Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price

Born January 3, 1932, in the oceanside city of Santa Monica, California, to Frederick Price and Winifred (Winnie) Ammons Price, Frederick Kenneth Cercie Price was born with a calling and victorious destiny known only to God. His is a story that is solid proof of Jeremiah 29:11 – For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Becoming
Although life growing up in this busy home was a bit less than idyllic, Fred possessed a highly intuitive, observant and deductive mind, even at a young age. Unbeknownst to all, however, this uneasy start in life would fuel a fire and determination in young Fred to have a life of excellence and created his vision for the family that he would one day have.

Fred’s school days were spent at McKinley Elementary in Santa Monica, Foshay Junior High, Manual Arts High and Dorsey High schools in Los Angeles. At Dorsey, the handsome, debonaire, personable, and athletic Fred Price drew the attention of many young ladies. However, there was only one that drew his attention to the point of capturing his heart – Betty Ruth Scott. Betty’s radiant beauty was both internal and external, virtues that were irresistible to Fred.  More than he ever could have imagined, Betty was truly God-sent.

After graduating from Dorsey, Fred attended Los Angeles City College for a time. And, like many young men of his day, he spent his Sundays on the baseball diamond, where for a moment he courted dreams of playing professionally. However, with his attraction to Betty silently growing into true love, he found himself in a bit of a quandary. Unlike Betty, Fred did not grow up in a “religious” household. However, Fred decided that it was totally worth interrupting his regular Sunday baseball regimen to pursue the God-fearing, church-loving Betty. So, with eyes only for the beautiful creation named Betty, off to church Fred went. Betty had won his heart, and on Sunday, March 29, 1953, the attractive young couple embarked upon what would be nearly 68 covenant-keeping years of unconditional love, a marriage that became one of the strongest hallmarks of his life and ministry.

Conversion
To win her, Fred had begun attending church with Betty regularly. But baseball remained irresistible to Fred, so back to the ballpark he went – until . . . .

A weeklong old-fashioned tent revival was taking place and Betty was going. Out of curiosity and to keep an eye on his most precious gift, Fred decided that he would go along. However, attending the revival would turn out to be far more than a mere tagalong. Fred was not the only one on reconnaissance. So was the Holy Spirit. Underneath a tent revival in the Crenshaw District, Fred Price met Jesus Christ and his life would never be the same!

The Call
Shortly after being born again at the revival, Fred experienced a second life-altering event. In the stillness of a quiet moment, Fred heard within himself an audible voice say, “You are to preach My gospel.”  Not having been raised with a spiritual background, ministry was not an aspiration that Fred held for his future. Yet, he was confident and certain about this call to minister the Gospel of Jesus Christ that had come to him. 

Pastor Price began as an assistant pastor in the Baptist church that he attended with Betty, serving mostly part-time while continuing to make a living at various jobs, including being a supervisor at Waters (a local paper company) and as a truck driver for Coca-Cola. The future would find him as a pastor in both an African Methodist Episcopal church and Presbyterian church before joining the Christian and Missionary Alliance congregation at West Washington Community Church.

During this time, the Price family grew to include Frederick III, Angela Marie, and Cheryl Ann. They were a tight-knit little crew, carefully overseen by their loving mother. However, tragedy befell the young family when, in 1962, Frederick III was struck by a car and tragically killed. Despite their anguish, it was Fred and Betty’s belief and faith in a loving, caring God that sustained the young parents in that devastating moment.

Transformation
The years that Pastor Price spent matriculating through the four different denominations were not spiritually idle years entirely. In fact, this proved to be quite a period of introspection and revelation in his life.

In writing about this period in his book, The Holy Spirit: The Missing Ingredient, Pastor Price stated, “There was a nagging sensation within me that something was wrong, something was missing. I knew that there was no power being manifested in my own life. There was a dimension of the Christian life and experience that was lacking, but I did not know what it was. Every time I read the words of Jesus in John 14:12, it left me longing. I was not witnessing these greater works in my own ministry.” 

