Fla. megachurch pastor Zachery Tims found dead with drugs in NY hotel

[bemildred]

Source: CBS

(CBS/AP) NEW YORK - Florida megachurch pastor Zachery Tims was found dead in a New York City hotel room on Friday, according to police.

A white powdery substance believed to be narcotics was discovered on the body, The Wall Street Journal reports.

New York City police said 42-year-old Orlando pastor was found dead on the floor of a room at the W Hotel in Times Square late Friday afternoon. There was no criminal activity suspected. The medical examiner will determine the cause of death.

His body was discovered by a hotel worker trying to check the minibar, the Journal reports.

Read more: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20092873-504083.html

[Steerpike]

1. I am an Atheist

so I guess it's not unusual that I have no idea who this poor guy is...

[madokie]

16. Yup same here

church criminal more than likely

[callous taoboy]

38. Same here but I'm assuming perfect hair and teeth, first-class travel, etc.

[Uncle Joe]

40. Here is his pic during happier times.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-zachery-tims-dead-20110815,7160723,5442886.photo



( Julie Fletcher, Orlando Sentinel / August 16, 2011 )

Surrounded by their children, Dr Zachery and wife, Pastor Riva Tims cut the ribbon along with Orange County Commissioner, Bob Sindler, and Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer. New Destiny Christian Center celebrated their grand opening of a faith-based-initiative Community Youth Recreation Facility, Friday, June 17, 2005. (Julie Fletcher/Orlando Sentinel)

[Javaman]

45. just another guy who preyed upon the ignorant and desperate for their money.

in the old days they were once called con artists, today: fundamentalist ministers.

[GodlessBiker]

2. I wonder if he left anything to the stripper.

[Poll_Blind]

3. Another reminder for those who subscribe to religion to keep an eye on your holy men.

And women, of course.

Even as an atheist, this is always depressing stuff to read. Ok, it's kinda fun when the person is a pious asshole. But in the long run things like this just unnecessarily harm the most vulnerable of the parishioners: Those who turned to religion as a way of trying to get themselves out of a mire in their lives only to find their holy man was possibly more corrupted than they'd ever been.

It just saps the hope out of people and eventually they just give up.

PB

[bemildred]

4. Eh, I feel sorry for the dead guy, lots of people act out in hotels.

We are all sinners, if that means anything at all to begin with. I know I worry from time to time about dying unexpectedly and having all my secrets revealed.

But the moral hypocrisy and vast sums of money being thrown around annoy me enough to point it out when it happens.

[No Elephants]

27. Are you supported by donations, though?

[bemildred]

32. Oh, it's corrupt all right, religion has always had that.

But maybe he had no other good options? And everybody was sooooo grateful? And so on ...

We are all just human, every one of us, and we better not forget it. Compassion is always OK.

[stopbush]

34. Why should you care about having your secrets revealed after you're dead?

You certainly won't know anything about it. Unless said secrets would cause harm to your family or others, what's the big deal?

[bemildred]

35. It's not rational, emotions are like that. nt

[dtexdem]

6. What about those who don't subscribe to religion but just occasionally pick it up at the newsstand?

;-)

[Poll_Blind]

11. Ouch- you don't even get the yearly discount that way!

Religion? Discount? Who am I foolin'?

:rofl:

PB

[Odin2005]

20. I've heard that such corrupt "Holy Men" are saddly common in India.

But unlike us, a lot of those folks are still in a pre-modern superstitious mindset and keep getting screwed by these types again and again.

[oldhippydude]

22. as opposed to U.S.A.

where a pre-modern superstitious mindset is voluntary

[dtexdem]

5. Well, at least he died with drugs.

But if 'no criminal activity' is suspected, that white powder must not have been narcotics, rather powdered sugar. Were donuts found scattered around his body? ;-)

[Poll_Blind]

8. Maybe he was putting the filling into some Krispy Kremes?

:hide:

I just want to state at the outset that I have no idea what my comment is intended to mean.

PB

[Javaman]

46. ...

:spray: :rofl: !!!

[valerief]

9. Bwahahahaha!

:rofl:

[valerief]

7. One less charlatan, but many more to go. nt

[Lance_Boyle]

10. 'no criminal activity suspected'

nevermind the "white powdery substance believed to be narcotics."

Perhaps they meant to say foul play was not suspected in the death?

