Our History
Apostle Ernest William Sellers
1869 - 1953
Apostle Ernest William Sellers
1869 - 1953
The Instrument that God used to reveal His Doctrine
Ernest William Sellers (Daddy John), born August 30, 1869, in Portage County, Wisconsin, was an American businessman and religious man.
From 1922 to 1925, he ran a business in Havana, Cuba, which he also used as a Christian meeting center that he called Gideon Mission.
In mid-1924, George Smith from Westchester, Massachusetts, arrived in Havana to prepare Daddy John for a greater purpose, despite never having met before.
The Chosen One
This servant of God, George Smith, while in Havana, took on the task of finding the “Chosen One.” During one of his walks through the city streets, he passed by Daddy John’s establishment and felt a vibrant sensation course through his soul.
The Holy Spirit was signaling something. He entered the establishment and, upon seeing Daddy John, received divine confirmation that Daddy was indeed the “Chosen One”—much like Philip’s encounter with the Ethiopian eunuch in the biblical account.
Smith presented Daddy with the message he had received from God. Their first interview lasted until one in the morning.
Over the next four months, Smith used Scripture to show Daddy that he must renounce all earthly possessions and dedicate himself completely to the Lord’s work.
This echoed Christ’s command to the ancient apostles: “And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple…”
Smith reminded Daddy how the apostles “left their boats and nets and all their possessions, served the Lord and followed him.” This, Smith explained, is the true life of faith.
"All my business is for the Lord,"
From that moment on, Daddy John, convinced of God’s calling—much like Saul of Tarsus—was not rebellious to the heavenly vision and accepted the divine calling.
He placed a sign with large letters in his establishment that read: “All my business is for the Lord.” Indeed, he sold all his possessions to dedicate himself wholly to the Lord’s service.
On June 2nd of that same year, Smith made a special healing prayer in favor of Daddy John for a diversion in his spinal cord. The Lord honoring his word and faith of his servant healed him completely.
Daddy John was then baptized by immersion in the biblical way. Later, at the Gideon Mission during the Anointed Convention, he received the baptism of the Holy Spirit on June 8, 1924, as promised and led by Smith.
This experience brought him the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Forgiven of his sins, Daddy John received the fulfillment of the prophet Joel’s words: “And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my spirit upon all flesh…” (Joel 2:28). Thus, his old inner self died, and a new creature was born.
Missionary Journey
Furthermore, Daddy John continued his missionary journey. While in the United States, he received a message from the Lord that Gideon’s name should be changed to “John.” Since he was already known as “Daddy,” his spiritual name became “Daddy John.”
After his missionary journey through eight countries, Daddy John returned to Havana to establish the church in Cuba. On March 25, 1930, he registered the church’s regulations with the Provincial Government of Havana, Cuba.
Daddy John spread his message across Cuba, with notable success in Matanzas. There, he conducted a Divine Healing Evangelism campaign, baptizing over 500 people in the San Juan River and praying for thousands of sick individuals. His largest single-day baptism occurred in Monte Alto, Matanzas province, where he baptized 71 people.
A Message from God for a Perfect Doctrine
One day, two unknown men approached Daddy John. Their appearance and message led many to believe they were messengers of God.
They told him that the church’s doctrine was not yet perfect. When asked why, they replied, “Because you have pictures.” Daddy John showed them around the church to prove there were no idols or images for worship.
They responded, “It’s true there are no idols, but your clothes and paintings are filled with images of creation.” They then cited Scripture to support their point: “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above…” (Exodus 20:4).
Daddy John heeded the rebuke, and on September 30, 1928, declared a “Day of Holocaust” where clothes, mattresses, and photographs bearing images were burned.
Later, on June 13 of the same year, following God’s guidance, he relocated to the Central Headquarters in Playa Baracoa, Havana Province, Cuba. There, he led the church until his death.
Death of the Apostle Daddy John
Ernest William Sellers, the founder better known as Daddy John, passed away on February 25, 1953, at 5 p.m. He was 83 years old when he died in Playa Baracoa, Havana Province, Cuba.
Nevertheless, Daddy John left a trail of glorious fond memories and a great work of hundreds of missions and an infinite number of adherents and countless numbers of written works.
The following day after his funeral the last will and testament of the Apostle Daddy John was read, among other things it was learned that the Bishop in Great Echelon Ángel María Hernández Esperon who was his primary assistant would take his place in the leadership of the Church.
And for all his works and deeds, would we not say that his name is written in the Book of Life?