US Pastor Dies Of Coronavirus After Preaching Resurrection of Christ
By Stefan J. Bos, Special Correspondent Worthy News
(Worthy News) – A Baptist pastor in the U.S. state of Michigan has died shortly after celebrating his recovery from the new coronavirus and preaching about the resurrection of Christ. David Ford, a pastor at Friendship House of Prayer Baptist Church in the state capital Lansing, had been hospitalized with the virus disease COVID-19, friends said.
Ford’s death of apparent returning COVID-19 complications came as an unexpected shock. The 59-year-old father of nine had been discharged from a Detroit hospital after initially successful treatment. His friend and mayor of Lansing, Andy Schor, called Ford’s story and testimony of survival touching and “quite exceptional.”
“He was telling me he was on a ventilator, breathing fire, in bad shape and laying on the ice, but he was able to come through it,” Schor remembered. “He wanted to share his story, so people will know what it was like to battle this virus and not lose faith.” Pastor Ford had tested positive for the new coronavirus in late March and suffered severe symptoms. He was admitted to hospital for seven days, but started to feel better and was eventually sent home.
The Sunday after being discharged, Pastor Ford preached from his home a message about Christ’s resurrection and defeating COVID-19. That sermon would prove to be his last. His condition worsened again, and he died Tuesday at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, according to an obituary posted online. The Lord “called him home,” Christians said.
Friends were preparing a memorial service for the pastor. He was a “gentle giant” with a booming voice, recalled Rev. Melvin T. Jones, senior pastor at Union Missionary Baptist Church of Lansing. “He preached with a lot of strength and voice and sweat,” Jones added in published remarks. “He had one of those singing voices that made you shiver on the inside.”
Ford leaves behind his wife, Cassandra, and many children, nieces, and nephews.
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