Pastor Riva: I am the Real Mother

After remaining silent since the sudden death of her ex-husband Pastor Zachery Tims, at a news conference Thursday, Pastor Riva Tims declared that she is the “real mother” of the New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC), a mega-church she co-founded with her late ex-husband in 1996.

Since Pastor Zachery Tims’ death in August, a controversy has been raging over who should replace the charismatic leader, with New Destiny’s board set to install Pastor Paula White of Church Without Walls as the new pastor. But, Pastor Riva and her supporters are fighting back, saying she is the rightful heir.

“I am here to declare to you today, that as founder of New Destiny Christian Center, that I am the real mother,” Pastor Riva of Majestic Life emphatically stated, to shouts of approval and drawing on Kings, Chapter 3. “And I say this morning, let New Destiny live.”

Pastor Riva said she particularly objects to the process by which New Destiny’s board went about choosing a successor and wants the matter of the next pastor resolved quickly and peacefully.

“I have been increasingly aware of the serious concerns about the process of electing a new pastor at New Destiny,” Pastor Riva said. “The board has refused to meet with me, they have refused to meet with me in any fashion, at any time and so has Pastor Paula White.”

Pastor Riva said that it seemed that New Destiny’s board has been engaged in a “little deception,” as church members have been requesting certain bylaws and have been refused.

Robert Gibson, Pastor Riva’s attorney from Jacksonville, present at the news conference said, the board has violated its own bylaws in the possible installation of Pastor White, and echoed that Pastor Riva is the “lawful heir to the church.”

Gibson announced that a lawsuit had been filed earlier today in the Orange County Circuit to block the installation of Pastor White. He added that notices of depositions and subpoenas will be served on numerous people.

“We are interested in the possibility of the congregation to vote for Pastor Tims, the co-founder of New Destiny and the former vice-president, director and Assistant Pastor, as the potential new pastor of NDCC, as the rightful successor to Pastor Zach Tims, Jr,” Gibson said.

Gibson also added that the board serves at the pleasure of the congregation and it is the members of NDCC who should have the right to pick and choose their new pastor, whether it is Pastor Tims or anyone else.

With more than 100 supporters of NDCC and Majestic Life crowded into the Pine Hills Community Performing Arts Center, Pastor Tims urged the gathering to pray and said that she is hopeful the issue of succession would be resolved in her favor.

“Dr. Tims, although he has passed away, the vision that he and I birthed is still alive,” she said. “And we will see everthing that the vision God gave us both, come to pass. We have to stand together.”

I am very hopeful because of the members of NDCC…. we are one family, NDCC and Majestic Life, continue to pray,” Pastor Riva added.