregon as a missionary in March, 1901.  On May 3, 1902, Rev. Johnson was received into the membership of what is now Temple Baptist Church having arrived from Sharon Springs, Kansas.  Rev. Johnson retired as missionary in October, 1905, but he and Mrs. Johnson remained as members of our church until his death in some kind of accident in Portland in November, 1919.  Mrs. Johnson served many years as secretary and president of the mission Circle and as a worker in the Sunday School.

    The following article was written by  Josephine Johnson, on pages 17 and 19, in the book, "Seventy-Five Years History" of the Columbia Baptist Conference: "Gustaf Johnson was called to be a missionary of the Oregon Swedish Baptist Conference and began his work in that capacity on March 1, 1901.
    The mission work on Oregon was a that time beset with many difficulties, one was the lack of railway communications with many communities, which the missionary visited regularly,  He was compelled often to walk long distances, for example, from Clatskanie to Fish Hawk; sometimes over the mountains from Tillamook to Carlton, a distance of 45 miles, for it cost $5.00 by stage and there was not always money available.  The salary was $700 a year and must be made to cover all the cost of caring for a family of six children, renting a house and paying travel expenses.
    "Dr. Woddy reports concerning him: 'Rev. Gust Johnson is the General Missionary among the Swedes of Oregon,  During the past year God had graciously blessed the work of this faithful missionary.  A number have been brought to Christ.  Missionary Johnson had during the year preached 187 sermons, led 37 prayer meetings, made 260 religious visits, and baptized 21.'"
    "Missionary Johnson closed his work as missionary in 1905.  In 1919 he met with an automobile accident in which he lost his life."

  "God is my strength and power: and he maketh my way perfect." 
2 Samuel 22:33