Riva Tims says she will not go forward with legal action against New Destiny Christian Center, after its board hired Paula White to replace her late ex-husband Pastor Zachery Tims.
Riva Tims held a news conference shortly after the announcement to say she would file a lawsuit against the church over the process its board took to pick White.
On her Facebook page, Tims wrote, “After careful review of my amended MSA (2009); my attorney Robert Gibson discovered on December 30, 2011 that I released my rights to file a complaint against NDCC.”
Tims said Gibson advised her to withdraw the suit.
“My heart’s desire is that God perfects all that concerns us. I know as the Mother of Zoelle, Zachery, Zahria and Zion as well as the spiritual Mother to many that were birthed at New Destiny that I had a spiritual obligation to let my voice be heard. And our voices have been heard nationally. The righteousness we have been taught will continue to sustain us in this process. We are assured that truth will prevail – God is in Control,” she wrote.
White gave her first sermon as senior pastor at New Destiny on Sunday January 1st 2012. The congregation gave her a warm reception and did not moan or boo her.
White stated, “I’m not asking you to like me. I’m not asking you to love me or respect me, because I’ll do the work to earn that,” said White. “I always ask people to give me one year of your life and I promise you will be changed.” Later she said, “I recognize I have great shoes to fill. The founder of this house was a great man of God.” “I’m humbled, I’m honored, I’m crying to the Lord with happy tears.”
