Florida

Madeline Tims, mother of late pastor Zachery Tims who was found dead in a New York City hotel room, has appealed the N.Y. Supreme Court decision Wednesday to release information about the cause and manner of her son’s death. As a result, the Appellate Court has issued an interim stay preventing the city from making that information public, The Christian Post has learned.

Madeline Tims' plea was rejected by the court before Christmas, after she sued the New York medical examiner's office, as well as the city, on Oct. 6. This was one day before the New York City Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) was set to issue a press release regarding the cause and manner of the Florida pastor's death.

Zachery Tims, former senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC), was found dead in his W Hotel room in Times Square Aug. 12. He was reportedly in New York City for a speaking arrangement. The charismatic preacher battled drug addiction before becoming a Christian, which he described in his memoir called It's Never Too Late. The book shares Tims’ story of "how a teenage criminal found his divine destiny and became a successful millionaire and pastor of a thriving church." more >>

A former attorney for Casey Anthony has come out and stated that a video which surfaced on the web last week was illegally obtained and broadcast.

Cheney Mason, one of Anthony's defense attorneys during her trial, said Thursday that the woman in the video is Anthony but said his former client does not know how it landed on the web.

Mason told WOFL that "Casey has maintained some notes on her thoughts for personal use, especially for counseling. She did not release this video to YouTube and does not know how they got it. It could not have been legally obtained and was not authorized," Mason said. more >>

Riva Tims, the ex-wife of late Pastor Zachery Tims, is dropping plans to sue New Destiny Christian Center's board of directors over its installation of Paula White as the church's senior pastor.

In a statement posted on her Facebook page Monday, Tims admitted that, legally, she is not able to file the suit, because she previously “released my rights to file a complaint against NDCC.”

“After careful review of my amended MSA (2009); my attorney Robert Gibson discovered on December 30, 2011 that I released my rights to file a complaint against NDCC. Therefore by the advice of Mr. Gibson I withdrew the suit. My heart's desire is that God perfects all that concerns us,” Tims wrote, apparently referencing documents she signed upon her divorce from Zachery Tims and departure from NDCC. more >>

Zachery Tims' ex-wife, Riva Tims, has called the selection process for a new senior pastor at New Destiny Christian Center "negligent and illegal" as well as "deceptive" in a recent Facebook post.

Days after Paula White was announced as the new pastor, Tims wrote on Saturday, “My complaint against NDCC board is and always has been an issue of the alleged negligent and illegal process NDCC's board used to select a new pastor.

Tims, pastor of Majestic Life Ministries in Orlando, said NDCC's decision is depriving her children of their lawful inheritance (their father's church) and suggested that under the leadership of an outsider, the Apopka, Fla., will lose its original purpose. more >>

The congregation of New Destiny Christian Center on Sunday welcomed Paula White, the new senior pastor chosen to succeed founder Zachery Tims, signaling her acceptance despite objections raised by some.

“God brought us together for a purpose. None of us imagined this moment,” the 45-year-old White told the half-full church in her first sermon Sunday, as reported by the Orlando Sentinel.

The board of directors of the megachurch in Apopka, Fla., declared last Thursday that White would be the new senior pastor to replace the late Tims, who died in August. That same day, Tims’ ex-wife, Riva, announced that she had filed a lawsuit against NDCC, which she claims is her “heritage and legacy.” more >>

New Destiny Christian Center, the Florida megachurch founded by the late Zachery Tims, has responded to a lawsuit filed by Tims' ex-wife, who helped found the ministry 15 years ago.

In a public statement released Friday, NDCC said it wishes the best for Riva Tims and her ministry, but that she has no legal grounds to make claim over the church.

"Obviously, we are saddened by the course of action Pastor Riva Tims as chosen to pursue. Her lawsuit is completely without merit and we are extremely confident in our legal standing," the church said in its statement. more >>