People gathered Thursday to pay their respects to a well-known and beloved pastor who died last week.

The body of Rev. Ron Christian lied in state at the Christian Love Baptist Church in Irvington, where the 51-year-old was found dead last Friday. The Irvington Fire Department hung a flag on the church in honor of Christian.

Community members say his personal story resonated with others.

"Everybody knew his personal story, his redemption from his drug addiction to being a man of God," says Edward Wilson, of Irvington.

Christian's body will be brought to Newark Tech High School on Friday before his funeral on Saturday.

There is still no word yet on a cause of death, but authorities say they do not suspect foul play.