Frederick K.C. Price, a well-known US televangelist and the founder of the 28,000-strong Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) in Los Angeles has died from COVID-19 at the age of 89.
Price’s son Frederick K. Price announced the death in a Facebook post on Friday:
"Our Husband, Father and your Apostle has gone to be with the Lord this evening. We accept his decision to go as he got a glimpse of glory a couple of weeks ago. But we are sad. Please allow us some time to process all of this. He fought the good fight of faith and laid hold of eternal life. The Price Family."
The 89-year-old Price and his wife, Betty, contracted Covid-19 more than a month ago. Pastor Price was thought to be battling heart, lung and kidney issues after being hospitalised with the virus.
On January 4 Pastor Price Jr wrote a post wishing his father happy birthday and disclosing he had tested positive for the virus.
"Happy 89th birthday Dad, I love you and honor you for the measuring stick of a man you’ve been my entire life.
"As many of you know my parents both tested positive for Covid-19. Once the frustration and annoyance passed, I reminded myself of their faith and the many challenges they’ve overcome. Coronavirus is just another notch on their belts. Thanks for all your prayers; much love and appreciation to you all."
Pastor Price along with his wife, Dr. Betty Price, established CCC in 1973. At the time, it had a 300-member congregation. In less than 10 years, the membership grew significantly with thousands seeking to join the fellowship.
CCC bought the former Pepperdine University campus in Los Angeles in 1981. Five years later construction began on the 10,000-seat FaithDome, located in South Los Angeles, it's one of the largest churches in the world.