Dr Parson's Bio

Dr Steve Parson is the Founder and Pastor of the Richmond Christian Center Richmond Virginia since December 4, 1983 when he gathered his family together in their living room for the first service of the Richmond Christian Center. The Church since has received national and international recognition for its outreach ministries and being one of the first television ministries on (BET) in the late 80’s. Born in Buffalo, NY he was raised in the Baptist Church, under the leadership of his Grandfather Rev E.J. Echols Sr Pastor of First Shiloh Baptist Church the Second Black American Church in the history of Buffalo New York. (1916) While watching the PTL Club on television in 1976 he personally received the Lord Jesus Christ and while attending a Full Gospel Businessmen´s Convention in Winston Salem, North Carolina he received the Pentecostal experience known as the Baptism with the Holy Spirit. In 1978, he came into contact with the Books and cassette teachings by Rev Kenneth Hagin of Tulsa, OK and Dr Fred Price of Los Angeles, Ca. He says, ” The Lord taught and ministered to me more through these two men than any theological school could possibly have done. He later was given an Honorary Graduate Degree from Kenneth Hagin's Rhema Bible Training School Broken Arrow OK and an Honorary Doctor Degree for his ministry work over thirty years first in his own Community, national and international wide. He was a Charter member on the Founding Board of Dr Fred Price´s Fellowship Of Inner Cities Word of Faith Ministries Los Angelus Cal. In 1985 Pastor Parson´s ministry and church received further recognition after a incident where a woman dropped dead for over twenty minutes in the church at his feet and was miraclously brought back to life through the congregation's faith and prayer. When asked what he would attribute to the success of his ministry, he always responds, ” The Word of Faith” Romans 10:8. Not counting the thousands of people in over 40 years saved and healed by receiving the Lord Jesus Christ Dr Parson is also known for his teaching ministry, his entrepreneur spirit and over 30 year background in Community Development Projects from the Church. Pastor Parson´s message is one of simplicity but Power. His reputation as a teacher is ” He ministers in a way that even a child can understand”. His emphasis has always been first and foremost eternal life and salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, ” What does it profit a man if he gains the whole world but looses his soul. Secondly physical healing and divine health, his healing ministry is one where people see gifts of healing and words of knowledge in demostration that astound the natural mind. Thirdly, Dr. Parson´s revelation in the Word of God on the third part of the Abrahamic Covenant which is Wealth, opens up the eyes of our understanding on Money and Gain like the Church has never heard before in modern times. His revelation on what the Bible says concerning Business, ownership, buying and selling, exchange, trade, doing Business, economic empowerment, the Business of Generating Our own Income and not being Dependent on Government, people or anybodies giving is revelatory. He says the Lord is Our Provider and He Provides for us by giving us the Power to provide for ourselves. Financial Independence (Wealth) through doing Business is what he sees in the Word of God and historically thus is boldly declaring and demostrating it today through his business efforts and faith which is Action. Also his revelation in the scriptures on the principle of buying and selling, multiplication, networking, ownership, and provision is a message he believes will bring wealth to people and the Urban community and ultimately the World to the Glory of God Our Father. In all under Dr Parson's leadership his Church has licensed, ordained and sent out over forty ministers which have started and/or are Pastoring their own Churches or Assistants around the country today. Community Outreach ministries have purchased and or owned approx 3 to 4 blocks of the city of Richmond valued over twenty million dollars which included a shopping plaza, apartment complex and other properties at one time. Dr Parson encourages Pastors and Churches to set up separate for profit arms of their ministries to generate income through doing Businesses which can create jobs rather than being dependent on its people's giving to pay ministry expenses. Jesus said it is more bless for us ( the church ) to give than it is for us ( the church ) to receive. In 1987 after reading an article in the Ebony Magazine he founded a non profit Community Development Corporation called Southside Community Development and Housing Corporation which today has built over 400 homes for minority people in the inner city. The program was started in the Church with the Bank of America home buying seminars which taught people about home ownership verses renting an apartment. The Church then assisted the people with down payment money to become home owners and brought re vitalization to one of the poorest communities in Richmond Virginia to the Glory of God! Currently the Corporation is buying depressed properties continuing to build homes in other inner cities and preparing to participate in President Trump's Urban Revitalization and opportunity zone program. In 1989 with seed money from the Church he Helped the formation of the Virginia Development Loan Fund with members from the Church Tim Hayes and Thomas Hofler that provided small Business loans in conjunction with the Small Business Administration to minority business owners or entrepreneurs. The first loan came from the Church. The same year he also Co founded a Drug Rehab Center with Rev Otis Smith another member of the Church called the House of Life that ministered the Word of God and deliverance to hundreds of men over the years to help set them free from alcohol, cocaine and heroin addition of which some of the men today are very successful businessman and Ministers in Churches through out Richmond Va. 1990 Dr Parson started from the Church a Private Elementary School named Genesis Prepatory Academy and Day care which provided quality education for inner city youth with an emphasis being placed on obeying Authority, Attitude, Business, and Communication skills. In 1990 a jobs training program from the Church headed by another member Sandra Sykes named Fresh Start Job training program was formed, which trained and prepared minority people for jobs and how to start businesses and work in the market place. In 1998, Dr Parson was led to begin a work in the country of Brazil. He first ministered in Santos, Rio de Janeiro and then Recife. After many months and much traveling to Brazil, he then established and supported a church in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil through a local Pastor there and named it Faith Alive International Ministries of Brazil (FAIMB) which is on its own today. He has since learned to speak portuguese and has sponsored missionary trips to the country providing medical ministry to the Brazilians in their more poverty stricken areas. A Ministry to children was also established along with Missionary Trips. Dr Parson's oldest son Steve Jr an Attorney, CPA and was the church Administrator for some years started a behavioral center called Youth Empowerment Services creating over 250 jobs for people and provided services for problem inner city youth. His younger son Mark Parson played three years Professional football for the Houston Texans and New Orleans Saints also speaks to youth from time to time in elementary schools. His oldest daughter Nichole is a Registered Nurse and Captain in the Army Reserves. Another daughter Adrienne in addition to being a mother of two children is a Manager Trainer with Verizon Wireless. Eleven Grand children all living productive successful lives in Christ. Today! In addition to being the Founding Pastor of The Richmond Christian Center he also was one of the Black American Pastors who met with President Donald Trump at the Trump Tower November 2015 endorsing him publicly for President. He said "Billionaire Donald Trump for President is in my opinion the best candidate to help make america great again starting in the inner cities where poverty and unemployment is the highest" He also headed up the Virginia Black Ministers Coalition for Trump and is on the Advisory Board of the National Diversity Coalition for Trump. He also is the CEO and President of the RIchmond Community Development Center LLC which is ready to participate in the Urban Revitalization Coalition and the Opportunity Zone program now passed by the Trump Administration. He continues the message of faith and that God has given us the power to do for ourselves which is called being free indeed and Independence. Dr Parson says "We now have the opportunity to do greater works and repeat the History of the "Black Wall Streets" of the late 1800's and early 1900's by working together, pooling our money and doing our own Businesses in the Name of Jesus Christ. "We now are in the process of making America great again so get ready for the greatest wealth transfer and movement the world has ever seen".
Dr Steve Parson