Zachery Tims Death: Fla. Church Announces 'Special' Meeting With Paula White
New Destiny Christian Center has announced that Paula White, pastor of Without Walls International Church, will be in attendance at a special "moving forward" service at the Florida megachurch founded by the late Zachery Tims.
In an email sent to followers Wednesday evening, NDCC revealed that White would be a part of its 6:30 p.m. service Sunday.
The announcement read: “Continue to grow with us as we move forward! Don't miss this important service w/ Pastor Paula White... This service will address the prominent future of New Destiny Christian Center and what to look forward to in the upcoming months.”
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The email did not make immediately clear what area of NDCC's future would be announced during the Oct. 16 service.
Tims, who led NDCC for 15 years, was found dead in a New York City hotel room on Aug. 12 and laid to rest 8 days later. The minister did not leave behind a successor.
In an Oct. 4 interview with The Christian Post, the Rev. Samuel Anderson indicated that the Apopka, Fla., megachurch did not have a system already in place for choosing a successor.
According to Anderson, NDCC has been taking the appropriate steps to ensure an effective transition. However, he explained, "We have not completed the final requirements" needed to guide the church to the right candidate to present to the board of bishops. Anderson added that the church was "looking forward to moving on with the ministry."
NDCC, which announced last week that it was indeed "moving forward," completed its 30 days of grieving in September.
It was Paula White who revealed to the NDCC congregation during the first Sunday service after Tims' burial that the preacher, whom she considered her "spiritual son," had left instructions that NDCC was to grieve for no more than 30 days for the late pastor, and be ready by the 31st day to continue its work.
At the time, White also encouraged the congregation to look to the future, saying, "New Destiny, it's not just about you any longer. It's about the nation watching you. It's about how you are going to respond, about what you are going to do."
There have also been reports that the Without Walls church leader was serving as interim pastor during NDCC's uncertain transition. NDCC later denied those reports.
White appears to be pivotal to the church's activities in the wake of Tims' sudden death, as she, instead of church administrators, announced the late pastor's instructions concerning the 30 days of fasting. Anderson also told the Orlando Sentinel that the Tampa minister was providing NDCC with advice and spiritual guidance. White also addressed NDCC during its special Monday night service just days after the 42-year-old pastor's death.
It could be likely that congregants and supporters will soon hear from White exactly how the church Tims founded 15 years ago plans to move forward with the ministry and more details regarding its "prominent future."
