After presiding over “The Gathering 2024,” a four-day convention with more than 3,000 church leaders working together to better the Black community July 16-19, Bishop Joel Peebles was using Monday, July 22, to catch up on errands with his wife Pastor Ylawnda Peebles. Despite their busy schedules, the couple, who have been married for 30 years, aren’t stopping their mission in using the church as a platform to address community, political and social justice challenges.
“The church has always been the gatekeeper. Our objective is to bring righteousness to politics and to hold our politicians accountable and side in such a way we can provide strong role models for healthy living,” Bishop Peebles, pastor of City of Praise Family Ministries, told The Informer.
Bishop Peebles, the youngest of Bishop James and Apostle Betty Peebles’ three sons, has led the City of Praise Family Ministries since his mother died in 2010. Two years ago he became leader of the Global United Fellowship.
While the parents of four prioritize taking care of their family, and guiding their congregation, much of the Peebles’ work is focused on strengthening communities and inspiring through faith.
“This week we are having a youth conference in which we will have more than 5,000 young people. It is free to everybody. We will have a whole bunch of young folks taking over the church. I call them culture busters.” Pastor Peebles said.
She told The Informer, the work with youth doesn’t end there.
“I want to inspire young people to read. We have reading nights and book clubs,” the pastor, wife and mother continued. “You can go around the world by reading a book.”
The faith leaders are focusing on improving their communities from young people all the way to the White House.
“The Gathering 2024” was a way for thousands of faith leaders to come together to talk about bolstering African American communities nationwide. Considering Black people’s political priorities lingered throughout the convening’s agenda.
As Vice President Kamala Harris kicked off her campaign Monday afternoon, Bishop Peebles reflected on why he felt she would be the best person to lead the nation.
“The work [Harris] has done with pharmaceuticals; the work she has done with the border crisis– it has been said this month has had the least border crossings,” Bishop Peebles said.
Despite concerns about whether or not the U.S. is prepared to have a Black and South Asian woman as commander in chief, Bishop Peebles told The Informer he is confident, based on her track record and his own personal experience, that a woman of color is just what the country needs.
“Kamala Harris did a phenomenal job serving as Vice President in a very difficult terrain,” he said. “Being the son of a powerful woman and married to an amazing woman, both of color, I believe that America is ready… not just because she is a woman of color but she is a woman who is ready to serve our nation— who is ready to ascend to the highest office in the nation.”