Detroit — A popular pastor of a west side church known for helping the downtrodden and homeless died Tuesday in New York City.
The Rev. Henry Covington, 53, pastor of the Pilgrim Church, home to I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room, a day after appearing on the "Today" show, said his son Kendrick "K.C." Covington.
Covington appeared on the morning talk show with Free Press columnist Mitch Albom to talk about Albom's book, "Have a Little Faith," in which Covington is featured.
"(Covington) wasn't well when he went (to New York City) for the show," said Kendrick Covington. "He just wanted to push on."
"He meant everything to a lot of the people in the community. His work will go on."
As word spread about Covington's death Wednesday, many rushed to the church near Grand River and Trumbull.
"Keep the flame going," David Holifield said to Kendrick Covington as he offered words of comfort.
Holifield said he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction in 1993 when Covington saved his life.
"He took me literally off the streets," he said. "Took me in, fed and clothed me. I was struggling with a debilitating crack addiction."
On Wednesday, Covington's work continued as church workers passed out food baskets to the poor. The night before, church workers brought homeless people in from the cold to the church's gymnasium.
Anthony Castelow of Detroit said he is confident Covington's work of helping the less fortunate will go on.
"We are doing his work and will continue it," said Castelow, 51, who credits Covington with taking him "off the streets" 18 years ago. He wore a black sweatshirt with scripture from Saint Matthew on the back. "(The Rev. Covington) changed and touched all of our lives."
Last year, television personality Phil McGraw brought a television audience to the church to illustrate how people seek hope in spite of despair brought on by economic recession like what Metro Detroiters are experiencing.
More than 200 people showed up at the church for the taping in April 2009.
At the end of the meeting, McGraw announced he was donating $25,000 to the church to fix a hole in its roof. McGraw made the donation as part of Albom's efforts to help the church fix its roof.
Albom said he was inspired by Covington's work and named one of his charities A Hole in the Roof Foundation.
The organization raises money to help faith groups repair their churches or other buildings.
On his website, Albom said Covington "cared for Detroit's poorest, and offered shelter to the homeless in the church's basement."
"He did this with no money, with a gaping hole in the church's roof, without knowing where he would find the resources to keep providing," Albom wrote.
The minister is also survived by his wife, Annette, and three daughters.
From The Detroit News 12/23/2010
The Rev. Henry Covington, 53, pastor of the Pilgrim Church, home to I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room, a day after appearing on the "Today" show, said his son Kendrick "K.C." Covington.
Covington appeared on the morning talk show with Free Press columnist Mitch Albom to talk about Albom's book, "Have a Little Faith," in which Covington is featured.
"(Covington) wasn't well when he went (to New York City) for the show," said Kendrick Covington. "He just wanted to push on."
"He meant everything to a lot of the people in the community. His work will go on."
As word spread about Covington's death Wednesday, many rushed to the church near Grand River and Trumbull.
"Keep the flame going," David Holifield said to Kendrick Covington as he offered words of comfort.
Holifield said he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction in 1993 when Covington saved his life.
"He took me literally off the streets," he said. "Took me in, fed and clothed me. I was struggling with a debilitating crack addiction."
On Wednesday, Covington's work continued as church workers passed out food baskets to the poor. The night before, church workers brought homeless people in from the cold to the church's gymnasium.
Anthony Castelow of Detroit said he is confident Covington's work of helping the less fortunate will go on.
"We are doing his work and will continue it," said Castelow, 51, who credits Covington with taking him "off the streets" 18 years ago. He wore a black sweatshirt with scripture from Saint Matthew on the back. "(The Rev. Covington) changed and touched all of our lives."
Last year, television personality Phil McGraw brought a television audience to the church to illustrate how people seek hope in spite of despair brought on by economic recession like what Metro Detroiters are experiencing.
More than 200 people showed up at the church for the taping in April 2009.
At the end of the meeting, McGraw announced he was donating $25,000 to the church to fix a hole in its roof. McGraw made the donation as part of Albom's efforts to help the church fix its roof.
Albom said he was inspired by Covington's work and named one of his charities A Hole in the Roof Foundation.
The organization raises money to help faith groups repair their churches or other buildings.
On his website, Albom said Covington "cared for Detroit's poorest, and offered shelter to the homeless in the church's basement."
"He did this with no money, with a gaping hole in the church's roof, without knowing where he would find the resources to keep providing," Albom wrote.
The minister is also survived by his wife, Annette, and three daughters.
From The Detroit News 12/23/2010
Detroit — A popular pastor of a west side church known for helping the downtrodden and homeless died Tuesday in New York City.