After spending time seeking God, immersing himself in the Word (particularly, the Book of Acts), and observing the anointed ministries of Kathryn Kuhlman and Oral Roberts, Pastor Price realized that what he had been longing for was the manifestation of the power of God in his life. He discovered that the baptism with the Holy Spirit was the answer he had long prayed to receive. Thus, began his journey to spiritual empowerment with God ordaining the perfect laborers to aid him in his pursuit. After several stops and starts resulting from his lack of understanding, it was on Saturday, February 28, 1970, that “rivers of living water” began to flow for the first time. Pastor Price began to speak with other tongues and entered a new level in the Spirit. Praying in the Spirit became a part of his daily life and his life was changed forever.

Now empowered by the Holy Spirit, Pastor Price delved even deeper into the Word and was drawn to the New Testament’s teachings on faith as the strong foundation upon which we can and should build the Christian life. One of the most consequential and convicting scriptures for him was Hebrews 11:6, But without faith it is impossible to please God. Why? Because pleasing God was what mattered most in his life. So, Pastor Price set his eyes on faith, and once he laid hold of it he would not let go. Through groups such as the Full Gospel Businessmen’s Fellowship, Pastor Price was soon in the company of other ministers of like precious faith. They fellowshipped together, poured over scripture together, prayed together, believed God together. Faith brought a whole new level of joy to his life, a joy he could not contain.

Ministry
As the pastor grew spiritually, so did the West Washington congregation. As the Holy Spirit taught him, Pastor Price taught the congregation. Many were filled with the Spirit, and the faith that they were being taught began to take deep root in the hearts of many.  The impact was explosive!  On November 26, 1973, Pastor Price and this young, vivacious congregation of 300 parishioners took a true leap of faith when they took possession of its newly purchased facilities at 9550 Crenshaw Boulevard in Inglewood, California. Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) church was born, firmly committed to the scriptural teachings of faith as the lifestyle of the Christian believer.

In the midst of this explosive transformation, not only had the church grown, so had the Price family. Stephanie Pauline had joined the family, taking her rightful place alongside her adoring sisters.

Word about the new congregation at 9550 began to go out across the city. Seekers came in droves to hear this dynamic young Black minister teach faith in a way never experienced before. Even multiple services were not sufficient for the burgeoning numbers of people wrapping around the building and lining the streets. Although to many it seemed a phenomenon, it was purely the Spirit of God at work. God’s command to Pastor Price had, in fact, been pure and simple: Feed My sheep, feed My lambs. In obedience, Pastor Price did exactly that, and the Lord added to His Church.

In 1978, the Ever Increasing Faith Ministries television broadcast was launched in five major markets in the United States, and soon found both national and global audiences. Its musical theme, Evidence, evidence, does your life show enough evidence, along with Pastor Price’s familiar greeting, Welcome to Ever Increasing Faith! and closing quote, For we walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) were recognizable hallmarks of his ministry that were repeated for decades by millions of people of all ages. With his perfectly coiffed Afro (never a hair out of place), superbly trimmed moustache, expertly tailored three-pieced suits, and trademark Bible in hand, Pastor Frederick K.C. Price was unforgettable by any standard.

Adding to the glory resting on this household of faith was the arrival of the son who had been prophesied. On March 15, 1979, Frederick Kenneth Price was born to the modern-day Abraham and Sarah – Fred and Betty. The Price family had been restored and the entire household of faith erupted with jubilant praise as a beaming Dr. Price presented his son on the day of dedication. What the prophet of God had spoken had come to pass and is still being fulfilled to this very day.

Ever Increasing Faith Ministries opened the door for Dr. Price to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ and teach the Word of faith to nations around the world. Through crusades and other ministry conclaves throughout the U.S., various parts of Africa, India, Australia, the Bahamas, and other parts of the world the Gospel was preached, faith was taught, hope was built, and lives were transformed.

Having purchased the 32 inner-city acres that were formerly the Pepperdine University campus at 7901 South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles, in 1984, Pastor Price moved the ministry once again.  Two years later, construction on the 10,000-seat geodesic FaithDome began. The FaithDome opened its doors in September 1989 and was the nation’s largest house of worship. In its 47 years of existence, Crenshaw Christian Center has included more than 28,000 members. And the numbers who have received Christ, been filled with the Spirit, or restored to right relationship with the Father as a result of the ministry is more than can be determined.   

