Rev. Fernando E. Temple, Sr., the son of the late Rev. Hilliard R. Temple, Jr., and Mrs. Mildred B. Temple, was born in Eastern Henrico County and educated in Henrico County Public Schools. He served faithfully in his home church, First Bethel Baptist Church, as Sunday School Superintendent, Deacon and Youth Minister. After serving four years in the United States Air Force, he returned home and began a career with Roadway Express, as a driver/salesman, retiring after 25 years of faithful service. He resumed his service in his home church and was licensed to the gospel ministry by First Bethel in December 1980, was ordained in June of 1981 and began his pastoral career in July 1982.
He served as Pastor of the Brown Grove Baptist Church in Ashland, Virginia, for 20 years. The Lord sent him to be the under shepherd of Parker’s Grove in December of 2004. Rev. Temple has over 40 years of pastoral experience and has served the churches and communities unselfishly. He is a faithful servant of the Lord and loves people and the work of ministry. He served in positions ranging from Vice Moderator to Moderator of the Chickahominy Baptist Association of Hanover County, and worked with the county planning commission to protect the interests of the church. He is a member of the Hampton Ministers Conference of which he has attended for over 30 years, along with the Baptist Minister’s Conference of Richmond and Vicinity. In North Carolina he served with the West Roanoke Missionary Baptist Association and served on the committee to rewrite the criteria for ordination of new ministers. He was one of the leaders in the organization of the Northeast, North Carolina Minister's Conference.
He is an expository preacher/teacher and an excellent student of the bible. He earned a bachelor of religious education from the Virginia University of Lynchburg, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Infinity Bible Seminary of Richmond, and earned a Doctor of Divinity from Master’s International School of Divinity, Evansville, Indiana.
He has been married to the love of his life, the former Annelore Dent for almost 50 years and of this union there are three children and ten grandchildren. Annelore retired from ChildFund International after 31 years, as Administrative Assistant of the Marketing Dept.
He is a lifetime student of the ministry and believes in the continual preparation to effectively lead and serve God’s people. His favorite scripture is Romans 8:28.