[BR_Parkway]

39. They may have meant the hooker cleared out before anyone got here

[bongbong]

12. His parishioners

His parishioners didn't realize they were aiding various foreign economies, via donations to his church, and from there funneled up his nose to drug cartels. I hope somebody lets them know how much they were helping out poor people via the magic of Trickle Down and Snorting Up.

[Bluenorthwest]

13. The 'church' that kept him as their leader after his stripper affair

and divorce is New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida. Edited to add that the cheapest rate this week at that hotel is $365 per night. This is what the congregation spent their money on while people are hungry in their own county.

[qanda]

14. He had four children

My heart goes out to them. I wish he had made better choices in his life. Apparently, the church he started did a lot for the homeless and the community and hopefully that will continue. My own personal feelings are that mega-churches shouldn't exist. It's impossible to be a "pastor" to that many people and nothing good comes from a personality becoming bigger than the church.

On Edit: left the s off of feelings. :(

[tawadi]

15. There is so much I could say

But can't seem to sanitize it enough for a message board.

[caseymoz]

17. Apparently, the Christian religion drove him to drugs.

[russspeakeasy]

21. he fought the lord and the lord won....

you have to sing it to have any fun with it...:woohoo:

[oldhippydude]

23. i like it

snorten coke in hot sun
he fought the lord and the lord won....

oogeling strippers leaving him stunned
he fought the lord and the lord won....

[russspeakeasy]

24. Excellent.....oldhippydude

[Plucketeer]

28. Excellent lyrics!

I can hear these being sung, with loud snorts replacing the gun shots in that original tune. :rofl:

[oldhippydude]

33. stripper honey

cause he had one
he fought the lord and the lord won....

[Arugula Latte]

37. takin' rubes' money

was lotsa fun
he fought the lord and the lord won ...

[Joe Bacon]

44. You got it nailed right!

The guy was your typical Pulpit Pimp.

[Doctor_J]

47. Thanks for recalling the great Sonny Curtis

in this thread of great sadness, a little smile.

[Doctor_J]

48. I miss my stripper and I feel so bad, I guess my race is run

[Jello Biafra]

18. Guess he saw the light....n/t

[Fly by night]

19. Yep. The fastest way to achieve Rapture is a fast 8-ball up the nose.

Here's hoping that it becomes all the rage among false prophets who use the Lord's name for fun and profit.

[oldhippydude]

25. why are these folks

not being exposed for what they are grifters... the faith industry is more corrupt than the politicians

[alfredo]

29. A friend of mine was the son of a traveling evangelist.

She taught him the tricks of the trade. A good part of the year he'd stay drunk and stoned. When revival time rolled around he'd dry out and hit the tent meeting circuit. He'd make enough money to kick back the rest of the year. His mother's name and reputation is what got him in the door. She was a grifter too. Their marks were the people of Eastern Ky, WVA, and Virginia.

[Gin]

42. since so many sheep need a leader...I'm gonna start a church.

call me Sister Gin!

The first collection will be to help the needy...(mainly Sister Gin)

[NBachers]

26. He's got some 'splainin' to do upstairs

[Ian David]

30. See also:

Zachery Tims, Florida Megachurch Pastor, Found Dead in NYC With Pocketful of White Powder

<snip>

The Wall Street Journal reports that authorities located a white glassine envelope filled with white powder in the right pocket of the pastor's shorts. They believe the powder to be a narcotic. Glassine envelops are often used to store substances such as cocaine and heroin. Authorities have not confirmed whether the powder was connected to the death.

Tims founded the New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida, in 1996. The church now counts more than 8,000 members. Tims also made a name for himself in televangelism and frequently appeared on TBN.

However, Tims didn't always practice what he preached. He divorced his wife and mother of his four children in 2009 after admitting to a yearlong extramarital affair with a stripper.

More:
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/riptide/2011/08/zachery_tims_florida_mega-chur.php

[COLGATE4]

31. Gimme that Ol' Time Religion...

[Overseas]

36. K&R.

[Vidar]

41. Good riddance to bad rubbish.

[underpants]

43. Just followin' Jesus - you know with the whores and all

[sarcasmo]

49. No more tax exemptions for churches. Make the church pay a percentage of the scam..

[dimbear]

50. ....(survived by) their four children,: Zoelle, Zachery III, Zahria and Zion.

It's a reasonable theory. Names in alphabetical order? You get the last word.