Minister Joyce S. Peak

My faith journey began at Bethany Missionary Baptist Church, where I was raised and which continues to be my home church. After my marriage, I joined my husband at Pineview Freewill Baptist Church and remained there until God led me to Mt. Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in 1998.

At Mt. Moriah, I have served the congregation in numerous capacities, including preparing and serving meals, singing in the choir, leading devotional services, ushering, teaching Sunday School classes for children and adults, serving on the missionary board, and assisting with the administration of Vacation Bible School.

Through these experiences, God prepared and called me to the ministry of teaching the gospel—a calling I embrace with gratitude, humility, and a steadfast commitment to sharing His Word.

Growing Up in Brooks CountyI grew up right here in Brooks County, Georgia, and let me tell you, life was never quiet! I was the only girl in a big, lively family of boys, which taught me early on how to hold my own and love deeply. I went through the Brooks County School system for my own education. That is where my love for learning truly started. After school, John F. Peak, my high school sweetheart and I married, and to this union was blessed with 5 children. Later, God opened a door for me to chase my dreams at Valdosta State University, where I proudly earned my college degree and got ready for my life's calling.

A Lifetime in the ClassroomFor decades, my heart belonged to the students in the Brooks County School system. Teaching was never just a job to me; it was a profession where I got to touch and shape the lives of countless young people year after year. It was the honor of my life to be named Brooks County’s Teacher of the Year. After a long and wonderful career, I officially retired in 2019, but the memories of my students still fill my heart with so much pride and when I see my adult students now out and about, I can still connect with the little child that I once taught.

The Loves of My Life: Faith and FamilyAbove everything else, my life is anchored by my deep love for God and His Word. He has guided me through every season. I am blessed to wear many beautiful titles: I am a precious child of God, a wife, a mother, a grandmother, and a great-grandmother. There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with God, my family and being the biggest cheerleader for my children and grandchildren in everything they do.

When I am not at church or with family, you can usually find me outside enjoying the beauty of creation. I love watching butterflies flutter by, and I always feel a sense of comfort in the warmth of my favorite color, brown. Looking back, my life is a blessed tapestry of faith and trust in God, family, and the joy of serving others.

Galatians 5:1 - Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.