Contact: Sonja Eddings Brown, ProtectMarriage.com, 818-993-4508, Sonja@protectmarriage.com

LOS ANGELES, October 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- One of the highest ranking African American religious leaders in California and in the country has endorsed YES on Prop 8.

Apostle Frederick K.C. Price of the influential Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles hosted and led off a press conference with dozens of local African American religious leaders yesterday saying that "we shouldn't do anything to jeopardize the future of our family and our children." The press conference opened with 50 African American and Latino pastors from greater Los Angeles, all standing up individually to express their support for YES on Proposition 8.

Joining Dr. Price in supporting YES on Prop 8 was Dr. Beverly "Vam" Crawford, Senior Pastor of Bible Enrichment Fellowship Int'l Church, and Bishop Frank Stewart of the Zoe Christian Fellowship in Los Angeles. Dr. Crawford reminded the two hundred supporters gathered for the event that "we must do what is right and stand for our children. We cannot afford to let this affect our babies in our schools."

Each of the ministers spoke to the key issues concerning California parents on Proposition Eight. Bishop Frank Stewart from Zoe Christian Fellowship of Los Angeles spoke candidly about claims of civil rights violations from gay advocates and reminded reporters that, "children also have civil rights that deserve to be respected and not violated, and so do I as a parent and a grandparent."

In total, well over a thousand individual congregations in Greater Los Angeles were represented in the respected group which stood in solidarity for YES on Prop 8. The ministers gathered, represented both African American and Latino congregations throughout Southern California, and the support of 3 million faithful followers.

Ministers in attendance were as follows:

PASTOR NAME CHURCH NAME
Bishop Frank Stewart Zoe Christian Fellowship-LA
Pastor Craig Hays Crenshaw Christian Center
Pastor Ed Smith Zoe Christian Fellowship-Whittier
Dr. BAM Crawford Bible Enrichment Fellowship International Center
Pastor Jim Ortiz My Friends House
Bishop Virgil Patterson Crusaders Ministry
Pastor Charles/Gwen Patrick Sunago Christian Fellowship Church-Compton
Trina Williams NAACP
Dr. Charles Nauden,
Sr. Pastor The Holy Way COGIC COGIC
Dr. Frederick K.C. Price Crenshaw Christian Center
Pastor Fred Price, Jr. Crenshaw Christian Center
Pastor Kenneth Sesley Kingdom Advancers Family
Pastor Marcelo Alvarado Igelsia Misionnera HispanoAmericana
Covenant Church
Min. Trena Thompson The Dwelling Place
Sr. Pastor, Carlton Lincoln
Pastor John Mendez
Min Alice Gier
Dr. Delores Jones
Pastor Robert Bolden
Pastor Robert Cummings
Min. Gail Riley
Pres Daniel y Susana Torres Vision De Futuroag
Pastor Mario Medio Mision Cristiana Int.
Netz Gomez Houses of Light
Min. Henry Lein Christian Mission
Pastor Carleton Lincoln The Dwelling Place
Reverend Dr. Raul Pacheco FCCI Ministries
Dan Herron Zoe Kingdom Seeker
Min. Leonard Radomskiy World Outreach House of Prayer
Tran M. Lewis Jr. Full Gospel COGIC
Lydia Gutierrez
Minister Terrance Richmond Calvary Christian Center
Pastor David Gray Bible Fellowship Community Church
Richard & Corrine Cardoza The Lord's Church
Neftali Zazueta Grace Harvest Fellowship
Pastor Lawrence Witherspoon Fortress Community Church
Rev. Buckle Tree of Life
Min. Erica Arceo
Patricia Arnold Calvary Christian Center
Pastor Ray Telles Hope of Glory Fellowship
Pastor Joe Casnova
Pastor Leonard Dodonsky
Min. Claudette Matthews
Reverend Ralph Pacheco
Rev. Jesse Lee Peterson BOND Action
Dr. Johnny Dlakley God in our Midst
Paul Deverses
Pastor Chris Ward Ward International Ministries


Other Pastors Supporting the proposition are as follows:

Phillip Goudeaux Calvary Christian Center
Richard Braxton " " " Plumas Lake
Fred Simpkins Clear Voice Ministrie
Don Proctor Impact Church
Richard Prasad Zion Global Outreach
David Gray Bible Fellowship Community Church
David Audrusyok Spring of Life
Roy Larry Sure House of Faith
Garth Buckle Tree of Life
Bill Krause Family Community Church
Alex Flores Life Changing Reality Christian Center
Joel Pappas Oasis Christian Mission Center
Ronnie Walton Jubilare
David Foster Greater Grace
Tillman Wade Unity Baptist
Jimmie Fazil New Direction Christian Center
Jacob Collins Life Bridge Church
Sherwood Carthen Bayside South Sacramento
Samuel Thompsen Good Seed COGIC
Hirmand Askari Living Hope
Itasker Hollins Sr. All Noations COGIC
Pastor Glenn Cole Capital Christian Center
Greg Smith Valley Grace Community Church
Mike Higley Wesleyan Christian Church
Sean Morgan Grace Community Church
Mitch Keyes Firebaugh Faith Fellowship
Richard Cordoza The Lord's Church
Tray Frederick New Direction
Alvaro Medina Casa De Oracion
Alvin Armstrong Church of the Redeemed
Pedro Cintron Candeloro de Oro
Robert Lambert St. Thomas Holy MBC
Esley Simmons South SacramenTo Christian Center
Joe Mejia Miracle Christian Worship
Bishop Donald Green SF Christian Center
Bishop George McKinney St. Stephens COGIC/COGIC Ruling Bishop