Zachery Tims Dead Amid Scandal, But Admirers Recount Positive Impact

Mourners continued to recount the positive spiritual effect Zachery Tims -- the megachurch pastor found dead last Friday in a New York hotel room -- had on the lives of those he touched.

"Thank you Pastor Tims for opening permanent doors for me," read a post from one woman on New Destiny Christian Center's Facebook page. "Because of you I actually am created new in order to be a better woman of God and I can say this with confidence."

Funeral services are planned this weekend for the troubled 42-year-old pastor, who leaves behind an estranged wife and four children. Tims and his wife divorced in 2009 after he admitted to a year-long affair with a stripper.

The New York Medical Examiner's office hasn't released a cause of death yet, but police have said they don't suspect foul play. His unresponsive body was discovered by hotel staff. Authorities have told The Wall Street Journal that a bag of white powdery substance, believed to be narcotics, was found on Tims' body.

Tims founded New Destiny Christian Center, a Florida church which boasts more than 8,000 members. His Christian broadcast reached more than 100 million households globally, according to its Web site. The congregation is active in the local charity scene, providing food, clothing, personal toiletries, haircuts, medical screening, and children's toys to the less fortunate.

While not completely dismissing the controversy surrounding Tims' life, his followers chose to focus on the good he did in his short lifetime.

"Dr Tims heart was a giving one even outside of the church," another commenter said on the center's Web site. "As 1 example people may not know, he bought ederly [sic] people food each day at a resteraunt [sic] each time he ate. He never told them he bought it. He'd quietly ask a waiter to give him the ederly [sic] person or their table's check and don't tell them who paid."

New Destiny is holding a wake for mourners to view Tims' body on Friday, Aug. 19. A funeral service for him will follow on Saturday. Further details of the service can be found on the expanded picture in this story.