Betty Price, the widow of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, former head of the Crenshaw Christian Center, talks about her latest memoir, ‘A Victorious Life of Faith and Love: The Authorized Biography of Betty Ruth Scott Price.’ The book was written by Flo S. Jenkins.
Photo by Darlene Donloe
By Darlene Donloe
Contributing Writer
SOUTH LOS ANGELES — Betty Ruth Scott Price is a renowned figure in ministry worldwide, celebrated for her dedication and compassion.
At 91, the widow of Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, founder of Crenshaw Christian Center in South Los Angeles, Price has spent her life helping others. Her journey is a testament to her faith and trust in God.
In a recent meeting at Crenshaw Christian Center, Price’s warm, golden-brown complexion glowed with a smile as she sat confidently behind her desk. Her dark eyes sparkled with kindness and wisdom, reflecting her devotion to her faith. Known for her impeccable style, she was nattily dressed in a chic black top and pants, with a vibrant red jacket that added a pop of color to the room.
She stood to give a warm bear hug greeting to a visitor as she prepared to talk about a very personal project. It’s her latest memoir, “A Victorious Life of Faith and Love: The Authorized Biography of Betty Ruth Scott Price,” an intimate glimpse into her life.
In it, Price lays bare her life, sharing personal, humorous and sometimes introspective stories that reveal the depths of her faith and the trials she has faced.
Written by Flo S. Jenkins and featuring a foreword by Taffi L. Dollar, Price insists she has nothing to hide. In fact, she said her life is literally “an open book.”
Her motivation for writing the book was simple.
“I wrote it to let people know [God] is real,” she said. “He’ll do the same for you that He’s done for me.”
Growing up poor in rural, segregated Mississippi, Price witnessed firsthand the transformative power of faith.
She recalled her journey from poverty to wealth, from sickness to health, and attributes her success to her unwavering trust in God.
Her faith has been a constant source of strength, guiding her through life’s challenges, including the tragic loss of her 8-year-old son to a hit-and-run accident and a battle with cancer.
Price has faced unimaginable hardships, including hip surgery and a broken disc in her back from picking up a heavy chair.
The beloved matriarch emphasizes the importance of wisdom and discernment in navigating life’s trials.
“You can’t just automatically claim a miracle in cases like this when you do something unwise or stupid,” she advises. “You can’t expect God to run around like a little bellhop and fix you up!”
In addition to her personal struggles, Price, who was ordained in 1994, has weathered challenges within her family and ministry.
Her son, Pastor Fred K. Price, temporarily stepped down from leading the church, and her husband faced false accusations on national television. In 2007, ABC News aired a 20/20 special on the lavish lifestyles of wealthy ministers and televangelists, which included Frederick K.C. Price, who was affirmed as an apostle in 2008.
In the special, host John Stossel reported that Frederick K.C. Price was using nonprofit monies given to the church to purchase personal luxury items. Price filed a defamation lawsuit. The case was settled in 2011, in Price’s favor, and the network issued an apology.
His widow recalls the pain and hurt caused by the misrepresentation.
“They lied,” she said. “My husband was devastated by this lie. It was pure character assassination. He never got totally together after that. They had questioned his integrity, something he had worked so hard for.”
The network eventually retracted the errors and apologized, but the damage had already been done.
Upon his death in 2021, it was believed that Apostle Price died due to contracting COVID. In her book, his widow denies that. She also talks about why she didn’t cry at his funeral.
“His course was up,” she said. “He had finished his course. He was 89 when he passed. He was feeling miserable.”
Price said that to get through the death of her husband and other challenges she leans heavily on scripture, including Mark 11:24, which says, “Therefore I say unto you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.”
In her memoir, Price also shares her experiences as a pastor’s wife, author, speaker and evangelist.
The one thing she hopes readers take away from the book is that “God is real.”
“The Bible is still relevant,” said Price, who is quick to quote Bible verses for any situation. “There is something for whatever you need in life.”
Asked to describe her life, Price said, “Living this Christian life has been wonderful. I was probably boring to some people in high school. I didn’t go out looking for boys. I went to Bible study.
“I’m not perfect, but I couldn’t deliberately sin,” she added. “I thought, ‘Jesus could come at any time. What if I do something wrong and he comes?’ I just wanted to be obedient.”
In the book, Price also shares about the temptations pastors face, particularly from women seeking closeness with a man of God. She recounts a personal experience with a woman who repeatedly approached her husband, claiming to have a word from God. Her husband had to set firm boundaries.
“When you’re married to a pastor, you have to be careful,” she said. “She would give him a word, but she came around a lot. These women can fool you. I learned a hard lesson. I had to be strict. I told my husband, ‘If you have to have a relationship with this person, I’m out of here.’”
A celebrated author, Price has written several books, including “Standing By God’s Man,” “Through the Fire & Through the Water: My Triumph Over Cancer,” “Lifestyles of the Rich & Faithful: A Handbook for Successful Christian Living,” “Wisdom from Above, Volumes 1 & 2,” and “Warning to Ministers, Their Wives, and Mistresses.”
Her life’s work has been recognized with numerous awards and commendations, including being named Woman of the Year by the Los Angeles County Commission for Women in the Second District.
Despite life’s challenges, Price remains committed to her ministry and family. Her youngest child, Pastor Fred K. Price currently leads the 14,000-member Crenshaw Christian Center, while her daughters, Angela, Cheryl, and Stephanie, have all played vital roles in the ministry.
As Price approaches her 92nd birthday, she continues to inspire and uplift with her wisdom, humor and unwavering faith.
On Nov. 8, after 47 years, Price will host her last annual Wisdom From Above luncheon, a testament to her enduring legacy and commitment to empowering women. The popular, consistently sold-out luncheon brings together women of faith for a word of wisdom from Price.
“I’m tired,” she said. “That’s why this is the 47th and last year. Seven is a year of completion. It’s a good time to stop.”
For those interested in reading her book, Price offers a simple invitation.
“They should read it if they want to know about God,” she said. “If they want to see how God took somebody with nothing and brought them into whatever they wanted in life — read it. All I want to do is love people and help people.”
Darlene Donloe is a freelance reporter for Wave Newspapers who covers South Los Angeles. She can be reached at ddonloe@gmail.com.