Legacy
A visionary and prolific author, Pastor Price is also the author of some 50 books on faith, healing, the true purpose of prosperity, and the Holy Spirit. How Faith Works is a classic on the operation of faith and its life-changing principles.

In 1990, Pastor Price founded the Fellowship of Inner-City Word of Faith Ministries (which later became the Fellowship of International Christian Word of Faith Ministries), and established Crenshaw Christian Center East in New York City in 2001. 

Under the mantle of the teaching gift, Pastor Price was bestowed the titles of “Dr.” and “Apostle” and went on to establish several schools for ministry and formal education at CCC. Among them are Frederick K.C. Price III Christian Schools (preschool to 12th grade); the Ministry Training Institute in 1985; a CCC Correspondence School; the Frederick K.C. Price School of the Bible; and in 2008, the Apostle Price Ministry Training Center. As co-founder of the Frederick K.C. Price III Christian Schools and the Vermont Village Community Development Corporation, Apostle Price’s influence is strongly felt in the local community of South Los Angeles, where he remained firmly committed.

Through the years, Apostle Price has received many prestigious awards, most notably the Horatio Alger Award and the Kelly Miller Smith Interfaith Award. In receiving the 1998 Horatio Alger Award, Apostle Price stated, “To be able to touch people’s lives in positive ways—and to actually see positive changes in people over time—is the greatest reward there is. Don’t dwell on the bad things that have happened in life. Instead, put faith to work in your everyday life, and that will make everything else what it ought to be.” 

Having quietly operated in the fivefold ministry office of apostle for more than two decades, in 2009 Apostle Price was publicly acknowledged and affirmed as an Apostle of Faith.

If there is a capstone to the ministry of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, it is his landmark ground-breaking teaching on Race, Religion & Racism. While some Christians were shaken and perplexed by its honest, truthful discourse, countless others found it liberating, offering doors of repentance and genuine reconciliation. Yet Race, Religion & Racism remains true to this day and is a study recognized the world over. When asked how he handled preparing and presenting such a monumental work, Apostle Price would simply say, “It was simply my assignment. It had to be done and God knew that I could handle it. It was my assignment.”

A devout husband, father and friend, remembering his life and legacy are his beautiful wife of nearly sixty-eight years, Dr. Betty R. Price; his children, Angela and husband Michael Evans, Cheryl Price, Stephanie and husband Danon Buchanan, Frederick and wife Angel Price; ten grandchildren, Alan and wife Carrie Evans, Adrian Evans, Nicole and husband Ishmael Kirkland, Allen Crabbe, III, Tyler, Justin and Sydney Buchanan, Frederick, Gabriel and Bella Price; five great-grandchildren, Akira, Atreyu and Anthony Evans; Kamari Stewart and Kharli Kirkland; Apostle’s sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Delores and James Jones; brother-in-law, Minister Baltimore Scott; a host of nieces, nephews and other family members; his devoted Crenshaw Christian Center and Ever Increasing Faith family; numerous spiritual sons and daughters, and his ministry family around the world.

It is impossible to capture in any single setting alone the impact of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price in the earth.  A man of faith, honesty, character, integrity – a man above reproach. A humble man. And above all, a man of sincere love. Well done, faithful servant of Almighty God.

If I can touch somebody as I walk along
If I can touch somebody with a word or song
If I can touch somebody who is traveling wrong
Then my living shall not be in vain.
Mahalia Jackson
Unsaved people judge God by God's people. That is why I made up my mind years ago that I was going to represent God on a level that would be above reproach. If any man rejected Jesus, it would not be because I was so sloppily dressed, smelling bad, or driving some old beat-up, broken down, junky car. I determined that I was going to represent God to the best of my ability.

I remember seeing insurance salesmen in my neighborhood when they used to go from house to house selling insurance years ago. They looked good. I saw the Black Muslims out and about looking neat and clean, with trim haircuts and nice suits, all dressed up. I said to myself, "Why can't Christians represent God that way?"

That is another reason why I take care of my body. I am going to represent God in the best way I can. I am not going to be some big fat preacher with 99 ballpoint pens in my pocket, looking tattered and torn.

If that fits you, and you don't like what I am saying, change. You are the only one who can change it; God won't.
     
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