13,610
edits
Changes
m
Their Bob's mother was Esther E. Jones (1892-1976) Baylis. In 1890, Esther's fatherparents, David D. Jones (b. 1851 Wales - d. 1931 San Francisco, CA) and Anna L. Snook Jones (1867-1935 California) joined were involved with the first Open Brethren assembly in San Francisco, started three years prior assembly by evangelists Donald Ross & James Goodfellow, that met at Charles Montgomery's hotel. Montgomery is credited for introducing Harry Ironside to the Brethren in 1896, and he was invited to preach on Isaiah 53 after only two weeks visiting, although he later joined with the Grant Exclusives (and Moody Church)1890.
EstherDavid's brother (Bob's uncle) son Elmer A. Jones (1887-1973) was also commended by area assemblies in 1912 to evangelistic work in China, where he served until 1920, starting assemblies, then laboring in the Lord's work among Chinese immigrants in Oakland from 1926 thru 1932, with the founding of a home for Chinese children on 74th Avenue, which included evangelistic outreaches from young men at nearby Bethany Gospel Hall. More on Elmer's life and ministry can be found in Bob's "Brethren by the Bay", available thru Gospel Folio Press.
==Career==After graduating from collegeIn 1959, Bob continued , David Searle, David Curran and Hugo Santucci met to discuss and pray about starting an assembly to serve on staff with IVCF for three years reach those in the Great Lakes region of MinnesotaMoraga-Orinda area, returning to California to pursue graduate studies and in Literature at San Francisco State College1960, and Education at with additional help from the University families of California. Bob taught high schoolVic Namanny, David Pavey, Travers Welch, George Armerding, and Harry Baylis, they elected to cavass neighborhoods, resigning at with the age of 50 to open Logos Bookstore first children's meetings held in Bob & Naomi's home in Berkeley, and also opening 1961. Bob served as a travel teaching and touring agencypreaching elder in this assembly for many years. This church is still active, however rebranded as Willow Springs Church.
==Traveling==For forty years, Bob traveled worldwide, often leading groups of Christian students and alumni into Europe, Asia and the Middle East. He is credited with being one of the first to lead tours into Siberia. He was also an accomplished graphic artist, including silk screening (producing (and mailing 400+) original Christmas cardsfor friends), detailed metal etchings, drawings using pen and ink, charcoal and pencil, and . He was also an avid photographer, and well-known for a contagious love of books.
no edit summary
Robert Henry "Bob" Baylis was born October 21, 1924 in Oakland, California. He had , with one elder brother, Kenneth (1917-1997). His family contributed significantly to the development and health of assemblies throughout the San Francisco Bay area, that have impacted assemblies, and evangelicals around the world.
==Family==
===Paternal Ancestry===
Their father was Harry John Baylis (1892-1968), who was in fellowship served as a respected elder with a burden for home visits, with the Gospel Auditorium assembly of Oakland, where Bob was raised. Harry also served on the board of directors for the Open Door Mission. Harry was the son of 's parents were John "Jack" Baylis (1867-1948) and his wife Ellen R., who were both born in England, and emigrated to the U.S. emigrating in 1887, landing in Oakland in 1896, where he founded the Baylis Lighting Fixture Coa lighting fixture company.In fact, which Harry gave special "illuminated" Gospel lessons at various children's initiatives in Bob's uncle Edward inheritedchildhood. Jack was saved in 1888 while staying with Will Roberts at Montgomery's Hotel, and John which was , starting in 1887, the first open brethren assembly in fellowship San Francisco, started by evangelists Ross & Goodfellow. Montgomery is credited with introducing Harry Ironside to the Brethren, in 1896. Jack's friend Will was involved in the founding of a Sunday School in 1902 where Harry attended as a teenager, which became Alameda Gospel Hall, now Chapel. Bob attended SS here in his childhood, alongside Gospel Auditorium. Jack and his wife ministered regularly at the Healdsburg assembly at the "Rose Ranch" north of San Francisco in the 1920's-1940's, as did the Ed Deffenbaugh family (Naomi's family).
