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Betty Peebles (pictured), senior pastor of the Jericho City of Praise church she founded with her husband, has died at the age of 76.
Peebles was a motivational speaker, gospel artist, radio host and author of more than 100 books. Her death was announced by her son Joel R. Peebles Sr., who was assistant pastor at Jericho City of Praise in Landover, Md.
Peebles founded the church with her husband, James R. Peebles Sr., in 1969 and saw it grow into one of the largest and most influential houses of worship in the region, with more than 19,000 members.
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James R. Peebles died in 1996.
The church now includes the Jericho Christian Academy and the Jericho Christian College and resides on a huge $36 million tract. The church originally began, though, in a public housing complex in Northeast Washington, D.C.
Peebles, the mother of three sons, never let her success influence her message, which was based on helping all those in need who came to the church.
In a sermon titled "Witnessing Tools," Peebles tells the crowd that just because a new church member might not dress or act as most church members think they should, all church members should embrace the new visitor because "this is the place they should be."
"If everybody here is going to look saved, act saved and be saved, then there is no use for this institution," Peebles intoned.
Great logic from a great church leader who will be missed.
Watch Peebles doing her work here: