Those who were peers of Pastor Zachery Tims are urging people not to rush to conclusions about his death.
More than 40 central Florida pastors who knew him held a memorial service for him Tuesday.
They told the Orlando Sentinel they were mourning the loss of a creative and charismatic colleague.
Tims was found dead in a New York City hotel room on Friday.
Hotel staff had to break through the door to get in after Tims didn't check out and didn't respond to them.
Several media outlets have reported police sources as saying they found a a small envelope filled with a white powdery substance in Tims' pocket.
His friends are saying his life shouldn't be defined by how he possibly died.
Tims had a long-time struggle with drugs before turning his life over to God.
He started New Destiny Christian Center in 1996 with only a few members and it grew to be one of the Orlando areas largest churches.
In recent years he admitted to cheating on his wife and voluntarily stepped down as the churches pastor.
He went through counseling at that time and worked to get his life back on track then later stepped back into church leadership.
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