Our Story

The call to preach the Word came like a whisper, like a small ember that later turns into a great fire. Christ Church Universal emerged out of the Holy Spirit calling Jermaine Peacock to preach the cross of Jesus Christ to a hurting world during the midst of a deadly global pandemic.  He didn't know who would tune in as messages were preached live virtually over social media platforms from his small apartment room, but it did not matter because he trusted that the Word of God would eventually spread to whoever needed it. The country was dealing with racism and we were in the middle of a change over in the presidency.  It was time to quiet the noise of the world and listen to the Holy Spirit. Many people tuned in on live stream to listen to sermons preached with great conviction and passion. In fact, what would later become the Mission Team believed that God was also calling them to follow the Spirit's fire.

The date was December 22, 2020, it was decided to move forward to plant a new congregation in San Diego CA, which humbly began with just Jermaine and his wife Stefanie Peacock. There was much counsel, fasting and prayer.  They did not know how God would bring together this great work or when God would do it, they only knew that God was faithful and that He would provide for his calling.  It was a time to break free from sectarianism, tribalism, and elitism.  It was time to break free from structures that unintentionally, and sadly at times intentionally, prioritized structure over relationships.  It was time to obey God, to follow the Spirit's calling despite the consequences.  It was a time to hear God's voice over people's voices, a time to take up the cross and live to please God over people's opinions and church politics.  It was a time to be courageous and for Jermaine to live out the call to Preach the Word of God in season, out of season, unmuzzled and unhindered by any person or tribe.  What God did over that next 60 days was simply amazing.

The vision would be to build the Kingdom of God by restoring a foundation of faith, going back to the simple gospel message of Jesus Christ.  Just a few weeks later there was a miracle baptism into Christ with 76-year old Charles Horn, the father of Jermaine becoming a disciple! Over the next few months, God began organically assembling a team of committed disciples to evangelize San Diego, California. These brothers and sisters would reach out to express their hearts to be a part of this new ministry after prayer and fasting. They would peacefully and respectfully communicate what the Spirit had put on their hearts with their existing congregation - that God was calling them to be a part of the new mission team which would pre-launch on April, 11, 2021.  The devotion and commitment to God and one another was high and exciting. Their love for God and one another was of special note. God had truly brought them together by His Spirit.  They were united, they believed that the church universal was made up of anyone that had placed their faith in God, had obeyed the gospel, repented of their sin and been baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of sin. They sought to keep the spirit of unity through the bond of peace and were simply grateful to be a part of Christ body, the Church.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." -Ephesians 4:2-6

This small humble group believed that when Jesus prayed for unity in John 17:20-23 he truly believed that it was possible. Consequently, this small band of disciples believed there was a need to plant a new ministry with a new spirit, a new attitude, a new heart for building a new ministry that would work toward seeking and saving the lost, building bridges of unity and taking down the walls of division and hostility between the people of God. They also believed in being involved in the community in service to the poor and needy but also participating in non-violent direct action and strategies that will help to end racism in our society.

God began to move powerfully in San Diego, California and beyond the boundaries of California.  What happened next was incredible as God brought like-minded disciples together throughout the United States and Eastern Europe.  Some were seeking restoration, while others were faithful leaders, still others in House Churches in different parts of America who had left their previous congregations for various reasons.  Because our services were live streamed the word began to spread and is continuing to spread today! God was truly moving, and those that have never heard the gospel of Jesus are responding in a great way! As was expected, Church tribal persecution showed its face in various forms and certainly caused moments of grief. However, we had encouragement in God, in one another as well as in mature friendships that had spurred us on along the way. Brothers and sisters from all over began to spur us on, such was the relationship that Clyde King who leads a small congregation in Kansas, he and Jermaine rekindled their friendship after many years apart as brothers in Christ, they began discipling each other, spuring each other on and building one another up in Christ!  A great point of encouragement also came through stuydying the Bible over Zoom with a minister in Central Africa, who is translating and sharing the studies and going through them with many over the region. 

Another miracle story comes to us from Texas as long-time childhood friends Jermaine and Myson began talking about what God was doing.  Myson began to share his story, of how sin was tearing his life into shreds. Jermaine began to share the gospel with him and he was blown away that God would have a plan for his life, Myson's wife Sheronda also started studying the gospel with the women from the Mission Team. They were both baptized into Christ on March 23, 2021, to God be all the Glory!

Excitingly, The Holy Spirit began to move in our community especially in the Escondido area.  God not ony providing a meeting location from which to officially launch the Mission Team, but alo provided several opprtunities to serve in that community.  The church invited several people from the communinty and God blessed those efforts.  We were able to see God give bring in many people from the community to the point of packing out the house on many Sunday's. An incredible testimony comes from Nick and Yesenia who were parents on a local football team.  Jermaine was able to coach the team and the church rallied around simply loving up on the team throughout the football season.  Nick and Yesenia started studying the Bible. They had been together for many years without being married, God moved their hearts, both decided to do what was right in the sight of God consequently got married as part of their repentance, later that same day both were baptized into Christ to God be all the glory! 

Please pray for us as we go after seeking and saving the lost, building bridges of unity and partnering with disciples of Jesus to see our world evangelized. Pray for our multisite church as we aim to build a strong Church here in San Diego, see new CCU sites come of age and plant House Churches all over the world one household at a time of all ages and all nations, and to empower disciples in cities to live out their dream of seeing their city evangelized for Jesus.

More about Jermaine's Calling to Preach

Come and see what God is doing as we go after loving God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength and go after loving one another.

OUR Vision