Zachery Tims, a 42-year-old megachurch pastor in an Orlando-area church was found dead in a New York hotel room on Friday. Tims was the senior pastor and founder of New Destiny Christian Center, a church just northwest of Orlando, Florida in the town of Apopka. He founded the church after overcoming his drug addiction and attempted murder charges, as well as a very troubled youth. New Destiny Christian Center emerged from those struggles in 1996. The nondenominational church held its first service in a hotel room, and since has grown to more than 8,000 members. Their services now include radio and television and they claim to reach more than 100 million homes all around the world.
The church has not issued a comment about Tim’s passing, though they plan to release a statement sometime soon. Members of the church, however, are expressing their sorrows on the church’s Facebook page after news of his death has reached them. One member wrote: "Forever grateful to Dr. Tims and NDCC. Our daughter and son in law began their Christian journey with Pastor Tims. On this sad day we want to send our condolences to his family and flock and simply say… Thank you! His life and ministry were not in vain."
Police are still awaiting an autopsy before disclosing the cause of death, though they do not think there was any wrongdoing. However, Sgt. John Bethorn of the New York police department said he was pronounced dead at the scene after being found unresponsive at about 6:00 PM on Friday. He had been staying at the W Hotel in Times Square.
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