As Anniversary of Zachary Tims' Death Approaches, His Ex-Wife Speaks On Life Without HIm
Tuesday, August 7, 2012 at 1:28PM 
By Bill Carpenter
As the anniversary of famed TV Minister, Zachary Tims’, death approaches, former wife, Riva Tims, continues to rebuild her life and create a new one for her four kids without their dad.
August 12th will mark the first year anniversary of the unexpected death of frequent TBN TV host and mega church pastor, Zachary Tims, who was found dead in a New York City hotel room under suspicious circumstances. His former wife and mother of his four children, Riva Tims, pastor of the Majestic Life Church in Orlando, FL, continues to rebuild her life and create a new one for her children without their father.
Their story reads like a movie. She was raised in an upper middle class home, was active in church and was a virgin when they met at a Bible school where they were both students. He was a former drug dealer who had cleaned his life up and pursued the ministry with passion. They married and moved to Orlando with no money and started a fellowship. Their first service had six attendees in 1996 and the church became very connected with the local community, boasting job fairs for the unemployed, aiding the congregants in purchasing homes and feeding the hungry. The fellowship struck a nerve in Orlando and membership swelled to 8,000 worshippers over the next decade.
Just before Tims’ died, Riva Tims had finished writing a book entitled, When It All Falls Apart: Finding Healing, Joy and Victory Through Pain (Charisma House), which was revised after his death and released this past spring. The book details the miraculous journey that she and her husband made together for the sake of ministry, how her marriage fell apart because of his year-long dalliance with a Paris woman, the other extramarital affairs that led to their divorce, the mysterious circumstances surrounding his sudden death and how she triumphed over the emotional depression this whole episode brought upon her. As this tragedy has unfolded, Riva has leaned on God and forgiven all of those who played a role in this tragedy. She now feels especially equipped to minister to others who have gone through similar situations and the church she founded, Majestic Life Church, has become a social shelter for hurting and ever-healing people.
“Riva Tims has walked through the valley of pain and lived to tell about it,” says J. Lee Grady, Contributing Editor, Charisma Magazine. “She has walked through the fire...but she's not bitter, sarcastic or discouraged. I know her story will restore hope to many who are ready to give up.” Visit www.rivatimsbook.com for more information.
Reader Comments (17)
It's been a year already? Wow!
Lord bless her. I can't imagine how hard this whole thing was on her and her family.
She's a better woman than me. She didn't say anything about all of this while he was alive. I would have been blowing the whistle
@Charity Go to Ikea and buy a seat! You don't know what you would have done. Just pray for her.
This is a true woman right here. I hope and pray she gets a good man who will treat her right one day. She has handled herself with grace, dignity, and class the whole time. I have nothing but the highest level of respect for her. God bless the Tims family.
Time flies by! Did it ever get resolved if it was cocaine on him?
His mother sealed the case so we will never know.
@Evelyn Oh, that means it was then. smh Why cover for him?
LMBOOOOO @Janice! I'm gone have to use that one!!! Hilarious.
Still devastating to think of the brokeness she had ot heal from .Gdo is truly a keeper.
This whole situation is a travesty. Zachary Tims is not the only one creeping and getting caught. There are plenty men out here doing the same thing. God is pulling covers off and exposing the foolishness because these are the last days we are living in and God is not pleased with the sin.
wow, its great to write a book, but i can't imagine all this pain is bringing glory to His church, why we must get our issues fixed before we enter in ministry so sad.
They were divorced before he died. Riva is using his death to her advantage. This man did not even try to get his family back she stated that herself in her interview. Move on!!! There are many women out there who suffered the same lost but they are broke with no magazine interviews!!!! Not running around looking like a fashion model writing books banking big bucks off his name. If you are a women of God then keep saving souls! Pick up that cross and follow Jesus and let the dead bury the dead! Every time she gets an interview his name is attached. Christians fall for this non sense!
@Donna, Christians fall because of non-sense such as what Rev. ZACHARY Tims did. Rev. RIVA Tims, is simply telling her testimony of betrayal and triumph. That's not how Christians fall, that's how we OVERCOME!
@Donna, Christians fall because of non-sense such as what Rev. ZACHARY Tims did. Rev. RIVA Tims, is simply telling her testimony of betrayal and triumph. That's not how Christians fall, that's how we OVERCOME!
@Tomeka thanks for your input telling your testimony is not how you get over trial and triumph it informs people of what you have been through and you can tell them how you got through it but moving on and focusing on God is how you OVERCOME! Especially when you are standing in that pulpit. She is not a motivational speaker she is a PASTOR! She had a few years to tell her story the man is dead their are two sides to every story he is not here to defend his actions. I think they both were greedy for money and materialistic things and got caught up in the Hollywood style of ministry. But he went a step further which caused his death and her humiliation because he never did anything in front of the public to prove he loved her or made up for what he did to her; her pride is still hurting, she is still humilated. She needs to detach her name from that sucker not keep it attached. Just because you have children by a man don't mean you have to keep his memory alive. @RFTF said it best! Christians wives don't fall because of what Rev Tims did they fall because they don't know how to let go and move on! PRIDE...Vanity..stupidity it gets us every time (I've been there). There are a million women out there who have worst stories but they move on with the physical scares to show it. We are in the last and evil days we have worst things ahead to be concern with. I say again Christians need to stop entertaining this mess in the world and focus on what God is trying to rely to us in these last days!
I was sleepy when I posted the last post I meant to say Yes telling your testimony is great. But you also overcome and move on.