Pastor Derrick L. Peterson, Sr. is a native of Richmond, VA. and one of three children born to Janice K. Peterson. Being reared up by his grandmother, Mother Hazel H. Peterson, he attended Jerusalem Holy Church of the Mt. Sinai Holy Churches of America, Inc. During his teenage years he joined Fourth Baptist Church where he served on the Youth Council until the retirement of Dr. Robert L. Taylor. It was in the Fall of 1992 that he would get reacquainted with his childhood crush and marry Elder Tania Lacey Peterson while attending Virginia Union University, where he studied music and became a member of the Gamma Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. Pastor and Elder Peterson have four children: Shontia, Derrick Jr., Darian, and Daniel; and one grandson: Malikai.

     Through many hardships and a contrary lifestyle, God continued to smile upon this prodigal grandson. After the passing of his grandmother, He rededicated his life to Christ and returned to his foundation.  Under the leadership of Chief Apostle Olive C. Brown, he attended New Jerusalem International Christian Ministries, until June 1993, when his then future father-in-law became founding pastor of Children Of God Victory Tabernacle.  It is here where he was chosen by God and appointed by Bishop M. Louis Lacey to preach the uncompromising Word of Life in October 1997. In October 2006 he was ordained and promoted to serve as an Elder. Having served as a lay pastor throughout many ministries of the church, it was in January 2011 that he would be promoted to serve as Associate Pastor. In September 2019, Pastor Peterson was designated and installed as the Senior Pastor of Children Of God Victory Tabernacle under the hand of Bishop M. Louis Lacey.

     After working with two organizations in Richmond (Boaz & Ruth, Inc and Franklin Grove LLC) that serves Virginia's re-entry population of ex-offenders and individuals recovering from substance abuse, God led Pastor Peterson to begin his own re-entry and second chance initiative, After This LLC. He returned to Virginia Union University to complete his graduate and professional studies at the Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, receiving his Master of Divinity in 2018 and Doctor of Ministry in 2022. Since 2013, he has worked professionally at Virginia State University and currently serves as the Director of Residence Life and Housing. He also serves as the HBCU Representative on the General Council for the Virginia Colleges and Universities Housing Officers.  Pastor Peterson holds fast, believing in one of his favorite scriptures Philippians 1:6 "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ".