Welcome to Richmond Christian Center, Richmond, VA

Richmond Christian Center started on December 4, 1983 in the living room of its founder, Dr. Stephen A. Parson, Sr. on Welch Drive in Chesterfield, Virginia. Attendance at this first service consisted of his wife and children. After the initial service, the services moved first to the Holiday Inn on Brook Road, then to 4:00 p.m. services at Christ Presbyterian Church, 2508 Dickens Road. Pastor Parson later saw a “For Rent” sign on the former Fifth Baptist Church, located at 1400 W. Cary Street in Richmond, Virginia; it became our new location. It was at there that the church grew to 100 members in ten months; starting RCC’s growth journey and quest to become the “biggest little church in the city”. Eventually the ministry received “the left foot of fellowship” from the Cary Street building, which means that the ministry was asked to vacate the premises.

God in His provision and humor provided the next location directly across the street at 9 South Harvie Street;. RCC saw tremendous growth as we continued praising, worshipping and exalting Our Lord at this location until April, 1987. The church increased from 100 to 1,110 members in three years. Many were drawn to hear the uncompromised teaching of the word of God and to witness miracles, signs and wonders. Among these, on July 1985, the Lord used Pastor Parson to raise a woman from the dead. This contribution to the church’s notoriety brought the ministry a wonderful challenge...lack of space became a wonderful challenge for our ministry.

We began looking to the Lord for other land where the church could expand and continue to grow. In 1986, the Lord pointed out a property to Pastor Parson. This property, the former Martin Chevrolet Car Dealership, was located at 214 Cowardin Avenue on the Southside of Richmond. We believed that the Lord commanded us to possess this property. In one year, RCC was able to accumulate sufficient monies for a deposit to purchase the property. We entered into a lease purchase agreement for approximately 4 acres of land and 4 vacant buildings at the cost of $900,000. In April, 1987, Pastor Parson led the congregation in a momentous walk from 9 South Harvie Street to its new location, 214 Cowardin Avenue.

In 1988, we had a major ordination of leaders to serve in the ministry and national ministers and ministries began to be invited to the church. Among our many guests was Dr. Frederick K. C. Price of Crenshaw Christian Center, located in Los Angeles, California. Dr. Price conducted the Dedication Service. Also, in 1992, Brother Kenneth Hagin, Sr. conducted an All Faith Crusade at Richmond Christian Center. Some of the ministers and music ministry guests of RCC have included: Bishop Nathaniel Holcomb, T. L. Osborne, Charles Capps, Marilyn Hickey, Norvell Hayes, Creflo Dollar, Jr., Bishop Wellington Boone, Phil Goudeaux, Leroy Thompson, Daryl Coley, Helen Baylor, Phil Driscoll, Larnell Harris, Fred Hammond, Kirk Franklin, Marvin Sapp, Lavern Tripp and others.

In 1993 the ministry held our first Ministers and Leaders Conference with ten speakers from among or leadership and attendance of leaders from across Virginia and neighboring states.

In 1998, RCC began to work in the country of Brazil. Pastor Parson began ministering in Santo, Rio de Janeiro and in Recife. After many months and much traveling to Brazil, we established a church in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil and called it Faith Alive International Ministries of Brazil (FAIMB). RCC sponsored missionary trips to Salvador, Brazil. There, we provided medical supplies to Brazilians and started a ministry to children. A Missionary Training Center to the Nations (MTCN) was created and headquartered in Salvador for the purpose of training workers to go to other nations.

In 2004, Richmond Christian Center became the headquarters church, which expanded to Washington, D.C. (FAIM-DC) and Brazil (FAIMB). Today, plans are being made to expand further. Our purpose, our intent, our goal is that the word of God be taught, in a spirit of faith and demonstrated to all people, throughout the earth.