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Dallas Pastor Jerome McNeil of Christian Chapel CME Church Dies in Front Church Members

It’s a sad time for the congregation and community of Dallas area pastor of Christian Chapel CME Church. The pastor delivered his sermon as usual to the 150 year old church. This Sunday, July 15, the longtime Pastor Rev. Dr. Jerome E. McNeil, Jr., who was 63 years old, had just completed his sermon at the 10:45 a.m. One congregant says he was doing what he always does and suddenly while he walked down the aisle in the back of the sanctuary, he fall and collapsed to his death.

The church member that spoke to CBS Local said he walked down the aisle like he always does but this time it was different.

McNeil, the leader of the church known as the Temple of Faith, was a 21-year pastor for the church. Christian Chapel has a 150 year history in Dallas, but the church’s history is longer and richer.

The church’s website has an encouraging word from Pastor McNeil ‘From the Pastor’s desk“:

We tend to miss great things because we live in a world that tries to complicate our spiritual life. We need to return to Square One. Jesus, in the Scriptures, had to explain to the disciples, that unless they possessed the faith of a child, they would never see the Kingdom of Heaven. Their rank or outward appearance was as not important to Him as their inner attitude. He wanted to see a more vulnerable, trusting, humble spirit in them.

God is looking to us to “keep it simple.” We need to remember that children and new converts to the faith are looking at us. If our witness or our walk causes them to stumble, God will hold us accountable. Don’t be a “dysfunctional” Christian, allowing your “baggage” to influence someone new to the faith. Stay humble, study God’s Word, admit your faults and failures, and be willing to change the pattern of your life for the better – that’s all that God really is asking of us. The message from our Lord is that Jesus is real, the Gospel is the Truth and His truth is power. Learn to understand the simplicity of your walk with God. Keep it simple.

What powerful words to live by!

We want to pray for the pastor’s family and church body. We know this was a shock to all of them as this happen right before their eyes.

Watch the video below of the news coverage of Pastor Jerome McNeil’s death and legacy: