4 BOCNEWS.com APRIL 2018 The Humble Preacher Becomes the Heralded Pulpiteer In a few months, Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, Jr. will celebrate 64 years in the ministry. He was born January 17, 1933 in Washington, D.C. and called to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ in 1952 at age 19. He answered yes to that call from God but had to wait two years to preach his first sermon in 1954. Today, he has six-decades in ministry, and his phone still rings with accolades and invitations to preach and teach. As he reflects on life and living, Rev. Peters is proud to preach an uncompromising gospel that centers on Jesus Christ as the Son of God that died for the sins of humanity and was raised from the dead and now sits at the right hand of His father. Rev. Peters says, “I love people, whether they are up or down, rich or poor, saved or sinner. To serve this present age, my calling to fulfill and I pray that all my power will remain engaged as I work to do my master’s will.” Peters is unequivocal in his faith in God, and firm in his core beliefs that all people matter and deserve respect regardless of race, creed or any God-given criteria, He still preaches that everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, but he understands that many people are still waiting for access to their American dream. He is unabashedly outspoken when preaching or protesting about their lack of civil and social justice, and he is unwavering as a born servant and strong advocate for voiceless and under-served people. Maybe his resolve and resiliency originate from early childhood experiences of being raised alone in Washington, D.C. by a loving, single, Christian mother without his father being present. Maybe it was divine intervention that caused Rev. Peter’s life to intersect with the path of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the height of the 1960’s civil rights movement. We will never know everything, but we know in-part that the divine hand of God was directing Rev. Peters. God has and continues to use various episodes and key people to shape the distinct tapestry pieces that are the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, Jr. In the words of Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III, a Mentee of Dr. Peters, "With brilliance and skill Dr. James D. Peters is the Mile-High City's homiletical archivist. His library of African American sermons ranging from the poetry infused messages of Gardner C. Taylor to the southern story telling of Samuel Dewitt Procter is a treasure to students of the proclaimed word. Dr. Peters' distinguished career has uniquely positioned him as a mentor for hundreds of ministers and pastors such as myself. Witnessing his adminis- trative skill and deep passion for the preached word has left an indelible mark upon my vocation and life. It is because of his faith in me as a young, inexperi- enced and novice preacher, that I was given the gift of his mentorship. Dr. Peters saw a glimmer of pos- sibility in me in the infancy of my ministry journey. (He gave a brother a chance). Much of my ministry I owe to Dr. Peters as he has influenced my work and approach to the Gospel of Jesus Christ." Dr. Moss III is the Senior Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois, and has spent the last 20 years practicing and preaching a Black theology that unapologetically calls attention to the problems of mass incarceration, environmental justice, and economic inequality. Dr. Peters led Denver’s New Hope Baptist Church for 28 consecutive years before choosing to retire in December 2006. During his time as senior pas- tor of New Hope, he ordained numerous persons as preachers and deacons with special attention to the inclusion of women in the pulpit, on the board of dea- cons, as chair of the trustee board, and service as his executive minister. He pioneered the elevation of women leaders at New Hope during a time when the proper role for women in the Black Baptist Church was under debate. Rev. Peters was a “Go to” pastor because of his inter- est in outreach for New Hope church, and he purposely joined and or led countless ecumenical church, civic and political activi- ties. Rev. Kay Farley, Co-Pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church of Denver said, “Pastor Peters and New Hope Baptist Church gave me the opportunity to fully experience how wonder- ful and blessed the Ministry of God is! I’m grateful for that trust and love given to me. It has nur- tured me to grow into the Pastor I am today. He taught me that even when life puts me in a strait jacket, my mind can still roam free.” Amid great popularity and acclaim, Rev. Peters decided to retire as senior pastor of New Hope in 2006. And for a brief time, he reveled in retirement, until the New Hope Church congregation asked him to return as interim pastor for two more years, before getting to enjoy “full retirement” in 2012. The Rev. Eugene M. Downing, Jr. D. Min. has been Senior Pastor of New Hope Baptist Church for the past seven years. Under his dynamic and gifted leadership, the New Hope Church ministries and membership have increased, and plans are firmly in place to pay off the remaining $2 million mortgage in August 2019. Rev. Peters is recognized among his peers as a laid back, informed, prepared, well-read and great preacher with talents that serve him well in the pulpit or as a civil-rights protester in the streets. Dr. Peters shares the same birth month as Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and