Authorities say they do not believe Rev. Ron Christian was a victim of foul play
IRVINGTON -- Last year, Marques-Aquil Lewis and Rev. Ron Christian were leaving Christian's parish in Irvington, their spirits high after a special service for the reverend's 50th birthday.
As they walked out onto Lyons Avenue, a woman approached the well-known pastor and thrust herself into his arms. Broke and desperate, she confessed that she and her five children were facing eviction if they could not pay their rent.
Without a moment's hesitation, Christian went for an envelope he was carrying, nearly overflowing with cash from the service offering.
"Reverend Ron reached in his back pocket and reached for the envelope and gave it to this lady,' said Lewis. "He said 'God has blessed me too much for me to be stingy.'"
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Though momentarily taken aback, Lewis said he was hardly surprised at the generosity shown by Christian, the prominent pastor of Christian Love Baptist Church who died suddenly Friday morning at the age of 51.
"This man has given so much to so many people. He took care of so many families. He's a pioneer in Essex County," he said.
Outpourings of love and support came from all corners of the Newark area Friday to honor Christian, whose generosity was matched only by his seemingly limitless energy and compassion.
The son of a Baptist preacher, Christian's path to the pulpit was far from typical. He began a career as a corrections officer, eventually rising to the rank of sergeant at Northern State Prison.
By the early 1990s, however, he had begun using cocaine and heroin, leading him down a dark path that included 14 trips to rehabilitation facilities. The treatment failed to curb the habit, however, and he was eventually sent to prison for theft in 1996.
He emerged a new man the following year, determined to turn his life over to God. He began visiting local rehab clinics and homeless shelters, and developed a reputation as an energetic, fiery preacher with seemingly limitless compassion.
He took over the helm of then-bankrupt Christian Love Baptist Church in 2000, growing the congregation of about a dozen to more than 6,000 over the years and transforming its dilapidated building into one of the area's most vibrant houses of worship.
Despite his conversion to a life of morality, friends and parishioners say his checkered past was never far from his mind or his sermons -- exemplified by the large "All Sinners Welcome" sign posted outside his church.
Thomas LaVone, a fashion designer and part-time minister at Christian Love, recalled his witnessing his first service after returning to the Newark area from Florida in 2002.
"Reverend Ron preached such a powerful message, it just drew me to him," he said. "He wasn't one of the pastors that preached and did not live what they were saying."
After spending time with Christian, LaVone was inspired to fully invest in his designing career, which has since led him to stints working for Tommy Hilfiger and Armani Exchange, as well as a role on the reality TV series "Jerseylicious".
"He just really told me to be true to myself and love me, no matter what my flaws are," he said.
Lewis made a similar conversion, crediting Christian with guiding him on his path from a gang member to the ministry and a career in politics (he is currently a senior aide to Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and vice chairman of the Newark School Advisory Board).
Christian's stature in the community often led murder suspects and other wanted criminals to seek him out for guidance. After some prayer and conversation, many opted to turn themselves in.
"He wanted to be a conduit between police and troubled youth in the community," said former Newark Police Director Samuel Demaio, who now holds the same post in Bloomfield. "He did it with a real careful balance. He was able to befriend both law enforcement and some of the people involved in criminal activity in the street."
By 9 a.m. this morning, more than 100 people had gathered outside Christian Love church as word of his death spread. Anthony Ambrose, chief of detectives for the Essex County Prosecutor's Office, said a family member found Christian unresponsive at the Lyons Avenue parish around 6 a.m.
Police do not suspect foul play was involved, and Ambrose said there were no signs of trauma on his body. A toxicology test will be performed before an official cause of death is determined, he added.
Friends and parishioners say Christian had no apparent health issues, leaving them to wonder how their benevolent leader's life was cut short.
"It's just shocking," said Irvington Mayor Tony Vauss.
Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. issued a statement Friday morning calling Christian a "special and tremendous individual."
"His energetic sermons spiritually motivated his congregation at Christian Love Baptist Church and his dynamic personality and kind words inspired everyone he met,' he said. "It didn't matter who you were because Rev. Ron welcomed people from all walks of life into his church and into his own life."
Dan Ivers may be reached at divers@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DanIversNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.