Welcome to Jericho City of Praise
His Story
Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readth it.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie:
though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."
For as many leaves you see on these trees,
will be as many members I will send to your ministry
– Well, since we must pick a place to begin, why not July of 1963. Having been in the Evangelistic Ministry of the Gospel
of God for almost one year, the late Reverend James R. Peebles, Sr. organized The Peebles Gospel Chorus under the
musical direction of his wife, Betty. Reverend Peebles and the chorus traveled
near and far spreading the gospel and winning souls to Christ.
November 1964 had still another calling for the Peebles, the organization of a small Baptist Mission founded in the basement
of the Odd Fellows Hall in Washington, D. C. The Reverend James R. Peebles, Sr., his wife, Betty, their sons,
James and Johnny, Aunt Lucy Lane, and Deacon Anne F. Wesley met together in that Odd Fellows Hall and initiated the
mission. The mission later became part of the Rohoboth Baptist Church under the direction its Pastor, the
late Apostle A. H. S. Johnson, and was later recognized as the Jericho Baptist Church, Inc.
- Jericho Baptist Church, Inc
- November 1964
For as many leaves you see on these trees,
In 1967, seeing and recognizing the need for a permanent place of worship, the Lord enabled Pastor James Peebles to secure a loan of $7,500 from his
job’s credit union to purchase land on Douglas Street
for the erection of a small edifice for worship.
In 1968, God enabled Betty Peebles to place $2,000
with a builder, Mr. Sarbacher,
to begin the first building.
In March 1969, the building was finished, and we
moved in with a $31,000 mortgage. Pastor Peebles
drew all of his people close and began planning
programs to meet the financial obligations.
However, as a good shepherd, he always reminded us of our spiritual duties; thus, many prayer weeks and home-to-home prayer meetings began in addition to our regular services. Thanks be to God, January 1973 marked our first mortgage burning. Glory to God, the little church became overcrowded. As we stood around the walls, in the little kitchen and even around the outside door, we began planning another building.
In 1973, God gave us a miracle. Mr. Hardisty, the owner of the adjacent lot to our property, gave this property to the Jericho Baptist Church without cost.
In 1977, we built and moved into our 800-seat auditorium with a mortgage of $1.3 million. We remained in that building until the mortgage was paid in full.
Jericho Christian Training Center/College - 1978
In 1978, the Lord took Jericho to another dimension. In September 1978, we launched our new Jericho Christian Training Center/College, beginning the first three-hour semester. The college has grown to great heights, graduating over 7,000 students.
Thanks be to God, many counseling and help services have come into being under the sponsorship of the Jericho Baptist Church. The People of the Word Ministry (POW) and the Upper Room Ministry minister the Word of God and helping people with personal and physical needs. We branched out into such services as: An Upper Room opened for prayer, counseling and holy communion daily; a convalescent home ministry; a ministry for the incarcerated; a new-members prayer partners ministry; a radio follow-up ministry; an in-hospital "cheer-up" ministry; a boys and girls home ministry; a bookroom ministry; a printing ministry; a tape ministry; a video-tape ministry; a TV Production ministry, an intercessory prayer ministry; a youth ministry; Taking Washington for Jesus; Hearing Hands; a Hispanic ministry; a singles ministry; and a SWATT (Spiritual Warfare Attack Teen Team). We’ve added a ministry of Praise Dancers, and our Choir ministry has over 300 members.
In 1979, Pastor Jamie was ordained as Assistant Pastor of Jericho Baptist Church. This was the same year that the church purchased the Yellow House across the street and the adjacent lot that we used for parking.
1984, after many years of dedicated service to God in the offices of teacher, administrator, and help-meet to her husband, Betty P. Peebles was ordained Pastor and served as Co-Pastor of the Jericho Baptist Church with her husband until he was elevated to Bishop.
In 1987, we began construction...
In 1987, we began construction of our third edifice. At its completion, this sanctuary seated 2,000, there were 17 classrooms, a multi-purpose room, a professional kitchen and various offices and meetings rooms. God blessed us with a high-tech computerized presentation system, manned by the members of our Screen Presentation Ministry. With the aid of this presentation technology, those who attended Jericho services on Douglas Street could not only hear but see the Word as well.
We thank God for the mortgage pay-off of the third edifice. The terms of the $4.5 million loan secured for that project was twenty-five years, payable on/before the year 2014. HOWEVER, God enabled his good stewards at Jericho Baptist Church to pay off that loan in three years; thus saving more than $3.5 million in interest. What a mighty God we serve.
Touched by the words of Acts 17:ll, "The Bereans were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so." God took us to another dimension while we were still on Douglas Street, when He instructed the pastors to give the Word in written form to those who attended the services so that they might study and confirm the Word that had come forth.
September 1989...
On Saturday, September 16, 1989, our Pastor, the late Reverend James R. Peebles, Sr., was elevated to Bishop of the Jericho Ministries. There were many renowned Apostles, Bishops, Pastors, Elders, Reverends, Ministers, Deacons and State and local officials in attendance, with Archbishop Benson Idahosa of Nigeria serving as God’s Messenger during the consecration day service. What a blessing!!!!
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing."
BISHOP JAMES R. PEEBLES, Sr.
Then in 1996, our visionary, the beloved Bishop James R. Peebles, Sr., went home to receive his greatest metal of honor from the King of kings and Lord of lords. We can truly say as we were reminded often, Bishop wasn't worried about his soul; he fixed it with Jesus a long time ago. Our Bishop would always tell us, "Don't get on the fast pace road! Stay quiet! Listen to leadership and God will guide you to assured victory..." Bishop bore fruit in his labor. He set up the Jericho Church with six members; secured a loan for land; occupied the first church; burned that mortgage; marched into the second church; launched JCTC/C; purchased the church center and parking lot; built and moved into the third church; was elevated to Bishop; burned a $4.5 million mortgage after three years; and purchased these 82 acres of land to receive the Jericho City of Praise and its 8,000 members. Everything our Bishop put his hands to prospered. Let us therefore follow Christ as our beloved Bishop did that we, too, can say, "For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing." (II Timothy 4:6-8)
ASST. PASTOR JAMIE PEEBLES
Then, as we still grieved the departure of the Bishop, in 1997 our beloved Assistant Pastor, James R. Peebles, Jr., (Jamie) received a higher calling and was ushered into the presence of the Lord after being a fisher of men for most of his life. "Pastor Jamie" was excited about Jesus, and brought forth God's word with unspeakable joy. He lived his life based on his first message, "Here Am I Lord; Send Me."
He studied, preached, and witnessed the love of Jesus consistently, and reminded his congregation to "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen." (Matthew 28:19-20.)
Pastor Jamie left his family, Pamela, Danielle, James III, and Joshua, to carry on the legacy of love that God had given him.
Sunday, December 28, 1997
Having been left in this earthly realm without her husband and her firstborn son, our Pastor, Betty P. Peebles, was not left without Jesus, nor without faith, an obedient spirit, the necessary wisdom, or the strength to give structure to the vision that God had given our Bishop. Starting excavation in the Spring of 1997, this congregation marched into the Jericho City of Praise on Sunday, December 28, 1997, nine months later. To God Be All the Glory!!!
Today many people would want to receive accolades for this great achievement, known as the Jericho City of Praise; but, be it known this day that God did this and to God Be All the Glory, Honor and Praise in the Name of the Lord Jesus. Amen!
On Monday, the Twenty-Fourth of April, in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand, at Seven O' Clock in the Evening, At the Jericho City of Praise, Dr. Betty P. Peebles was proclaimed Apostle.
AND THE VISION CONTINUES
