Apostle Betty Peebles Passes

Gospelflava.com joins with others across the country in mourning the passing of Apostle Betty Poindexter Peebles, Co – Founder and Senior Pastor of the Jericho City of Praise Church in the Washington, DC area on October 12th of cancer. A mother of 3 and grandmother of 9, she was 76.

Betty Peebles along with her husband Reverend James Peebles founded the Peebles Gospel Chorus serving as musician and director over 40 years ago in Northeast Washington. From there they organized a mission which later became the Jericho Baptist Church.  With programs targeting urban families, the ministry grew to over 2,000 during the late 70s and early 80s, reaching the masses through its extensive television and radio broadcasts. Apostle Peebles was ordained an Elder and elevated to the office of Co-Pastor in 1984, continuing to assist her husband in the ministry.

Apostle Peebles, herself a singer and pianist assumed pastoral leadership of the ministry following the death of Bishop Peebles in 1996, and led the over 19,000 member church through the successful completion of a 75 acre  complex (adjacent to FedEx field, the home of the Washington Redskins)  that included a 10,000 seat auditorium, day care through high school facility and Christian College. Jericho was also the setting for Richard Smallwood’s Persuaded CD and DVD recording.

Known for her charisma and charm,  Apostle Peebles gained the distinction of being one of very few women to lead a megachurch.  Under her leadership the church complex has expanded to cover over 150 acres, adding a senior living facility and office building. Funeral Services are pending.