Rev. Ron Christian, prominent New Jersey pastor, found dead in church

Rev. Ron Christian, a prominent pastor, was found dead inside his New Jersey church by a family member Friday morning, authorities said.

The Rev. Ron Christian, 51, had been at the helm of Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington since 2000.

The preliminary investigation indicates there was no foul play, the Essex County prosecutor’s office said. Sources say he was praying before he died.

The cause of death will be determined after an autopsy.

NY Daily News reports:

Christian had grown the congregation of about a dozen to more than 6,000 since taking over.

A former heroin addict, Christian turned to religion after being released from prison in 1997.

He transformed Christian Love Baptist Church’s dilapidated building into one of the most vibrant houses of worship in the Newark area.

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Christian also served on the board of the Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, members of his congregation said. He was known for visiting the sick at all hours.

Rev Ron Christian, who overcame his own struggles with addiction, also did outreach to the halfway house across the street, parishioner Tamika Hunter told the news site.

“He didn’t make apologies for what he was — he knew he had a higher calling,” said Hunter. “One-hundred precent of what he preached was about not being perfect.”