Norvall Jerome Pickett

Norvall Jerome Pickett was an American evangelical minister with the American Baptist Churches USA during his 40 year career. During his career he was full-time pastor of six American Baptist churches in Southern California, part-time pastor in two other churches after his retirement, as well as interim pastor at several others. He was known as "The Building Pastor" building congregations as well as building new sanctuaries or other buildings, or renovating and remodeling all the churches he pastored full time. He was also very active in the camping ministry, usually running week-long summer family camps at Forest Home or Thousand Pines Christian Camp for most of the churches he served. He was very musical, playing the piano by ear and writing several songs, and also had a good singing voice which was helpful as he often led congregational singing. He also served the California state prison system, the US Air Force, and the US Navy as auxiliary chaplain during his career. He conducted the weddings and funerals of many notable figures in the communities where he lived.
Biography
Norvall Jerome Pickett was born into a farming family as the third surviving child of Francis and Gertrude Pickett in Trent, South Dakota on May 11, 1915. He lived on the farm near Britton, South Dakota until the family moved to California in 1926. They stayed briefly in the Monterey area but since it was cold and foggy they moved to Riverside, California, where his father had an uncle and other relatives. They bought a house in town and leased land where they grew mostly tomatoes and green beans.
After graduating from Riverside Polytechnic High School in 1935 he attended Riverside City College where he received several letters in track, especially for pole vaulting. After two years he transferred to the University of Redlands. Graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1939 he went on to graduate school at Northwestern Theological Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota, where William Franklin Graham, better known as Billy Graham, was president from 1948 to 1953. After graduating from Northwestern Seminary in 1940, he returned to Riverside where he was ordained at the First Baptist Church of Riverside and then married Jean Marie Bain, whom he had known from church meetings, on August 30, 1940.
His two older siblings were Opal and Francis Purl Pickett, both of whom also served in ministries to the church. Norvall's sister Opal Pickett was a church secretary for 40 years at at the First Baptist Church of Alhambra. His brother Francis Purl Pickett served as a missionary to the Belgian Congo in the 1930s and again in the 1940s after World War II. Both of Rev. Purl Pickett's daughters were born in Belgian Congo. He then went on to become a Professor of Bible and Missions at Grace Bible College in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Pastorates
Rev. Norvall Pickett's first pastorate was the First Baptist Church of Orange which at the time was affiliated with the American Baptist Church denomination. While pastor in Orange his two daughters were born, Sandra in 1941 and Carol in 1945. Rev. Pickett remained in Orange until 1946 when the family moved to Redlands so he could further his education.
His next move was to the Imperial County town of Holtville where he remained for four years from 1947 to 1951. While in Holtville, he helped build a beautiful new church building which was one of the first air conditioned buildings in Holtville.
He became pastor of the First Baptist Church in Lancaster, California in 1951. Here he built a new sanctuary for the growing congregation, which is still known as Pickett Chapel today. In 1977 the Baptist church moved to a different part of town, but the building is still being used by a different church. His son David was born in Lancaster in 1952. Rev. Pickett also had a radio program in Lancaster which was broadcast weekly during this time. Rev. Pickett remained in Lancaster from 1951 to 1956.
In 1956 Rev. Pickett moved back to Riverside, California and opened the Central Ave. Baptist Church as a mission of the downtown First Baptist Church. It was located on the corner of Central Avenue and Riverside Avenue. Meeting in an old two story farm building on the site, he soon began construction of a new sanctuary, then continued to live in the old farm house for a few years as as parsonage. While pastor he participated in many community events and preached at several baccalaureate services held at Riverside Poly High School. Rev. Pickett was pastor in Riverside from 1956 until 1962. Several years after he left, the mission church was closed when the parent church, First Baptist Church, moved from downtown to a location less than 2 miles away in 1965. While pastoring in Riverside he was also an auxiliary chaplain for the state prison system at Chino, California, as well as at the Rainbow and Oak Glen prison work camps.
During 1962 Rev. Pickett was Interim pastor in several communities including the First Baptist Church in Joshua Tree, California and First Baptist Church in Lake Isabella, California.
He was called to serve the First Baptist Church in Boron, California in January 1963. He moved to Boron full-time in August 1963 following a triple graduation in June wherein his wife graduated from Riverside Community College as a Registered Nurse, his older daughter graduated from the University of Redlands, and his younger daughter graduated from old campus. Rev. Pickett participated in baccalaureate services and graduation ceremonies for all three, then performed a marriage ceremony for his younger daughter Carol in August.
While serving as Boron First Baptist's pastor, he oversaw the redecoration of the interior and exterior of the Sanctuary building and the paving of the church parking lot, adding lights to the parking lot for evening activities as well. He led the congregation in the decision to purchase an additional 5 acres of land adjacent to the current parsonage across the street from the Boron Junior-Senior High School for future expansion of facilities. Vacation Bible School was held for two weeks each summer serving many children from the community, as well as family summer camps held at Thousand Pines Christian Camp & Conference Center in Crestline, California most summers. Rev. Pickett's wife Jean served the community of Boron as a registered nurse during this time. became a part of the church congregation after meeting Rev. Pickett one evening outside his parsonage while Norvall and his son were looking at the stars through a telescope. After learning of George's musical talent he was invited to practice at the church any time the church was open. George soon became a pianist and organist for the church which continued until his death. While living in Boron Rev. Pickett was an auxiliary chaplain for the Air Force at the Boron Air Force Station (750th Radar Squadron) which later became the Boron Federal Prison Camp/Boron AFS (site). Easter Sunrise services were held there each year while he was chaplain. He instituted an interfaith exchange with the Catholic Church in town exchanging pulpits with the local priest on occasions. While living in Boron Rev. Pickett served as Red Cross chairman, organized an annual community cleanup campaign, and also ran a campaign to beautify and modernize the community by installing thousands of feet of curb, gutters, and sidewalks throughout Boron. Rev. Pickett left the church to pastor the First Baptist Church of Ridgecrest in January 1970. Membership during this time grew to an average of 200 to 250.
Rev. Pickett moved to Ridgecrest in January 1970 as pastor of the First Baptist Church of Ridgecrest. Rev. Pickett oversaw the completion of the Sunday School Annex building and the complete redecoration of the church's (old, not current) sanctuary, doubling its capacity by removing interior walls. He added the grass area in front of the Annex building along Downs Ave. as well as a new sign and a carillon bell system to the church's steeple. While in Ridgecrest he also served as an auxiliary chaplain for the Navy at the China Lake Naval Weapons Center. Rev. Pickett was pastor in Ridgecrest from 1970 until 1975.
Semi-retiring in 1975 Rev. Pickett continued to serve American Baptist Churches by being part time pastor in Palmdale, California for several years, then in Rubidoux, California while living in Redlands. During his entire 40 year ministry he served the American Baptist denomination in pastoring in the smaller, outlying churches that are the mainstay of the denomination.
After retirement Rev. Pickett continued in the chaplain work by working at the Oak Glen Conservation Camp for many years. He also stayed active in a local Baptist church by being on the Deacon and Elder Boards and filling in as a speaker at times when the pastor was away, until his death on April 1, 2000.

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