Rev. Ernest E Widby Sr. is married to the former Helen Maxine Myrick of Elizabethton. This union has blessed them with three children and seven grandchildren.

Pastor Widby entered the gospel ministry in June 1977 as a licensed minister at Phillippi Baptist Church in Elizabethton, TN and following completion of Bible Course at Emmaus Bible Institute of Elizabethton; and Pastorial studies at Tennessee Wesleyan in Athen TN. Pastor graduated that course of study from Emory and Henry in Emory, VA. in 1980.

Having satisfied the requirements of the U.M.C.; Pastir Widby was given a two-point charge with the United Methodist Church in the Holston Conference by Bishop Ellis Finger. While serving as Pastor of St. Paul UMC of Elizabethton and West Market Street UMC of Johnson City TN. Widby continued to matriculate in Theology at Westey Seminary in Washington, D.C. until 1984; when being lead of the Lord, he founded "New Zion True Gospel Tabernacle" in Johnson City, TN.

Most recently; from July 2003 until March 2006, Pastor Widby served as Chaplain of the Northeast Correction Complex in Mountain City, TN; a maximum security prison where he ministered to inmates and staff of more than 1800 souls and scheduled and staffed services for over 400 ministers of all faiths.