Legendary televangelist Dr. Frederick K.C. Price is ready to pass on the torch -- and keep it in the family at the same time.The esteemed founder of the Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) -- in the Los Angeles area -- is leaving his post as the head pastor of the 22,000-member megachurch and will install his son, Pastor Frederick Price, Jr., as his successor.
It will all be made official on March 15, the same day that the junior Pastor Price turns 30 years old.
"Fred will start his public ministry at the same age Jesus did. That is prophetic," said the elder Price, who will turn 77 this year during the church's 35th anniversary celebration.
"I will still be around as [the] apostle and working with the board of directors, but it's time for Pastor Price, Jr. to get into the driver's seat. I will still mentor him."
Price Jr. was ordained in February of 2003 and has been an advocate for youth activity in the church, creating a special Sunday service called Hip-Hop Sunday to attract younger churchgoers. One of the first churches to mesh hip-hop with faith, the service is now called The BluePrint.
Aside from helming that initiative, he would regularly minister on Sundays when his father was away on business trips.
"Becoming pastor of Crenshaw Christian Center is an honor of high esteem," he said. "To follow in the footsteps of my father, the apostle of faith, is a privilege and a challenge I look forward to taking on."
Dr. Price is one of the first black ministers to head a megachurch and an evangelical broadcast on television that reaches over 15 million households each week. He is also known for his candid teachings, such as his controversial Race, Religion and Racism series that took him three years to complete. The author of more than 50 books, he has mentored many highly recognized ministers influencing the church today.
"I will still uphold the same high standards of teaching and excellence my father brought to the pulpit," Price Jr. said.
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Comments: (93)
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By: charles on 2/13/2009 10:54AM
Its all about the money, a multi-million dollar buisiness who else would he pass it on to ? Go outside this church and see the poverty, bums sleeping on the sidewalks ho's walking the streets graffiti all over the place. Oh yeah just like Jesus
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By: Rosa on 2/14/2009 10:30AM
No, it is not about "all the money" and "keeping it all in the family." It is about being obedient to what God, the Father has called you to do. We ALL have a purpose in life, whether you know it or not. As far as the area outside of the church being run down, grafitti on the walls, etc...what an ideal place for folk (WHOSOEVER WILL) to come in, get the Word of God that will ABSOLUTELY change your life, and "learn to fish," not look for a handout. Now no, I am NOT saying that when you need help that it should not be given, BUT...if one's mindset is NOT changed, they will continue to do the same thing over and over again. That's exactly why you teach folk to fish so that they can learn how to get and operate in the Godly principles for themselves. Yea..."just like Jesus!" Remember the beggar man who sat at the Gate Beautiful everyday waiting for someone to give him a handout? Peter told the man to look upon Him and silver and gold had he none but in the Name of Jesus get up and walk. And Peter grabbed hold of the man's hand and helped him get up. His ankles and feet became strong, and the man got up walking, jumping and praising God. (Acts 3:2-10) How MANY lives have been touched and transformed because of the Word of God going forth at the ministry and others across the country? It is time out for folk not understanding the Word of God because they "hear" and NOT READ the Word of God for themselves. We can't live on what our mother, father, sister, brother or what anyone else says, because God has NO Grandchildren, ONLY Children. We are accountable for US, period! Now what will YOU do with your life that God has given Y-O-U? We ALL have to give an account when we stand before Him. No problem. Simple. For someone who has not received the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior: Just accept His acceptance of you. God already sent His Son, Jesus to die for the sins of the world, so all you have to do is acknowledge the work that Jesus did for you on the cross. He ALREADY forgave you. Just ask Him to come into your life and help you to live and walk this life out as He would. Simple. God bless you all.
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By: Mestisha on 2/15/2009 11:37AM
YOU walk past the same bums, YOU see the abandoned houses, YOU see the same crime YOU see the violence TOO. What are YOU doing about it? The BIBLE says, to HIM that know to do good and does not do it to HIM it is sin. I agree that mega churches SHOULD help the community that they live in but what are YOU doing about it.
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By: Frank on 2/18/2009 10:01PM
You are absolutely right in that it is a business and these so-called mega-churches are stealing from their parisheners and doing absolutely nothing to address the issues which are prevalent in the community.Price has made his money off the backs of the community and he and his family are filthy rich. I lived in LA for many years and I use to see him and his wife riding around in luxury while people were suffering. Price like the other Christian preachers are all full of shit!
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By: Lisa on 2/19/2009 2:01PM
Jesus was the son of GOD and who else would GOD give the power to perform the tasks that he performed. Pastor Price has done the right thing. His son is a man of Christ. He speaks from the Bible and so does Pastor Price. Remember, Abraham, Issac, and Jacob, they were father and sons. Rember Noah, Ham, Shem and Japeth, they were all father and sons....Stop judging people and stop making your own logic to things...you really are clueless.
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By: Robert on 12/12/2009 7:11PM
I could not have said it better, only there weren't any Jesus that's a fiction created during 325 AD at the Council of Niceae 1 the fictional J(I)esus has many of the same attributes of the Ancient Egyptian God,Horus in truth, it a copy from African Egyptians, which pre-dates the Roman Christianity by hundreds or more years! Christianity is a religious creed. Now days believed to be truth. For proof of this history,see also;The Council of Constantinople 1,The Council of Ephesus,The Council of Chalcedon,and The Council of Constantinople 11. One must keep in mind that the letter "J" is from of English origin,about 600 or so years old SOMEBODY BEEN LIED TOO!
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By: charles on 2/13/2009 11:02AM
I know people who attend this church .They work hard all week and get up early to get good seats in church they can barely keep their eyes open they so tired but if they nod off in church immediate eviction yeah thats what Jesus would do. Talk about saving souls and all the time leeching and stealing in the name of the Lord.
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By: Al on 2/17/2009 5:42PM
?What? Wait, what does working hard all week and getting up early for church have to do with anything? and what does immediate eviction mean? are you saying they get removed from the sanctuary if they nod off? LOL. Wow, what kind of demonic spirit has your ear? And how wicked is your tongue that you would speak such lies against members of the Body of Christ?
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By: charles on 2/13/2009 11:05AM
Ill never understand why a lot of Parishioners didnt just stay home and watch on TV like I did it was free
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By: Tony on 2/13/2009 1:53PM
I agree with you. lol
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