Peoples speaks about standing with Jesus in all times

by Daisy Rodriguez, student news writer, Office of University Communications

Campbellsville, KY (06/02/2022) — The Rev. David R. Peoples, pastor of Jabez Missionary Church of Lexington and national president of Progressive National Baptist Convention, spoke about standing with Jesus when no one stands with you in the rough at Campbellsville University's recent chapel.

Peoples read from John 19:25-27.

"Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, "Woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home."

Peoples said when Jesus was on the cross, surrounding him were soldiers, a mob of bystander; John, whom he loved; the mother of Jesus and others.

They stood by Jesus in the hour of greatest trial and suffering. His mother watched her son die on the cross.

Peoples said it's one thing to stand by Jesus in joy and triumph and in the day of His power and His loving strength. When everything in life is going well and you are content, it's easy to stand by him.

It's important that we stand with him through the rough patches in our life as well, Peoples said. Many believers struggle with that. It's difficult to praise him when our life seems to be impossible.

Peoples said some argued how close they were to the cross. Some argued they were on a hill watching or in the crowd, but all he knows is that they were there watching Jesus and standing by his side.

"There are some people who will go to a point and some who will go with you to the very end," Peoples said.

Peoples talked about getting tired of "fair-weather friends." Fair-weather friends are those who will stand with you when you only have things that will make you happy.

They will stay with you when you are at the highest point in your life, when you can give them what they ask for or when you have something they want, but they aren't there when you are at your lowest.

Peoples said Jesus will never do that to you. He will never leave or forsake you. As long as you stand by Jesus, he will always be with you.

"God's got you and you got God. When this life is over, we shall fly away. God bless you," Peoples said.

Peoples has served as pastor since Jan. 19, 2014 at Jabez Missionary Church of Lexington, Ky. He served 11 years as pastor at Mt. Olive Missionary Baptist Church of Ironton, Ohio, and he also served five years as pastor at Centerville Missionary Baptist Church of Paris, Ky.

Peoples has won numerous awards such as having been named a Kentucky Colonel. One of his sermons was published in volume 2, books of "The Best Preachers in 50 years of PNBC."

He graduated from Eastern Kentucky University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. He's taken master of divinity courses at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Ky.

Peoples has been married to Margaret Mosley for almost 21 years. They have three children: Michael, Hannah and Rodmann. Campbellsville University is a widely acclaimed Kentucky-based Christian university that has enrolled up to 12,000 students yearly. The university offers over 100 programs of study including doctoral, masters, bachelors, associate and certification programs. The website for complete information is www.campbellsville.edu.

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