BIOGRAPHY of
Roderick L. Trusty, Pastor

 Pastor Rod Trusty previously pastored the Clermont Church of God in Clermont, Florida. He arrived in May, 1997 with 19 people attending the first service. Within weeks, the name was changed to CELEBRATION of PRAISE and a new vision and identity were birthed. Upon arrival, he immediately raised funds to hire a full-time youth and music pastor, the first in the church’s history, and upon his departure in October, 2007, the staff had grown to fifteen full-time pastors.

The average weekly attendance was 1,300 with thirty-nine different nationalities represented. Church membership grew from 71 to 1600 in just ten years and a new monthly tithe record was set in May, 2006 with over $154,000.00. The annual income exceeded $2.8 million.

The church relocated in May, 2001 to a newly constructed worship facility valued at $3 million and grew from 250 to over 800 in eighteen months. That building was sold to the city ten months later and 158 acres of prime real estate was purchased for $4 million. Construction on a new 70,000 square foot Family Life/Worship center was completed in October, 2004 and the property is now valued at $15 million dollars.

Pastor Rod led the Princeton Church of God in Princeton, North Carolina from October, 2007 until April, 2009. The Princeton Church of God was founded in 1941 and upon his arrival was averaging approximately 300 in weekly Sunday attendance. Two weeks after his arrival, the church hosted its first community-wide outreach and had 725 people in attendance at the Fall Family Festival in a town of only 1,200 people. Although Pastor Trusty’s tenure was short, he feels like strides were made to position the church for growth.

After only a short stint of 19 months in Princeton, NC, Pastor Rod returned to his city of destiny and launched engage church on August 9, 2009. With only a handful of people, the dream was reborn and his vision recast. engage church worshiped at Epic Theater in Clermont for over 19 months before leasing a 5,500 square foot facility in downtown Clermont in April, 2011. The church grew to 150 in two years.

On July 11, 2011, the mantle God had placed on Pastor Rod for Clermont, Florida 21 years earlier was lifted from his life and ministry and with a new sense of destiny and direction from the Lord has accepted the position of Lead Pastor at Suncoast Worship Center. He believes that SWC has the potential and passion to become a thriving, multi-cultural, multi-generational growing church of hundreds.

Pastor Rod attributes the phenomenal growth he has experienced in pastoral ministry to a call of divine destiny, a God-given vision, a passionate staff and leadership team of armor-bearers, ethnic diversity and progressively-minded, praying people. His companion of 30 years, Julie, is a vital part of their ministry and is gifted musically and administratively. Pastor and Julie have two children, Blake and Baylee.