Улицу в Меридиане назвали в честь основателя Пятидесятнической церкви Уилли Петерсона

Apostle W.J. Peterson’s legacy lives on with street dedication Published 6:06 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2026 Donna Campbell Church members remember Apostle Willie James “W.J.” Peterson as a man who answered God’s call to take Route 45 south from Chicago and preach the Word in a new way. Now Peterson, who founded the Pentecostal Church of God in 1955, will be honored posthumously as the Meridian church on Old Marion Way gets a new address: 1811 Peterson Way. The public is invited to attend the street dedication ceremony Saturday, July 19, beginning at 9 a.m., followed by the 2026 District III annual picnic at 10 a.m. “Every person who travels Peterson Way is reminded that one individual’s obedience to God can leave a legacy that blesses generations,” said Elder Ogie Clayton, a longstanding church member. Clayton said Apostle Peterson didn’t come to Meridian to preach the status quo, but with a new way of looking at the Gospel. Following a divine revelation from God, Peterson moved on faith to Meridian with his wife Jenelle, he said. “In the fall of 1955, during one of the most tumultuous periods in the American South, Apostle Peterson began preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Clayton said. “In a climate marked by segregation and social unrest, he proclaimed holiness, unity, and faith with boldness and compassion. Through his preaching and love for people, he gathered men and women who were hungry for truth and spiritual direction, he said. Current church members say Apostle Peterson is remembered for preaching in a way that drew people to weeks-long revivals and crusades and compelled them to believe and a thriving congregation emerged. Apostle Peterson led the church in constructing its first building on 15th Avenue, completing the project with members purchasing one brick at a time, Clayton said. As the ministry expanded, Apostle Peterson established churches throughout the region in cities and towns across Mississippi and Alabama. As growth extended beyond the South, he ordained and appointed four bishops, each to oversee a district in the north, south, east and west. Today, Pentecostal Church of God local assemblies span the United States on the foundation and doctrine established in Meridian. There are 53 local assemblies across the country with headquarters in Meridian, Detroit, Michigan; Atlanta, Georgia, and Winter Haven, Florida. Clayton said Apostle Peterson believed God’s people should be empowered spiritually, educationally, and economically and his own accomplishments reflected that vision. Clayton said Peterson was the first African American to receive his pilot’s license in Meridian and often flew from the Meridian Airport. He also owned and operated Peterson’s Truck stop in Russell. Mary Harris was 23 in 1955 when Peterson started the church and she was baptized soon after. She later married Deacon J. J. Sears. She has fond memories of working at the truck stop as a cook. “The Apostle was a lover of people and he always had something to give the people,” she said. “The most important thing he had to give was the Word of God. He wanted people to be free and know the truth.” At 94, Sears is still carried by that same Word. Peterson died in 1969 but his vision lives on. In 1989, under the leadership of Bishop Marcella Evins, the Pentecostal Church of God purchased its current location on Old Marion Road. As Apostle Peterson prophesied years earlier, the Pentecostal Christian Academy opened its doors to its first students that same year, Clayton said. PCG Education & Outreach is the 501(c)(3) outreach ministry of the Pentecostal Church of God, dedicated to serving individuals and families through food assistance, tuition assistance, mentoring, health education, and other community initiatives. Furthering this mission was the construction of the Bishop Andrew Stephens Life Center, a multi-purpose facility serving the school, congregation, and community. The center provides classrooms, a gymnasium, and space for outreach programs, educational workshops, and community events. The Silver Eagle Assisted Living Facility, now under construction on Peterson Way, is slated for completion in 2027. It will provide compassionate Christian care for seniors in a state-of-the-art facility. Future plans also include a childcare center and additional affordable housing to help meet the needs of families throughout Meridian’s east side community. “Like the first church on 15th Avenue, these ministries continue to be built brick by brick through the charitable contributions of members and friends,” Clayton said. Church members say Apostle Peterson was a visionary with sight far beyond the limitations of his era. “His life stands as a testimony to unwavering faith, courageous leadership, and love for people. His vision continues to bear fruit through the preaching of God’s Word,” Clayton said. “The designation of Peterson Way is a lasting public acknowledgment of a servant of God whose faith transformed lives through the preaching of God’s Word.”