ABOUT
PASTOR DEE
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Under Bishop Pridgen's leadership, True Bethel Baptist Church has become a beacon of hope and support for the Western New York community. Embracing the principle "To whom much is given, much is required," the church has established a comprehensive
network of outreach programs:
True Bethel Charities: Providing essential resources to those in need Taste of Faith Food Pantry: Addressing food insecurity in the local area True Bethel Clothes Closet: Offering clothing assistance to community members
Nehemiah Arms: Providing emergency housing for displaced individuals Bishop Pridgen's commitment to social justice and community development extends
beyond the church walls. He has spearheaded initiatives to clean up hazardous waste sites, improve public safety, and create economic opportunities in underserved areas.
As a respected civic leader, Bishop Pridgen also served as the President of the Buffalo Common Council and District Councilman, making history as the first known cleric elected to public office in the City of Buffalo.
His multifaceted approach to leadership combines spiritual guidance with practical solutions, making him a transformative force in both religious and civic spheres.
Pastor Craig D Pridgen man of family, action.
community, and faith.
As a man of family, he is the proud son of Bishop Darius G.
Pridgen and the late Lynn L. White. He currently resides in
North Buffalo with his wife City of Buffalo Chief Judge
JaHarr S. Pridgen and their two daughters Jordin and Journey.
He is a PROUD Theatre Arts graduate of The Buffalo
Academy for Visual & Performing Arts and Medaille College.
He is currently pursuing an additional degree from Regent
University in Leadership Studies.
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As a man of action Pastor Pridgen led the efforts in opening
and managing the first ever Subway restaurant franchise in a
church in 2004. During that time, he ran a job readiness
program that prepared inner city youth with the skills
necessary for workforce development. In November of 2010 he was sent to serve as the Senior Campus Pastor of the newly opened Niagara Falls location of True Bethel Baptist Church and has served there faithfully. In 2012 he implemented the community charge "If You See Something Say Something" He worked alongside pastors, politicians, and police to curb the violence in the Niagara Falls Community. In 2021 Pridgen was appointed by Niagara Falls Mayor Robert Restaino as a Commissioner for the Falls Social Justice Commission where he co-led the law enforcement subcommittee.
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As a man of community Pastor Pridgen is a trustee of Niagara
University (where he serves as the chair of the student affairs
committee), a board member of Niagara Falls Memorial
Medical Center, Pinnacle Community Services, and The
National Federation for Just Communities. In 2019 Pastor
Pridgen was elected as the President of The Niagara Falls
Ministerial Council. In 2022 Pridgen joined Roswell Park
Comprehensive Cancer Center as a Senior Advisor for
Government and External Affairs under the leadership of
President & CEO Dr. Candace S. Johnson.
As a man of faith Pastor Craig Pridgen is driven by a simplistic
yet powerful scripture. "I tell vou the truth, when vou did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, sisters, you were doing it to me!' - Matthew 25:40