Rev. Vily Able Guidroz

Vily Guidroz was born October 6, 1906, in Louisa, Louisiana, of very humble beginnings. Reared as a Methodist in the lower Louisiana swamplands, his godly mother guided his spiritual journey. He received the Holy Ghost and was baptized in Jesus' name at age fifteen and began preaching at age seventeen.

Brother Vily, as he was called, married a beautiful, gospel worker and school teacher, Dora Emily Raggio. Vily and Dora had nine children, six daughters and three sons: Glory, Grace, Billye, Faith, Judy, and Wanda, Vily Arlen, Ronald Leslie, and Lowell David. All three sons became UPCI ministers. Three of his grandsons, Eldredge Guidroz, Kerry Hammer, and Lucky Guidroz, are also licensed with the UPCI.

He was ordained by the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World on October 15, 1926, at approximately twenty years of age and later joined the Pentecostal Ministerial Alliance.

Brother Guidroz joined the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ in 1931. He pushed for the merger of the Pentecostal Church Incorporated and the Pentecostal Assemblies of Jesus Christ and he was present at the United Pentecostal Church Incorporated merger conference in 1945. Brother Guidroz was elected Texas District superintendent in 1952, and served for over nineteen years, until 1972.

Brother Guidroz provided much of the inspiration for the purchase and development of the Texas District Camp Ground, which is now dedicated to his memory.

In his early years, he traveled widely in evangelistic ministry, especially serving a ''circuit'' of churches in the Northern States.

His most notable revival was an outdoor meeting in Leesville, Louisiana, in 1928. The whole city turned out and over 200 received the Holy Ghost. He was the Founding Superintendent of Texas Bible College, and developed it into a formidable training center for ministers.

After serving as pastor of several churches in Louisiana and Texas, he founded Peace Tabernacle at Goose Creek, Texas, which is now Baytown.

Above all, Vily Able Guidroz was a preacher of never-to-be-forgotten sermons. He spent many days at courthouses to hear presentations from lawyers in order to better learn how to communicate.

While Brother Guidroz was preaching a revival for A. D. Urshan in New York City, the young Columbia University student, Nathaniel Urshan, gave his heart to God and received the Baptism of the Holy Ghost.

He was a motivated and driven man; a man who never lost sight of the road ahead and he won his race.

He passed from this life on November 22, 1985.