Elmer G. Hall was bor in Springfield, Vermont. His church membership was at First Baptist Church at Pomona, California, and was educated at the University of Redlands (1922-26) and the Newton Theological Institute (1926-28). He was ordained on September 9, 1927 by Pomona First Baptist Church. Margaret Wickliffe was born in Parlier, California. Her church membership was at Selma First Baptist Church in Selma, California, and was educated at the University of Redlands (1925-1928), Newton Theological Institute (1928), and the New England Conservatory of Music for voice (1928). She grew up in church her entire life, but doubted her salvation because she felt she relied more on church membership and baptism for salvation and not Christ. However, after a revival meeting, she decided to truly believe and was baptized. From then on, she made a commitment to full-time Christian service. She met Elmer through their involvement in the choir of First Baptist Church, Redlands while attending college. They were married on August 26, 1927. In January of 1929, they were appointed by the American Baptist Foreign Mission Society in Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo). While in Zaire, they helped establish the first Christian center as well as preaching and developing local congregations. They retired from missionary service in 1965 after 36 years. Their memoirs, Adventure Shared was published in 1991.