Ted Cruz Is Looking for a Super Tuesday II Boost From Evangelicals

Over the weekend, U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz picked up the endorsements of more than 100 pastors and faith leaders in two of the Super Tuesday II states.

“There is no greater advocate and defender of religious freedom than Ted Cruz,” said Don Hinkle, Public Policy Director of the Missouri Baptist Convention. “I would urge all people of faith and good will in Missouri to prayerfully and seriously consider supporting Ted Cruz for President of the United States.”

The evangelical outreach effort, called Operation Gideon, has resulted in more than 30 endorsements from the Show Me State. They include:

• 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

“Heidi and I are grateful for the prayers and support of these faithful men and women,” Cruz said. “As people of strong faith and as leaders in their communities, they have tremendous responsibility and influence. It is humbling to have their public endorsement of our campaign. As these leaders stand with me today, I pledge to continue standing with people of faith to defend every American’s God-given right to religious liberty and reignite the promise of America.”

Although Cruz isn’t doing as well in the polls in Florida as he is in Missouri, the Texas senator picked up nearly 80 endorsements from the Sunshine State this weekend. They represent nearly every corner of the state.

The pastors and faith leaders who have endorsed Cruz in Florida include:

• 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, Escambia County – Pastor, Pensacola Baptist Temple
• Pastor John Miller, Gilchrist 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 Mission
• 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 Heights 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

“I am honored to join other faith leaders in Florida in endorsing Ted Cruz for President,” Bustin, a pastor in Duval County Florida, said. “Ted is the only candidate who has continually fought on our behalf for our right to religious liberties, and now it is our chance to stand behind him with full strength and support.”