Ernest Woodhouse

Ernest Woodhouse

Born in 1917, the only boy in a family with four sisters, Ernest Woodhouse was saved at the age of thirteen during a gospel service in Birmingham, England. At the age of seventeen, the Lord called him to join the Pilgrim Preachers, being commended to full-time service by his home Assembly there in Birmingham. The Pilgrim Preachers traveled throughout England, Scotland and Wales, preaching the gospel in open-air meetings, distributing tracts house-to-house, and witnessing on the streets.

During this time, invitations came from the United States for meetings in America, and in 1946 Ernest and a colleague made the voyage to the Americas. Ernest had expected the visit to the United States to last for just a few months, however, he met his future wife in Canada, and that changed everything. In 1949, in addition to preaching in the United States, Ernest was introduced to Emmaus Bible School, first as a visiting tutor, and subsequently as a staff member. During the summers, he taught at Guelph Summer Bible School, along with John Smart, Alfred Gibbs and Horace Locket, the president of the school.

In 1955, Ernest and Joy Woodhouse moved to New Jersey with their three children, where he continued to serve the Lord, preaching in Assemblies throughout the northeastern United States. During the 18 years in New Jersey, Ernest ministered in many places, traveling across the country frequently, and building up the Assemblies in the Northeast in particular. His service to the Lord included a radio ministry heard in many areas of the country and islands off the coast, as well as ministry in various positions with the oldest rescue mission in the country, the McAuley Water Street Mission in New York City.

In 1975, Ernest and Joy moved to the Park of the Palms in Florida where they have faithfully served the Lord, ministering to the saints, and actively participating in the conferences of the Park, and the ministries of the Assembly there. Ernest has led several trips to the Holy Land, and traveled extensively, ministering and visiting missionaries in such places as Hong Kong, China, Japan, Hawaii, Niger, France, Israel, Greece and Italy.