Pastor John R. Peyton

Pastor Peyton was born March 13, 1946 in Hampton, VA. In 1966, he served in the US Army in Central America. There he was involved in black militancy to the point of becoming a lieutenant in the Black Panther Party. Through the loving testimony of someone whom he had previously hated, Pastor Peyton came to know Jesus as his Savior. After his term in Central America, he came home and married his school sweetheart, Marie.

As Pastor Peyton often says, "Beside every great man is a greater woman" and beside him, is his helpmate of 36 years (as of September 2003). Pastor John and Minister Marie are the proud parents of three daughters (Wanda-married to Eric Stewart, Lorraine-married to Shawn Stuckey) and grandparents of two granddaughters (Danielle and Brianna) and two grandsons (Marcus and Shawn Jr.).

In 1967, Pastor Peyton was sent to Vietnam for combat duty. In 1968, he returned home to go to college and in 1974 he received his BS in Business Administration from Norfolk State University, with the loving support of his wife, Minister Marie. For six years he taught an eleventh grade Sunday school at First Baptist Church in Hampton; sang in nursing homes and hospitals; and conducted a street ministry. In Dec. 1974, God led him and Marie and their two daughters to journey to Denver, CO. There Pastor Peyton and Marie directed a nursing home ministry, managed a single parent dwelling (92 mothers, 130 children). Pastor also directed Bethesda Christian Prison Ministry Outreach and was Chaplain of the Denver County Jail and associate pastor at Bethesda Baptist Church. In 1978, he received his Masters of Theology degree from Denver Seminary. That same year, Pastor Peyton joined the staff of Prison Fellowship as the Northeast Regional Director. After 2-1/2 successful years, he accepted a new challenge in the ministry as Director of Community Mobilization, recruiting minority volunteers and staff for ministry.

In April 1981, Pastor Peyton was directed by the Lord to start Reconciliation Fellowship, a ministry designed to reach the Black, White, Arab and Jewish communities. One of the most important aspects of the ministry was bringing reconciliation in families through Biblical counseling.

The Lord led Pastor Peyton to under shepherd a new church, which began October 1985 in Woodbridge, VA, called Reconciliation Community Church. Pastor Peyton became affectionately known as “Brother John” through his daily radio program, “A Message of Reconciliation” on WABS (for 7 years). The members of “RCC” are involved in street witnessing, ministering in prisons (locally and nationwide), ministering to residents of Senior Citizens homes; various Bible study groups; support of the Sunshine Orphanage Home and a school ministry in Haiti, sending their youth to Haiti to do summer missions and giving away free clothing and food to the needy. RCC also has a counseling ministry which ministers to people from all areas who come for help. RCC is also the Northern Virginia Campus of the accredited Bible College, Carolina University of Theology of Belmont, North Carolina. RCC even dared to launch from their midst a full-time missionary to Haiti for two years.

In 1994, Pastor Peyton earned his Masters of Christian Counseling Psychology and in 1996, he earned his Ph.D. of Christian Counseling Psychology from Carolina University of Theology. Pastor Peyton is the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of Good News Jail and Prison Ministry and in 2002 received The Good News Jail and Prison Ministry Life-Time Achievement Award for over 25 years of faithful service to inmates, ex-offenders, the criminal justice system, and the Lord Jesus Christ. In June of 2003, he was elected as the new president of Carolina University of Theology in Belmont North Carolina. He is also a Certified Christian Marriage and Family Therapist and an active member of the American Association of Christian Counselors (AACC).

The vision of Reconciliation Community Church, under the leadership of The Great Shepherd Jesus Christ and under-shepherd, Pastor Peyton, includes a multi-purpose Center of Reconciliation providing housing for and ministry to the needs of the homeless, battered spouses, troubled youth and the elderly. In December of 2001, the Disciples of Christ at Reconciliation Community Church dedicated back to God the House that the Lord built at 14654 Joplin Road, Manassas, VA. This 52,000 square foot multi-purpose tool was moved in by RCC debt-free as directed by God.

Just as Jesus has restored us to God, He can bring us into a right relationship with one another. Reconciliation Community Church, following the blueprint of the Jewish Carpenter, is committed to relationships being made whole by Christ. RCC is a Christ-centered, Bible-believing, Spirit-filled, Cross-cultural church for the entire family. We are a “ Going Church For A Coming Lord” based on II Corinthians 5:18.