has shared many per- sonal moments with his civil rights hero including the 1963 courageous marches in Birmingham and Selma, Alabama. In quiet moments Dr. Peters relives fearful flashes of times involving sleepless nights inside southern hotel rooms after bomb and death threats led to national guard troops being assem- bled nearby for their protection. He beams with pride when describing the day Dr. King presented to him the Outstanding Service Award at the 1966 Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Many people know of Dr. King as a civil rights giant and winner of a Nobel Peace prize, but Dr. King lives in the mind and heart of Dr. Peters because Peters had a front row seat to history. He considers it a blessing to be able to re-live some of his precious memories and past achievements with his youngest son Rev. Jasper Peters who lives in Colorado with his family. Throughout his ministry, Dr. Peters has remained true to the lessons he learned during the 1960’s Civil Right Movement. He is a tireless warrior for the inalienable rights of all American of all colors and creeds with special attention to voting rights, health care and affordable housing. His countless affiliations include service as a Member of Wells Fargo Bank Community Board, Member of National Baptist Convention Housing Commission and Former Chairman and Member of Colorado Civil Rights Commission. He has certainly remained busy as a community leaders and teacher to clergy and lay church leaders. “As an OB-GYN physician it is very easy for me to work 24/7 including weekends because newborns and unborn babies don’t wear watches or carry calendars. My personal time is precious as my wife, chil- dren and patients are my life. But when Pastor Peters appoint- ed me to be the Chair of the Board of Deacons at New Hope Baptist Church, my life changed as my faith was enriched beyond belief. He showed me how to serve God better with my gifts and talents. The years spent with Rev. Peters in service to God and my New Hope Church fam- ily are unforgettable, and I still see the fruits of our labor in the expanded health ministry at New Hope. Today, I’m a better physi- cian and person because of the time I spent as a spiritual leader working closely with Rev. Peters,” said Deacon Johnny Johnson, Jr. M.D. Dr. Peters credits his mother’s love and childhood experiences with making him a benevolent and bet- ter pastor. His formal education includes attending the Public Schools of the District of Columbia, (DC) the D.C. Teachers College, and School of Religion at Howard University in Washington, D.C. He has a Bachelor of Arts Degree from Washington Baptist Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C., and Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, and a Master of Education Degree from Springfield College in Springfield, Massachusetts, and Honorary Doctor of Humanities and Honorary Doctor of Divinity degrees. His extensive evangelical work includes service at Little Zion Baptist Church in Burke, Virginia from June 1955 – April 1957, the Third Baptist Church in Alexandria, Virginia from April 1957 - March 1960, and the East End Baptist Church in Bridgeport, Connecticut from March 1960 – December 1973. He was the National Director of the New Community Fund of Renewal Program from December 1973 -August 1976; Executive Minister of the American Baptist Churches of the South from September 1976 – December 1978, until he was called to be senior pastor of New Hope Baptist Church in Denver where he served from 1978. Rev. Peters is the ideal and model "Minister of Music's Minister” according to Denver Music Maestro Daryl J. Walker, who served as Minister of Music at New Hope Baptist Church for 19 years during Peters tenure. Recalling that time Walker writes, “During my tenure, Pastor Peters led the congregation in enlarging the outreach of the church, nurturing a Music Ministry that reached a membership of 100 plus voices, and ultimately overseeing the financ- ing and building of a new church with an education facility, and Family Life Center, which resulted in over $5 million dollars in new construction.” Walker continued, “Rev. Peters labeled his leadership style as being informed, accessible, and ready to be of service to those who follow in the footsteps of those with whom he walked and worked. And as a commu- nity leader, he took wisdom and direction from older ministers, which taught him how to patiently and democratically use his authority only when needed. He cared for his staff in special ways by making sure we had a retirement fund, health care and our own personal business cards, titles, authority and resources to do our jobs, which included sending us to local and national conferences related to our individual areas of responsibility.” Dr. Peters is still praised for his 1986 prophetic Easter Sunrise Service Sermon at Denver’s historic Red Rocks Park, his tireless leadership as President of the Western States Baptist Convention and Chairman of Board of Directors of the Metro Denver Black Church Health Initiative. He also served as treasurer when the Western States Baptist Churches hosted the National Baptist Convention, USA Inc. in Denver. His innumerable awards/accolades include Rev. Dr. James D. Peters, Jr. In the words of Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III (pictured above), a Mentee of Dr. Peters, 'With brilliance and skill Dr. James D. Peters is the Mile-High City's homiletical archivist.' PROFILE Continued on Page 7