The call to preach had been stirring the mind and warming the heart of Reverend Gillison for some time prior to the historic moment when he received his license. Many individuals in the community had detected ministerial qualities in him at a very early age. The environment that nurtured him played a unique role in molding his ministerial aspiration. His father, Reverend George W. Gillison, was a minister in the AME Church for many years. Several of his uncles and cousins were pastors. As a boy, Reverend John would come home from church and imitate his father in a creative worship service with young cousins and friends. Many of the adults frequently called him "little Rev". He was ordained an itinerant deacon and elder by Bishop S. R. Huggins.

It was in Hendersonville, South Carolina at the Quarterly Conference at Zion AME Church that he was questioned and received the necessary votes to be licensed to preach. The pastor was Reverend St. Julian Heyward. The presiding elder was Dr. J. B. Jennings who served over the Beaufort District.

Reverend Gillison was thirteen years old when his father died. However, he was blessed with a wonderful Christian mother, Myrtis, who kept her son focused on the positive things of life. Because of her influence, sacrificial support and appreciation of education, Reverend Gillison graduated from Allen University with a B.A. degree. He received the Master of Divinity degree from Turner Theological Seminary at the Interdenominational Theological Center in Atlanta, Georgia. He studied at Emory University and the University of South Carolina. Allen University honored him with the D.D. degree in 1975.

Reverend Gillison distinguished himself in many endeavors. He taught in the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Allen University, at Morris College in the School of Religion in Sumter, and at the Morris' extension school in Charleston. In 1978, Reverend Gillison was elected president of the Christian Action Council for South Carolina, making him the first Black person to fill this prestigious position. At that time the council consisted of seventeen participating denominations. He served on the General Board of the National Council of Churches (USA); was a delegate to the World Methodist Conference in Nairobi, Kenya; and was a delegate to several General Conferences of the African Methodist Church. He represented the Seventh Episcopal District on General Board of the AME Church. Having been a life member of the NAACP for many years, Reverend Gillison has been very active in the Civil Rights Movement of our nation. One of his greatest inspirations was the opportunity to visit with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in his home in Atlanta.

Reverend Gillison is a proud member of Alpha PHi Alpha Fraternity. He is married to the former Jean Alvesta Waymer of Elloree, South Carolina. Their oldest daughter, Afreda, is married to Royce Van Miller I; and they have two sons: Royce Van Miller II and Sean Gillison Miller. Their younger daughter is Gloria L. Gillison.

"Serving as a pastor has been a challenge and a Joy", he said. Reverend Gillison served four congregations: St.Paul/Piney Grove Circuit in Dixana, South Carolina; Chappelle Memorial in Columbia, South Carolina; Mt. Pisgah in Sumter, South Carolina and Mother Emanuel in Charleston, South Carolina

Currently, he serves as presiding elder of the Edisto District.