GOP presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz announced endorsements from more than 100 Missouri and Florida pastors and faith leaders on Monday, just ahead of Tuesday’s primary elections contests.
The Cruz campaign touted the endorsements as evidence of the “grassroots army coalescing behind Cruz.” New endorsements in Florida come from “a wide range of regions throughout the Sunshine State from the Panhandle, to northeast Florida, down to central and south Florida,” the campaign stated.
Cruz will hold rallies in five Illinois cities on Monday while his wife Heidi makes three stops in North Carolina.
The campaign has targeted large segments of what many refer to as the faith community. The senator’s last stop of the day will be at the iWorship Center in Springfield. Heidi Cruz was scheduled for a stop at Tri-City Baptist Church in Conover, North Carolina.
Republican primary voters in five states will decide on Tuesday which candidate to support. That includes Florida, Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina, and Ohio.
In Missouri, Cruz added 25 new endorsements to add to ten previously announced Missouri pastor and faith leader endorsements. “Heidi and I are grateful for the prayers and support of these faithful men and women,” Cruz said following the endorsements.
New Florida faith leader endorsements:
Mr. Randy Highsmith, Alachua County – Treasurer, Summit Baptist Church
Mr. John Gough, Brevard County – Deacon, Lighthouse Assembly of God
Rev. Bill Hinckley, Brevard County – Chaplain, Shield of Faith Ministries International
Mr. Richard Quiroga, Broward County County – Christian Activist
Mrs. Ilissa Boisvert, Broward County County – Sunday School Teacher, First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach
Mr. Rene Boisvert, Broward County County – Facilities Committee Member, First Baptist Church of Pompano Beach
Pastor Roger King, Calhoun County – Pastor, Gateway Baptist Church
Mrs. Sylvia Croft, Clay County – Pastor’s Wife, Morning Star Family Church
Pastor Tom Croft, Clay County – Pastor, Morning Star Family Church
Pastor Shawn House, Clay County – Pastor, Gadara Baptist Church
Pastor Bob Coulter, Clay County – Pastor, Middleburg First Church of God
Mr. Thomas Platt, Clay County – Elder, Hibernia Baptist Church
Mr. Greg Harper, Collier County – Former President, Inspired Learning Center
Mrs. Mary Harper, Collier County – Ministry Leader, Inspired Learning Center
Pastor Patrick Gimenez, Columbia County – Pastor, Victory Springs Independent Baptist Church
Rev. Gerald Bustin, Duval County – Pastor, Open Door Community Church
Mr. Brandon Rossi, Duval County – Youth Counselor
Pastor Steve DuBose, Duval County – Pastor, Lane Ave. Church of God
Mrs. Bonnie Kleinik, Duval County – Staff, Biblical Concepts Ministries
Dr. Gene Youngblood, Duval County – Pastor, First Conservative Baptist Church
Dr. Dorothy Youngblood, Duval County – Vice President, Conservative Theological University
Mr. Steve Hall, Duval County – President, Kingdom Fellowship
Pastor Wade Mask, Duval County – Pastor, Wayside Assembly of God
Dr. John Montgomery, Duval County – Pastor, Cedar Creek Baptist Church
Mrs. Ginger Soud, Duval County – Sunday School Teacher, First Baptist Church Jacksonville
Dr. Raymond Johnson, Duval County – President, Biblical Concepts Ministries
Mr. Brad Straley, Duval County – Founder and President, Jacksonville For Life
Rev. Scott Shifferd, Duval County – Minister, Dean Road Church of Christ
Pastor Terry Gore, Duval County – Pastor, Franklin Street Baptist Church
Rev. David Eure, Duval County – Founder and President, Lighthouse Christian School
Pastor Richard Edwards, Duval County – Pastor, First Coast Baptist Church
Pastor Glen Anderson, Escambria County – Pastor, Pensacola Baptist Temple
Pastor John Miller, Gichrist County – Pastor, Christian Fellowship Community Church
Pastor Donald Grant, Hernando County – Pastor, First Baptist Church of Webster
Mr. Keith Aeschbach, Hillsborough County – Teacher, Tampa Catholic High School
Mr. Thomas Crane, Hillsborough County – Elder, Tampa Covenant Church
Mrs. Martha Crane, Hillsborough County – Sunday School Teacher, Tampa Covenant Church
Ms. Donna Rogers, Hillsborough County – Founder, Angel of Love and Light Ministries
Miss Kara Bremer, Jackson County – Secretary, First Baptist Church Blountstown
Pastor Roger Rees, Lake County – Pastor, Kingdom Covenant Church
Mr. David Doan, Lee County – Board Member, Personhood Florida
Rev. Rick Stevens, Lee County – Senior Pastor, Diplomat Wesleyan Church
Mr. Phillip Fender, Leon County – Children’s Ministry Leader, House of Protection
Mrs. Kathy Pendergrass, Manatee County – Choir Director, St. Mary Magdalene Church
Pastor Wendy Gallegos, Marion County – Vice President, Family Care Givers/Evangelical Bible Misson
