--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Junious Augustus Blake, Sr. was born on October 5, 1912 in Camden, Arkansas. He was
the fourth of seven children born to Eason and Ethel Blake.
He attended grade school in Texarkana, Arkansas and received Theological training at
Shorter College in North Little Rock, Arkansas. In 1946, he received a Bachelor of Theology
Degree from Shorter College.
He was called to the ministry in 1927. He pastored various churches through the state of
Arkansas. He served as a District Superintendent and also as president of the Youth
Department in Arkansas.
In 1935, he married Lula Champion. To this union two sons were born.
At the request of Bishop S.M. Crouch, Bishop Blake came to California. He was appointed
pastor of Jackson Memorial Church of God In Christ in San Diego, California.
In 1948, Bishop Blake was appointed District Superintendent. In 1959, he was ordained as
a Bishop in the Church of God In Christ. He faithfully served as the Administrative Assistant
to Bishop S.M. Crouch. He was the past president of the Interdenominational Ministries
Alliance of San Diego and a past board member of the NAACP in San Diego, CA. He also
served as a member of the Board of Directors of Pacific Coast Bank in San Diego.
Bishop Blake served four terms of as a member of the General Board of the Church of God
In Christ, Inc. During his last term, he was appointed Second Administrative Assistant to the
International Presiding Bishop of the Church of God In Christ, Inc.
He has served as Interim Bishop of the Kansas, Oregon, Utah, and Arkansas Jurisdictions.
He was appointed Bishop of the First Jurisdiction of Southern California in 1976. Under his
leadership, the First Jurisdiction continued to flourish. Bishop Blake died on November 13,
1984.
Bishop J. A. Blake
