The Florida megachurch leader who was discovered dead in his Times Square hotel room on Friday was in New York for a speaking engagement and meetings, an Orlando-area congresswoman said Tuesday.

Rep. Corrine Brown said the Rev. Zachery Tims Jr. was "preparing" to preach in the New York area last week but she didn't know where he had planned to speak or whom he had met in the city. She said Mr. Tims had also traveled to California, Chicago and Tampa, Fla., in recent weeks for meetings and appearances.

He was scheduled to fly to Texas on Thursday, authorities said.

"He was always speaking somewhere, that is not very unusual at all," said Ms. Brown, who said she regularly attended his services. "He was very much in demand."

Mr. Tims, 42 years old, was found dead in his hotel room Friday with a plastic envelope containing a white powdery substance police believed to be narcotics, authorities have said. An autopsy was inconclusive, and authorities are awaiting the results of toxicology tests.

New York City police declined to comment further Tuesday. Mr. Tims's family couldn't be reached for comment.

Mr. Tims, who battled drug addiction as a teenager, gained fame through a memoir on his struggles and frequent television and speaking appearances across the country. His Apopka church, the New Destiny Christian Center, said it has more than 8,000 members.

"A lot of people preach, but it was like he would fly," Ms. Brown said. "It felt like he was speaking directly to you."

Thousands gathered to mourn Mr. Tims at his church in Apopka, on Monday night. A wake and public viewing was scheduled for Friday, with Mr. Tims's funeral the following day.

Some voiced concern over the church's future without its charismatic leader.

"I hope they will be able to survive this kind of damage," said Fred Brummer, a commissioner in Orange County, Fla.

Brethren this is becoming a common occurence, Gos is not playing with sin , judgment has started at the house of GOD.



"For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?" 1 Peter 4:17

I can see GOD's move purifying his church and removing everything that offends as the word says below -

"The Son of Man will send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that causes sin and all who do evil." -Matthew 13:41


Brothers and Sisters , FLEE MEGA CHURCHES and anywhere were there is false doctrine.

JESUS is coming soon.

Let us strive to get sin out of our lives so that we may be counted worthy.

Spending your precious live on this earth to acquire fame and money is self-destructive and a waste of time.

"And do this, understanding the present time. The hour has come for you to wake up from your slumber, because our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed." - Romans 13:11

frosbel:




Brothers and Sisters , FLEE MEGA CHURCHES and anywhere were there is false doctrine.

But Deeper life church that you admire so much is also a mega church.

Na wa oh. May God give his family comfort at this difficult time.

If its eventually discovered that he overdosed on illegal drugs that will just be too darn sad and another bullet for the critics to fire at 'christianity'.

^ OP

I knew this guy. We used to jokingly call him Will Smith. Sometimes you can tell things looks amiss with these chaps RIP

Ka-Kaww!:

^ OP

I knew this guy. We used to jokingly call him Will Smith. Sometimes you can tell things looks amiss with these chaps RIP

You must be from the DMV area or knew him when he moved to the greater FL area.


This is another reason we must put our TRUST in GOD ONLY and not man for we know not what men/women do behind closed doors or when no one seems to be watching.

Another one bites the dust.
i thought Jesus is enough for pastors.
What were the drugs for?

End Times
People die in hotel rooms all the time.
What is so special about this one?

[digression]

ogajim:
. . . .
This is another reason we must put our TRUST in GOD ONLY and not man for we know not what men/women do behind closed doors or when no one seems to be watching.

@Ogajim, something you might like: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/i/a/iamtrust.htm


[/digression]