Ms. Sandra Valdes, Miami-Dade County – Program Director, St. Luke’s Addiction Recovery Center
Pastor Darrell Morgan, Orange County – Pastor, Word of Life Church
Pastor Audra Smith, Orange County – Youth Pastor, Orlando International Worship Center
Pastor Ruth Noboa, Orange County – Pastor, Iglesia Siloe
Mr. Joseph Nadeau, Orange County – Founder, Ramoth Ministries
Mrs. Kathleen Albert, Orange County – Ministry Leader, Women Impacting the Nation
Pastor Milagro Lugo, Orange County – Pastor, 23rd Psalm Church Ministry
Mr. Norman Sergant, Orange County – Evangelist, Body of Messiah
Pastor Robert Young, Orange County – Pastor, Tabernacle of Glory Apostolic Church
Dr. Samuel Torres, Orange County – Pastor, Iglesia de Cristo Misionera Nueva Vida
Pastor James Book, Osceola County – Senior Minister, First Christian Church at Kissimmee
Pastor Israel Sotolongo, Pasco County – Associate Pastor, Tabernacle of God Church
Ms. Roberta Vincent, Pasco County – Children’s Church Director, Christian and Missionary Alliance Church
Pastor Anthony McDaniel, Pinellas County – Lead Pastor, Abundant Life Ministries
Ms. Nancy Davis, Pinellas County – Deacon, Faith Community Church
Mr. Glenn Pav, Pinellas County – Spiritual Director, The Palms of Largo
Mr. Aaron Brown, Pinellas County – Small Group Leader, Calvary Baptist Church
Dr. John Long, Polk County – Pastor, The Chapel at Polo Park
Pastor Larry Branham, Polk County – Pastor, Cleveland Height Baptist Church
Rev. Leonard Ward, Polk County – Pastor, River of Life Church
Pastor Glenn Capple, Polk County – Pastor, New Hope Gospel Ministries
Pastor Roscoe William, Polk County – Pastor, The Family Church
Rev. Tanya Zettek, Polk County – Missionary, Alive 2 Love Ministries/Grace & Glory
Mrs. Patty Burke, Santa Rosa County – Counselor, Alpha Center
Pastor Alicia Andrew, Santa Rosa County – Pastor, Emerald Coast Christian Family Fellowship
Mr. David Jeffers, Santa Rosa County – Christian Author, Ministry Leader
Pastor Kenneth Dawson, St. Lucie County – Pastor, Midway Road Church of Christ
Pastor Jeff Ledbetter, Sumter County – Pastor, Landmark Baptist Church of Bushnell
Mrs. Sarah Smith, Volusia County – Pastor’s Wife, South Haven Christian Church
Pastor Paul Bryan, Volusia County – President, Lighthouse Ministries International
Ms. Myrleen Pace, Volusia County – Christian Activist
Pastor Mark Mueller, Volusia County – Worship Pastor, The Lighthouse Church
Pastor Michael Smith, Volusia County – Pastor, South Haven Christian Church
New Missouri faith leader endorsements:
Pastor Keith Adamson, Cedar Gap Church
Pastor Brian Andrews, Amazing Grace Baptist Church
Pastor Chad Blansit, Bethany Church
Caleb Brown, Chairman of Deacons, Ramsey Creek Baptist Church
Pastor Aaron Brummitt, Lighthouse Anabaptist Church
Pastor Robert Burnett, Central Baptist Church
Mr. Jeremiah Cote, Youth Ministry Pastor & Missouri Millennials for Cruz State Director
Coby Cullins, President, National Safety Compliance, Inc.
Pastor Jerid Davis, Associate Pastor, Lighthouse Ministries
Pastor George Davis, Senior Pastor, Lighthouse Ministries
Mrs. Michelle Elliott, Evangelist, Kingdom Warriors for Christ
Pastor Herbert Hensley, Nebo Freewill Baptist Church
Don Hinkle, Public Policy Director, Missouri Baptist Convention
Pastor Dan Hite, Director, Pillar Foundation & Pastor, Christian Family Fellowship
Pastor Larry Ingracia, Associate Pastor at Transforming Life Church
Pastor Don Johnson, Hope Church
Mrs. Sherry Kuttenkuler, Central Missouri Director, Concerned Women for America
Pastor Brad Luckey, Senior Pastor, Bible Missionary Church
Mrs. Jill Noble, Kansas City Area Director, Concerned Women for America
Mrs. Debra Rodriguez, Evangelist, Kingdom Warriors for Christ
Mr. David Schminkey, Bible Professor, Ozark Bible Institute
Mrs. Dawn Schminkey, Alumni Secretary, Ozark Bible Institute
Pastor Mike Shelton, Academic Dean, Ozark Bible Institute
Pastor Carl Kingsley Walker, Life Gate International
Pastor Herb Ward, Senior Pastor, Harley Church of God
Previously announced Missouri faith leader endorsements:
Mr. Rich Bott, President of Bott Radio Network
Mr. Dick Bott, Founder of Bott Radio Network
Former State Senator Delbert Scott, President, Kansas Christian College
Mrs. Bev Ehlen, Missouri State Director, Concerned Women for America
Ben Baker, Dean of Students at Ozark Bible Institute
Pastor Chris Lybarger, Senior Pastor at Fellowship First Baptist Church
Pastor John McCaherty, Pastor & State Representative
Mr. Calvin Morrow, Director at Christians Uniting for Political Action
Dr. Chuck Hoskins, Executive Director & Director of Missions, Jefferson Baptist Association
Dr. Karladine Graves, Christian Citizens United
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