The Rev. Henry Covington, 53, pastor of the Pilgrim Church, home to I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room, a day after appearing on the "Today" show, said his son Kendrick "K.C." Covington.
Covington appeared on the morning talk show with Free Press columnist Mitch Albom to talk about Albom's book, "Have a Little Faith," in which Covington is featured.
"(Covington) wasn't well when he went (to New York City) for the show," said Kendrick Covington. "He just wanted to push on."
"He meant everything to a lot of the people in the community. His work will go on."
As word spread about Covington's death Wednesday, many rushed to the church near Grand River and Trumbull.
"Keep the flame going," David Holifield said to Kendrick Covington as he offered words of comfort.
Holifield said he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction in 1993 when Covington saved his life.
"He took me literally off the streets," he said. "Took me in, fed and clothed me. I was struggling with a debilitating crack addiction."
On Wednesday, Covington's work continued as church workers passed out food baskets to the poor. The night before, church workers brought homeless people in from the cold to the church's gymnasium.
Anthony Castelow of Detroit said he is confident Covington's work of helping the less fortunate will go on.
"We are doing his work and will continue it," said Castelow, 51, who credits Covington with taking him "off the streets" 18 years ago. He wore a black sweatshirt with scripture from Saint Matthew on the back. "(The Rev. Covington) changed and touched all of our lives."
Last year, television personality Phil McGraw brought a television audience to the church to illustrate how people seek hope in spite of despair brought on by economic recession like what Metro Detroiters are experiencing.
More than 200 people showed up at the church for the taping in April 2009.
At the end of the meeting, McGraw announced he was donating $25,000 to the church to fix a hole in its roof. McGraw made the donation as part of Albom's efforts to help the church fix its roof.
Albom said he was inspired by Covington's work and named one of his charities A Hole in the Roof Foundation.
The organization raises money to help faith groups repair their churches or other buildings.
On his website, Albom said Covington "cared for Detroit's poorest, and offered shelter to the homeless in the church's basement."
"He did this with no money, with a gaping hole in the church's roof, without knowing where he would find the resources to keep providing," Albom wrote.
The minister is also survived by his wife, Annette, and three daughters.
From The Detroit News 12/23/2010
The Rev. Henry Covington, 53, pastor of the Pilgrim Church, home to I Am My Brother's Keeper Ministries, died of an apparent heart attack in his hotel room, a day after appearing on the "Today" show, said his son Kendrick "K.C." Covington.
Covington appeared on the morning talk show with Free Press columnist Mitch Albom to talk about Albom's book, "Have a Little Faith," in which Covington is featured.
"(Covington) wasn't well when he went (to New York City) for the show," said Kendrick Covington. "He just wanted to push on."
"He meant everything to a lot of the people in the community. His work will go on."
As word spread about Covington's death Wednesday, many rushed to the church near Grand River and Trumbull.
"Keep the flame going," David Holifield said to Kendrick Covington as he offered words of comfort.
Holifield said he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction in 1993 when Covington saved his life.
"He took me literally off the streets," he said. "Took me in, fed and clothed me. I was struggling with a debilitating crack addiction."
On Wednesday, Covington's work continued as church workers passed out food baskets to the poor. The night before, church workers brought homeless people in from the cold to the church's gymnasium.
Anthony Castelow of Detroit said he is confident Covington's work of helping the less fortunate will go on.
"We are doing his work and will continue it," said Castelow, 51, who credits Covington with taking him "off the streets" 18 years ago. He wore a black sweatshirt with scripture from Saint Matthew on the back. "(The Rev. Covington) changed and touched all of our lives."
Last year, television personality Phil McGraw brought a television audience to the church to illustrate how people seek hope in spite of despair brought on by economic recession like what Metro Detroiters are experiencing.
More than 200 people showed up at the church for the taping in April 2009.
At the end of the meeting, McGraw announced he was donating $25,000 to the church to fix a hole in its roof. McGraw made the donation as part of Albom's efforts to help the church fix its roof.
Albom said he was inspired by Covington's work and named one of his charities A Hole in the Roof Foundation.
The organization raises money to help faith groups repair their churches or other buildings.
On his website, Albom said Covington "cared for Detroit's poorest, and offered shelter to the homeless in the church's basement."
"He did this with no money, with a gaping hole in the church's roof, without knowing where he would find the resources to keep providing," Albom wrote.
The minister is also survived by his wife, Annette, and three daughters.
From The Detroit News 12/23/2010
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