===Maternal Ancestry===
David D. Jones (Robert's grandfather) spent five years bi-vocationally (evangelist and U.S. government interpreter) in the Sz Yip district of China, subsequently founding the "Chinese Name Spelling Company" in San Francisco, which in 1904 issued a textbook for assisting businessmen in correctly spelling surnames in legal documents, which was recently reprinted. He was converted while in Bristol, England, and emigrated in 1873 first , initially to Pittsburgh, then nearby Beaver Falls where he taught developed a burden for the Chinese while teaching a Baptist Sunday School, in nearby Beaver Falls. He then traveled to Evanston (WY) , Wyoming where a thousand Chinese were temporarily settled, and then to Chicago where he found ministry among Chinese laundrymen, then doing the same in Boston , and New York each place establishing Sunday Schools among the Chinese, developing what Henry Ward Beecher called laundrymen. He was credited in 1886 the Hong Kong Mission before eventually walking to San Francisco, as credited by in a newspaper called "The Christian Union"newspaper, edited by Henry Ward Beecher, for developing Chinese SS's in these various places. At He eventually also spent five years working in the time Sz Yip district of China as an interpreter for the reportU.S. government. Upon reaching San Francisco, he was planning married Anna Snook, and they developed a trip to Hong Kong for further servicethat assisted government workers and businessmen in correctly spelling Chinese surnames, including a textbook in 1904 that was recently reprinted.
==Education==
Bob graduated from Alameda High School in 1942, and worked having served in leadership with the Sword & Shield Society (R.O.T.C. officers), the Swimming team, etc. During a stint working at Emporium Capwell's flagship department store at 20th & Broadway in Oakland, whom later employed Hugo Santuccihe enlisted into the U.S. Army on April 26, who with Bob1943. After the War, he earned a B.A. in English Literature from San Jose State College, which is where he made a personal decision to follow Christ, and Dave Curran would eventually cohe became active with Inter-found Valley Church of MoragaVarsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF), where Bob subsequently served many years including serving as chapter president for a teaching and preaching elderyear.
==MilitaryFamily==Bob enlisted into This was also where he met Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh, who was born Oct. 15, 1927, the Udaughter of Edward R.S(b. Army on April 261887 PA - d. 1985 CA) & Hilda M. Lawrence (b. 1890 ME - d. 1947 CA) Deffenbaugh. Naomi's mother was of Scottish heritage, 1943and her father's ancestry had settled Pennsylvania from Germany ca. 1709. Naomi was raised in Santa Rosa, CA and Savannah, GA, and she and Bob married June 25, 1949. They was involved with helping found a Christian Youth Fellowship (CYF) that year among the Bay area assemblies, where he served in World War Twowhich continues to have reunions.
==Education and FamilyCareer==After graduating from college, Bob continued to serve on staff with IVCF for three years in the WarGreat Lakes region of Minnesota, he earned a B.A. returning to California to pursue graduate studies in English Literature from at San Jose Francisco State College, and Education at the University of California. In 1955, Bob and Naomi moved to Richmond where he was active they were involved with Inter-Varsity Christian Fellowship (IVCF)Grace Chapel, including serving as chapter president for a yearnew assembly plant in that area. This was also where he met Clara Naomi Deffenbaugh of Santa RosaIn 1959, CaliforniaBob attended an "Experiment in International Living" trip to Europe, who had Santa Rosa Junior College, graduating from which inspired regular opportunities subsequently to organize and lead groups of university students and alumni on "international journeys designed to infuse travel with the University deep meaning of California at Berkeleythe Christian faith", as his son Jonathan phrases it. She was born Oct. 15, 1927, raised in SonomaThese travels extended into Europe, Asia and they married June 25the Middle East, 1949he was one of the first to lead a tour group into Siberia.
==Writing==
Bob also authored six books, including "My People", which is widely regarded as one of the most informative general histories of the Open Brethren in North America, particularly with regard to its impact on wider evangelicalism, with connections with inter-denominational ministries. Another book he authored is "The Brethren by the Bay", a pictorial history of the San Francisco brethrenassemblies. Additionally, he wrote commentaries on Romans ("A Letter to Nonconformists") and Ephesians ("Living in God's Household"), and Christian travel guides, "Europe on Purpose", and "Pilgrims' London". ==Occupations==Bob taught English at Las Lomas High School, resigning at the age of 50 in the mid-1970's to open Logos Bookstore in Berkeley, and also opening a travel and touring agency. Bob also served on the early Board of Directors in the late 1970's for New College Berkeley.
==Later Years==
In 1996, Bob and Naomi retired to Sonoma, California the Village Green senior apartments where they were active in Sonoma Valley Community Church, and it is remembered by his daughter that he continued to teach a Bible study there until he was in his late 80's. On April 11, 2020, Bob died peacefully, survived by two sons and one daughter, Jonathan (Loraine) Baylis, Kenneth (Tania) and Janet (James) Herrick, as well as nine grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, three nephews and a niece.
==Also See==
* His eldest son, Jonathan, has crafted a tribute page for Bob at [https://www.baylis.ca/robert-baylis Bob's Tribute].
* Ancestry.com