Tims was a graduate of Maranatha Bible College and Towson University (MD), with degrees in both divinity and accounting. In addition to serving as the senior pastor of New Destiny, Tims has become a nationally recognized and sought after speaker. Zachery and former wife, the former Riva Owens (born October 11, 1970, in Prince George's County, MD), who met in the church where they served, were married on January 8, 1994. They are the parents of four children and after moving to Windermere, Florida, Tims, who along with his wife, became heavily involved in the Orlando and Central Florida area community. In 1996, they co-founded NDCC in 1998, originally as a storefront church in the Powers Pointe Circle area of Northwest Orlando with a congregation of only six people. By 2002, the church grew into a large megachurch of over 8,000, moving into its present facility in Apopka. Tims often described the church's mission on its website as a non-traditional setting with a multi-cultural mission. In 2005, NDCC celebrated the opening of a faith-based initiative Youth Recreation Center. The gala ribbon cutting grand-opening was overseen by Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer, Orange County (FL) Commissioner Robert "Bob" Sindler, and covered by all the local TV and radio news media sources. NDCC's syndicated TV program, NO Limits, has been seen on numerous Christian Networks such as TBN, The Word Network, as well as various internet podcasts and streams and Christian television stations worldwide. A news story was aired by WOFL-TV, an Orlando area FOX-TV news affiliate on Nov 6, 2007, alleging that Tims had committed "numerous adulterous affairs". According to the report, Tims publicly asked for forgiveness and patience from the community, while "he and his wife dealt with what he called a difficult situation". According to a press release issued by the church, Tims volunteered to submit to counseling within the Christian church community. Riva filing for divorce in 2008, with it becoming finalized by August 2009. After this event, by 2010, Tims had resumed his role as Head Pastor of NDCC, with wife Riva then pursuing her own ministry and Church, Majestic Life, located in nearby Northwest Orlando. On the morning of August 12, 2011, Tims was found dead in his hotel room at the W Hotel, a posh facility located in Times Square in New York City, where he had been staying upon his visit there that week. Attempts to revive him were unsuccessful, unresponsive to paramedic treatment. Explanations into the cause of his death have not yet been determined as of August 16th. Ellen Borakove, a representative for the New York state Medical Examiner's Office, said that the autopsy results would not be available until later in the month. A NYPD official stated that the death did not appear to be suspicious. Tims's Ex-wife, Dr. Riva Tims, stated that her son, Zachery, and the family had been vactioning in Puerto Rico just prior to his trip to New York City. He is survived by his mother and father, Zachery Tims, Sr., his ex-wife and their four children,: Zoelle, Zachery III, Zahria and Zion. his siblings, and a host of other relatives.

source:http://www.christianpost.com/news/zachery-tims-found-dead-clint-brown-paula-white-al-sharpton-express-sadness-53928/, wikipedia.