New York,None — Details have emerged Monday evening about the sudden death of an Orange County mega church pastor who died in a New York City hotel room. A news outlet in New York reported that Pastor Zachery Tims had an envelope of white powder in his pocket when he died.
However, WFTV spoke with a New York detective who said the department is not confirming that report.
New York City police said 42-year-old Zachery Tims of Orlando was found dead on the floor of a room at the W Hotel in Times Square late Friday afternoon.
According to the police department, Tims was found unresponsive on the floor in room number 3711 at approximately 6 p.m. NYPD said no foul play or criminal activity is suspected. Tims was in New York City for the weekend to speak at a church.
The medical examiner said an autopsy on Monday was inconclusive, and more tests will have to be done over the next few weeks to determine what caused his death.
Tims was the senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, one of the largest congregations in Central Florida. He also hosted and appeared on Christian television and radio programs.
The church congregation is 8,000 strong. Tims started the church in 1996. The congregation grew quickly and in 2005, the church built a $3.4 million, 34,000-square-foot youth center. The church has two locations in Orange County.
Tims had been in and out of jail as a young man and hoped the center would keep youngsters away from drugs and crime.
Church members and others posted a flurry of messages mourning the loss of the popular pastor on Facebook and Twitter late Sunday.
He was very energetic, full of life, said church member Keesha Rivers. Always kept it real.
All of a sudden you get this news that he's dead in New York, said Winfred Barrington, church member. In shock. That's why I don't have any emotions. It doesn't seem real."
Stunned members of the church gathered for emergency prayer services on Monday as the investigation into how their pastor died continues.
It's very devastating, said church member Christopher Oatman. He was one of my first pastors when I moved to Orlando. It bothers me tremendously.
His rise was phenomenal, going from six members in a storefront to where he's at now. We never saw anything like it in Orlando. His ministry skyrocketed pretty much overnight," said one church member.
But his rise was not without struggle. He often told his members about his drug addiction and gang life before God called him to serve in the ministry.
In 2009, Tims was in the news after revealing an extramarital affair; he left the pulpit briefly before returning to his role as senior pastor.
Tims leaves behind four young children.
In a message to the congregation, church leaders warned against jumping to any conclusions about Tims' sudden death.