'Pastors of LA' becoming a US reality show

In a landscape chock full of religious themed reality television, the lives of the faithful are becoming even more highlighted, as Oxygen Media has announced its newest program, "Pastors of L.A."

Joining the newest television trend, which includes TLC's "The Sisterhood" (about preachers' wives) and BET's Christian-themed talk show "Lift Every Voice," Oxygen will produce a series about the lives of Southern Californian pastors.

The "authentic" docu-series will chronicle the lives of Bishop Noel Jones, Deitrick Haddon and four other well-known Christian ministers in the greater L.A. area.

Respected in their ministries, the series intends to give audiences a revealing peak behind the curtain of faith.

"'Pastors of L.A.' will give viewers a candid and revealing look at six boldly different and world renowned mega-pastors in Southern California, who are willing to share diverse aspects of their lives, from their work in the community and with their parishioners to the very large and sometimes provocative lives they lead away from the pulpit," Oxygen said in its press release,

Likely to be similar to BET and WE tv's respective gospel reality shows, "The Sheards" and "Mary Mary,"

Oxygen hopes to find an audience in the religious community that desires to see the behind-the-scenes lives of popular Christian figures.

Star Bishop Jones, who is the brother of singer and model Graces Jones, has been leading the City of Refuge Church in Gardena, Calif. since 1994. He also is a popular lecturer around the country.

His church is the place of worship for many celebrities, including controversial rapper The Game. Jones, unmarried, is also the subject of controversy as he was rumored to have fathered singer and actress Stacy Francis's second child last year.

Haddon is described by Oxygen to be a dynamic singer and preacher, despite also coming under scrutiny by the gospel community for divorcing his wife in 2011.

The award-winning musical artist also garnered mixed reactions in April when he revealed that he fathered a child out of wedlock and is now engaged to be remarried. Haddon is currently working on his upcoming album, "League of Xtraordinary Worshippers," which will be recorded live Friday at the Noel's City of Refuge Church.

The program will also include appearances by Bishop Clarence McClendon, senior pastor of Full Harvest International Church, Bishop Ron M. Gibson of Life Church of God in Christ, Pastor Wayne Chaney of Antioch Church of Long Beach and skateboarding Pastor Jay Haizlip.

The show will be respectively produced and executive produced by Lemuel Plummer and Holly Carter, the minds behind BET's "The Sheards."

It will also feature the gospel stars of that series.

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