Pastor Gilman was born in 1941 in Portales, NM. He was “Born Again” in 1959, in Tulsa, OK through the witness of a co-worker, Fred Esau. In 1963, Pastor Gilman surrendered to preach at the Southwest Baptist Church in Tulsa, OK under the ministry of Pastor Bill Simmons. He graduated from Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri in 1967 and began pastoring the same year.

He was an Independent Baptist Preacher that pastored six churches, two of which he started. He pastored in OK, TX, CO, and NM. He surrendered to preach 55 years ago, pastored for 50 years, and retired after 37 years as Pastor of Bella Vista Baptist Church in Albuquerque, NM. For 37 years, he hosted an annual Labor Day Bible Conference that has been a help and encouragement to many pastors and laymen around the country.

In 2013, God laid upon Bro. Gilman's heart to call Missionary Matt Hudson to be the next pastor of the Bella Vista Baptist Church. In November of 2014, Pastor Hudson moved his family to Albuquerque and began co-pastoring with Pastor Gilman. They co-pastored for 3 years before Pastor Gilman smoothy transitioned the worked over to Pastor Hudson.

After a short battle with cancer, Pastor Clyde Gilman, 77, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, June 5, 2018.

Pastor Clyde Gilman was a man of the Word, conviction, and faith. He built a lasting legacy of preaching about grace, calling the backslidden home, and pointing hearts to the Father through messages on the prodigal son. What God did with him in Albuquerque, NM will continue to impact lives for eternity.