Pastor killed in crash 2 hours after delivering sermon on Lazarus

By Leonardo Blair, Senior Reporter Tuesday, October 20, 2026

Two hours after preaching a revival sermon on Lazarus, Justin Heath, the leader of Cutting Edge Revelational Ministries and Fore Christ Church in Mount Olive, North Carolina, was killed in a crash Saturday that left seven other people injured, including his wife of 47 years, Lynn. He was 67.

The Harnett County Sheriff’s Office told WRAL News that a Durham police officer, identified as Joseph King, ran a red light in his Honda Civic around 9:45 p.m. and crashed into a van the pastor was driving at the intersection of NC Highway 210 and Old State Road, near Angier. 

King has since been charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle, and the Durham Police Department has pledged to conduct an internal investigation into the officer and the circumstances surrounding the crash. The North Carolina State Patrol has already stated that the officer was not impaired.

Officials said six people were hospitalized after the crash.

An obituary on Heath’s passing said that prior to him becoming a pastor, he served the Wayne County Sheriff's Office as a deputy from 1984 until 1996. In his message on Saturday, he encouraged believers to ditch the grave clothes like Lazarus, whom Jesus raised from the dead in the Bible, and step into the healing promised by God’s Word. He also said he had questions for God’s prophets when he got to Heaven.

“I want when I get to Heaven, I want to ask how it feels to go to paradise and get called out,” he said about what he plans to ask Lazarus.

“I want to ask some people. Don't think I ain't; I'm going ask Elijah. How'd it feel to go up in that chariot, son? How did it feel, Moses, [to] walk across some dry land and don’t get no mud in your toes? I want to know how it felt. How it feel? You got to get a vision,” Heath warned. “Not be conformed to this world. Renewing your mind.”

As news spread about Heath’s death, those who knew and loved the North Carolina pastor have been sharing their feelings publicly.

“I want to give honor to my spiritual father, ‘Apostle Justin Heath.’ You may not be here in person anymore, but you are always a part of my life. Thank you for being the man you were and the father that we should all strive to be,” wrote New York prophetic minister and revivalist Michael Bacon on Facebook.

“Your final sermon was on the second night of our revival meetings. Little did we know, as you preached about Lazarus and how difficult it must have been for him to be called out of paradise and brought back to this life, just how prophetic your words would be. Less than an hour later, you would be there in paradise with Lazarus, perhaps asking him what it was like to be called back,” Bacon continued. “None of us could have imagined that the message you preached that night would carry such profound meaning so soon afterward. I would say rest, but we all know that you are probably up there working for Jesus even now. Most likely praying and interceding for all of us to see the salvation of the Lord.”

Heath leaves behind his wife, two daughters, and multiple grandchildren. His memorial service is set for 2 p.m. on Oct. 24 at Fore Christ Church, located at 770 Northeast Church Road, Mount Olive, North Carolina.