Southwestern Christian University
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Reverend Ernest L. Trueblood
Rev. Ernest Trueblood was one of 4 children was born into a circuit preacher’s home. His father worked as a painter to supplement the family income, teaching his children from example how to work hard and how to serve and love the Lord. Ernest (affectionately called Ernie by his friends) is a man of integrity, who loves people and is highly honored by all who know him.
At 15, Ernie left home to attend Southwestern as a Jr. in High School. While he was completing his education he held many jobs to pay his tuition and living expenses, i.e., in a chicken hatchery, an Auto Parts store as a shipping clerk, at Borden’s Dairy and the produce dept. of a grocery store. During his senior year of College at Southwestern, Ernie pastored the Gary, Oklahoma, PH Church about 50 miles west of Oklahoma City.
In 1952, Ernie was Ordained in the IPHC following in the heritage and footsteps of his father. While attending Southwestern College, Ernie met and married, Betty Major in 1952. Their son Paul was born in 1955 after Ernie graduated from Southwestern.
Ernie returned to the East Coast to Pastor in the Washington, DC area for a year and then 4 years in Jersey City, NJ. While in Jersey City, their daughter Sheri was born to this amazing family. In 1961, Ernie had the opportunity be the interim Pastor at Norfolk First PH Church, in Norfolk, VA. This was the church his wife Betty had grown up in. A year after returning to Norfolk VA, the Pastor resigned and Ernie was elected as the Pastor of the church. He cared for the people there from 1961 to 2003.
In 1987, Ernie led the congregation thru the process of relocating the church to Volvo Parkway in Chesapeake, VA., and renamed the church “Parkway Temple.” The church met at Indian River High School for 18 months while the new church was being built. What a joyous occasion it was to celebrate the first service of the new building in June of 1989. Ernie continued as pastor until his Transition (Retirement) in 2003.
Ernie was very respected in the City of Chesapeake. He received the key to the city and was instrumental in helping to establish May 1st as the National Day of Prayer for the city. During Chesapeake City Council meetings, he was often asked to come and pray over the meeting. To date, he has performed 620 weddings and 4,280 funerals, with over 2800 of those funerals since his retirement in 2003. Ernie learned to memorize Scripture at Southwestern in R.O Corvin’s Bible classes. At any funeral he officiates, Ernie quotes from memory all of the Scriptures he uses making the Word of God come alive with anointing.
Ernie, served the Eastern Virginia Conference (now called Regeneration Conference) well as a Lifeliners Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer. He served as a Conference Board Member for 8 years, then servced 8 years as the Assistant Conference Superintendent. The Conference asked Ernie to be the radio speaker for a program they put together in the 1970’s which was broadcast from Richmond, VA to Eastern North Carolina. He served in that area for 5 years. On a National level he served for 12 years on various IPHC committees. Upon his transition from Lead Pastor, the General Board of the IPHC asked him to work as a Planned Giving Officer which he did for 7 years. He enjoyed this ministry and working with people.
When Ernie transitioned from the Lead Pastor position, he attended Calvary Assembly of God where his son-in-law, David Highlander, is the Pastor. He serves in a consultant/Counselor/speaker position. For the past 16 years, Ernie has been very active in the local church ministry, where he is highly respected and honored.
At 86 years young, Ernie still fills the pulpit for several churches in the local area, teaches Bible studies and preaches at The Chesapeake Retirement Community where he and his wife now reside. He continues to serve people who ask him to Officiate funerals and weddings for their family. Ernie truly has a pastor/shepherd heart to love and serve people. His lifelong desire has been to love his family, serve God’s family and fulfill the Great Commission.
His family includes wife, Betty, son Paul and wife Cindy, daughter Sheri and husband Dave, grandchildren Lisa, Wendi, Angi and Jason and great-grandchildren Jaxon, Camdyn, Eli and Brysen, who love their PaPa T.
Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Reverend Ernest L. Trueblood
Rev. Ernest Trueblood was one of 4 children was born into a circuit preacher’s home. His father worked as a painter to supplement the family income, teaching his children from example how to work hard and how to serve and love the Lord. Ernest (affectionately called Ernie by his friends) is a man of integrity, who loves people and is highly honored by all who know him.
At 15, Ernie left home to attend Southwestern as a Jr. in High School. While he was completing his education he held many jobs to pay his tuition and living expenses, i.e., in a chicken hatchery, an Auto Parts store as a shipping clerk, at Borden’s Dairy and the produce dept. of a grocery store. During his senior year of College at Southwestern, Ernie pastored the Gary, Oklahoma, PH Church about 50 miles west of Oklahoma City.
In 1952, Ernie was Ordained in the IPHC following in the heritage and footsteps of his father. While attending Southwestern College, Ernie met and married, Betty Major in 1952. Their son Paul was born in 1955 after Ernie graduated from Southwestern.
Ernie returned to the East Coast to Pastor in the Washington, DC area for a year and then 4 years in Jersey City, NJ. While in Jersey City, their daughter Sheri was born to this amazing family. In 1961, Ernie had the opportunity be the interim Pastor at Norfolk First PH Church, in Norfolk, VA. This was the church his wife Betty had grown up in. A year after returning to Norfolk VA, the Pastor resigned and Ernie was elected as the Pastor of the church. He cared for the people there from 1961 to 2003.
In 1987, Ernie led the congregation thru the process of relocating the church to Volvo Parkway in Chesapeake, VA., and renamed the church “Parkway Temple.” The church met at Indian River High School for 18 months while the new church was being built. What a joyous occasion it was to celebrate the first service of the new building in June of 1989. Ernie continued as pastor until his Transition (Retirement) in 2003.
Ernie was very respected in the City of Chesapeake. He received the key to the city and was instrumental in helping to establish May 1st as the National Day of Prayer for the city. During Chesapeake City Council meetings, he was often asked to come and pray over the meeting. To date, he has performed 620 weddings and 4,280 funerals, with over 2800 of those funerals since his retirement in 2003. Ernie learned to memorize Scripture at Southwestern in R.O Corvin’s Bible classes. At any funeral he officiates, Ernie quotes from memory all of the Scriptures he uses making the Word of God come alive with anointing.
Ernie, served the Eastern Virginia Conference (now called Regeneration Conference) well as a Lifeliners Board Member and Secretary/Treasurer. He served as a Conference Board Member for 8 years, then servced 8 years as the Assistant Conference Superintendent. The Conference asked Ernie to be the radio speaker for a program they put together in the 1970’s which was broadcast from Richmond, VA to Eastern North Carolina. He served in that area for 5 years. On a National level he served for 12 years on various IPHC committees. Upon his transition from Lead Pastor, the General Board of the IPHC asked him to work as a Planned Giving Officer which he did for 7 years. He enjoyed this ministry and working with people.
When Ernie transitioned from the Lead Pastor position, he attended Calvary Assembly of God where his son-in-law, David Highlander, is the Pastor. He serves in a consultant/Counselor/speaker position. For the past 16 years, Ernie has been very active in the local church ministry, where he is highly respected and honored.
At 86 years young, Ernie still fills the pulpit for several churches in the local area, teaches Bible studies and preaches at The Chesapeake Retirement Community where he and his wife now reside. He continues to serve people who ask him to Officiate funerals and weddings for their family. Ernie truly has a pastor/shepherd heart to love and serve people. His lifelong desire has been to love his family, serve God’s family and fulfill the Great Commission.
His family includes wife, Betty, son Paul and wife Cindy, daughter Sheri and husband Dave, grandchildren Lisa, Wendi, Angi and Jason and great-grandchildren Jaxon, Camdyn, Eli and Brysen, who love their PaPa T.