"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, a church that also provides community services.
PERRIS - The sidewalk of a storefront Perris church on South D Street was crowded Tuesday night with mourners for their Pastor, Michael Kent Lewis.
Some among those grieving had tattoos, piercings and leather jackets. A few came on motorcycles, others in beat-up vehicles.
Many shared long embraces in front of the church. Others sat on the curb and wept silently.
"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee, who helped start a ministry to help people with drug and alcohol problems died Monday in a roofing accident in Orange County.
Lewis was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship in the early 1990s. More than 100 members of the church gathered Tuesday night at a tearful vigil for Lewis, who was remembered as a selfless man and spiritual leader.
'People would pay attention' "He liked rock and roll, he rode motorcycles and he did dope when he was young," said church elder Richard Moses. "But he found his strength in Jesus and he was clean and sober for the last 18 years. Knowing where he came from, people would pay attention to him."
Dawn Pestritto, 37, of Perris, said she and her husband were close to despair when she first met Lewis eight years ago.
"I came to his church with nothing," Pestritto said. "We were homeless. I'd just had a baby, and my husband had just got out of jail. Pastor Mike got us a house free for six months. He went all out to help us, and he did the same for anyone who came to the church. . . . He was the most giving man I ever met."
Anita Landingham, 46, of Riverside, who arrived at the vigil service on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, said Free Indeed's congregation is a close-knit group.
"Somebody might look at these people and wonder 'Who are they?' " Landingham said. "But they're a big family and they take care of whoever comes in to join them."
Big-hearted man
Lewis was born in 1952 in Long Beach. He married in 1985, a commitment that eventually helped inspire him to seek a different path in life.
"He was struggling," said Raina Lewis, the Pastor's widow. "Then one morning he was looking at me and our oldest daughter, who was three or four at the time. We were still asleep, and he told me later it was then he finally realized he wanted to change."
Raina Lewis said the biggest influence in her husband's life, aside from finding Jesus, was his twin brother, Mark.
"They were very close," she said. "They spoke to each other every day. He loved his brother."
Pete Perez, 36, of Moreno Valley, another pastor at Free Indeed, said he was nearly a lost cause when he met Lewis in 1991.
"He had 17 people living with him in his home," Perez said. "People he took off the street, out of jail, off parole. He let the Lord bring him to these people. He took me in and discipled me and raised me up. . . . He was a man after God's own heart."
Most have had no problems
Free Indeed's congregation includes recovering alcoholics, ex-drug addicts and former outlaw bikers. But more than three-fourths of the congregation has never had problems with the law or substance abuse, church officials said.
The church extends into the community, offering services like a safe house for women, a substance-abuse recovery program for men, a free food program for the needy, a youth ministry and a motorcycle ministry.
Lewis' survivors include his wife, Raina; his mother, Edna of Menifee; daughters, Hannah and Renee of Menifee and Shannon of Hemet; sons, Joshua of Highland and Jesse of Menifee; a sister, Deborah Griffin of Menifee; two brothers, Mark of Perris and Dennis of Johnson Valley ; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary of Perris. A public viewing will be 5 p.m. Friday at 1835 N. Perris Blvd. A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Mark Lewis's home, 1180 N. Perris Blvd.
**This was his last sermon: 2nd Timothy 4:5-9
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me."
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THANK YOU SO MUCH RADIO TV ENGINEER FOR SPONSORING MY PASTOR--BLESSINGS TO YOU!
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PERRIS - The sidewalk of a storefront Perris church on South D Street was crowded Tuesday night with mourners for their Pastor, Michael Kent Lewis.
Some among those grieving had tattoos, piercings and leather jackets. A few came on motorcycles, others in beat-up vehicles.
Many shared long embraces in front of the church. Others sat on the curb and wept silently.
"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee, who helped start a ministry to help people with drug and alcohol problems died Monday in a roofing accident in Orange County.
Lewis was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship in the early 1990s. More than 100 members of the church gathered Tuesday night at a tearful vigil for Lewis, who was remembered as a selfless man and spiritual leader.
'People would pay attention' "He liked rock and roll, he rode motorcycles and he did dope when he was young," said church elder Richard Moses. "But he found his strength in Jesus and he was clean and sober for the last 18 years. Knowing where he came from, people would pay attention to him."
Dawn Pestritto, 37, of Perris, said she and her husband were close to despair when she first met Lewis eight years ago.
"I came to his church with nothing," Pestritto said. "We were homeless. I'd just had a baby, and my husband had just got out of jail. Pastor Mike got us a house free for six months. He went all out to help us, and he did the same for anyone who came to the church. . . . He was the most giving man I ever met."
Anita Landingham, 46, of Riverside, who arrived at the vigil service on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, said Free Indeed's congregation is a close-knit group.
"Somebody might look at these people and wonder 'Who are they?' " Landingham said. "But they're a big family and they take care of whoever comes in to join them."
Big-hearted man
Lewis was born in 1952 in Long Beach. He married in 1985, a commitment that eventually helped inspire him to seek a different path in life.
"He was struggling," said Raina Lewis, the Pastor's widow. "Then one morning he was looking at me and our oldest daughter, who was three or four at the time. We were still asleep, and he told me later it was then he finally realized he wanted to change."
Raina Lewis said the biggest influence in her husband's life, aside from finding Jesus, was his twin brother, Mark.
"They were very close," she said. "They spoke to each other every day. He loved his brother."
Pete Perez, 36, of Moreno Valley, another pastor at Free Indeed, said he was nearly a lost cause when he met Lewis in 1991.
"He had 17 people living with him in his home," Perez said. "People he took off the street, out of jail, off parole. He let the Lord bring him to these people. He took me in and discipled me and raised me up. . . . He was a man after God's own heart."
Most have had no problems
Free Indeed's congregation includes recovering alcoholics, ex-drug addicts and former outlaw bikers. But more than three-fourths of the congregation has never had problems with the law or substance abuse, church officials said.
The church extends into the community, offering services like a safe house for women, a substance-abuse recovery program for men, a free food program for the needy, a youth ministry and a motorcycle ministry.
Lewis' survivors include his wife, Raina; his mother, Edna of Menifee; daughters, Hannah and Renee of Menifee and Shannon of Hemet; sons, Joshua of Highland and Jesse of Menifee; a sister, Deborah Griffin of Menifee; two brothers, Mark of Perris and Dennis of Johnson Valley ; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary of Perris. A public viewing will be 5 p.m. Friday at 1835 N. Perris Blvd. A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Mark Lewis's home, 1180 N. Perris Blvd.
**This was his last sermon: 2nd Timothy 4:5-9
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me."
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THANK YOU SO MUCH RADIO TV ENGINEER FOR SPONSORING MY PASTOR--BLESSINGS TO YOU!
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"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship, a church that also provides community services.
PERRIS - The sidewalk of a storefront Perris church on South D Street was crowded Tuesday night with mourners for their Pastor, Michael Kent Lewis.
Some among those grieving had tattoos, piercings and leather jackets. A few came on motorcycles, others in beat-up vehicles.
Many shared long embraces in front of the church. Others sat on the curb and wept silently.
"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee, who helped start a ministry to help people with drug and alcohol problems died Monday in a roofing accident in Orange County.
Lewis was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship in the early 1990s. More than 100 members of the church gathered Tuesday night at a tearful vigil for Lewis, who was remembered as a selfless man and spiritual leader.
'People would pay attention' "He liked rock and roll, he rode motorcycles and he did dope when he was young," said church elder Richard Moses. "But he found his strength in Jesus and he was clean and sober for the last 18 years. Knowing where he came from, people would pay attention to him."
Dawn Pestritto, 37, of Perris, said she and her husband were close to despair when she first met Lewis eight years ago.
"I came to his church with nothing," Pestritto said. "We were homeless. I'd just had a baby, and my husband had just got out of jail. Pastor Mike got us a house free for six months. He went all out to help us, and he did the same for anyone who came to the church. . . . He was the most giving man I ever met."
Anita Landingham, 46, of Riverside, who arrived at the vigil service on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, said Free Indeed's congregation is a close-knit group.
"Somebody might look at these people and wonder 'Who are they?' " Landingham said. "But they're a big family and they take care of whoever comes in to join them."
Big-hearted man
Lewis was born in 1952 in Long Beach. He married in 1985, a commitment that eventually helped inspire him to seek a different path in life.
"He was struggling," said Raina Lewis, the Pastor's widow. "Then one morning he was looking at me and our oldest daughter, who was three or four at the time. We were still asleep, and he told me later it was then he finally realized he wanted to change."
Raina Lewis said the biggest influence in her husband's life, aside from finding Jesus, was his twin brother, Mark.
"They were very close," she said. "They spoke to each other every day. He loved his brother."
Pete Perez, 36, of Moreno Valley, another pastor at Free Indeed, said he was nearly a lost cause when he met Lewis in 1991.
"He had 17 people living with him in his home," Perez said. "People he took off the street, out of jail, off parole. He let the Lord bring him to these people. He took me in and discipled me and raised me up. . . . He was a man after God's own heart."
Most have had no problems
Free Indeed's congregation includes recovering alcoholics, ex-drug addicts and former outlaw bikers. But more than three-fourths of the congregation has never had problems with the law or substance abuse, church officials said.
The church extends into the community, offering services like a safe house for women, a substance-abuse recovery program for men, a free food program for the needy, a youth ministry and a motorcycle ministry.
Lewis' survivors include his wife, Raina; his mother, Edna of Menifee; daughters, Hannah and Renee of Menifee and Shannon of Hemet; sons, Joshua of Highland and Jesse of Menifee; a sister, Deborah Griffin of Menifee; two brothers, Mark of Perris and Dennis of Johnson Valley ; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary of Perris. A public viewing will be 5 p.m. Friday at 1835 N. Perris Blvd. A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Mark Lewis's home, 1180 N. Perris Blvd.
**This was his last sermon: 2nd Timothy 4:5-9
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me."
************************************************************
THANK YOU SO MUCH RADIO TV ENGINEER FOR SPONSORING MY PASTOR--BLESSINGS TO YOU!
************************************************************
PERRIS - The sidewalk of a storefront Perris church on South D Street was crowded Tuesday night with mourners for their Pastor, Michael Kent Lewis.
Some among those grieving had tattoos, piercings and leather jackets. A few came on motorcycles, others in beat-up vehicles.
Many shared long embraces in front of the church. Others sat on the curb and wept silently.
"Pastor Mike" Lewis, 51, of Menifee, who helped start a ministry to help people with drug and alcohol problems died Monday in a roofing accident in Orange County.
Lewis was a founder of Free Indeed Christian Fellowship in the early 1990s. More than 100 members of the church gathered Tuesday night at a tearful vigil for Lewis, who was remembered as a selfless man and spiritual leader.
'People would pay attention' "He liked rock and roll, he rode motorcycles and he did dope when he was young," said church elder Richard Moses. "But he found his strength in Jesus and he was clean and sober for the last 18 years. Knowing where he came from, people would pay attention to him."
Dawn Pestritto, 37, of Perris, said she and her husband were close to despair when she first met Lewis eight years ago.
"I came to his church with nothing," Pestritto said. "We were homeless. I'd just had a baby, and my husband had just got out of jail. Pastor Mike got us a house free for six months. He went all out to help us, and he did the same for anyone who came to the church. . . . He was the most giving man I ever met."
Anita Landingham, 46, of Riverside, who arrived at the vigil service on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, said Free Indeed's congregation is a close-knit group.
"Somebody might look at these people and wonder 'Who are they?' " Landingham said. "But they're a big family and they take care of whoever comes in to join them."
Big-hearted man
Lewis was born in 1952 in Long Beach. He married in 1985, a commitment that eventually helped inspire him to seek a different path in life.
"He was struggling," said Raina Lewis, the Pastor's widow. "Then one morning he was looking at me and our oldest daughter, who was three or four at the time. We were still asleep, and he told me later it was then he finally realized he wanted to change."
Raina Lewis said the biggest influence in her husband's life, aside from finding Jesus, was his twin brother, Mark.
"They were very close," she said. "They spoke to each other every day. He loved his brother."
Pete Perez, 36, of Moreno Valley, another pastor at Free Indeed, said he was nearly a lost cause when he met Lewis in 1991.
"He had 17 people living with him in his home," Perez said. "People he took off the street, out of jail, off parole. He let the Lord bring him to these people. He took me in and discipled me and raised me up. . . . He was a man after God's own heart."
Most have had no problems
Free Indeed's congregation includes recovering alcoholics, ex-drug addicts and former outlaw bikers. But more than three-fourths of the congregation has never had problems with the law or substance abuse, church officials said.
The church extends into the community, offering services like a safe house for women, a substance-abuse recovery program for men, a free food program for the needy, a youth ministry and a motorcycle ministry.
Lewis' survivors include his wife, Raina; his mother, Edna of Menifee; daughters, Hannah and Renee of Menifee and Shannon of Hemet; sons, Joshua of Highland and Jesse of Menifee; a sister, Deborah Griffin of Menifee; two brothers, Mark of Perris and Dennis of Johnson Valley ; and four grandchildren.
Funeral arrangements are being handled by Miller-Jones Mortuary of Perris. A public viewing will be 5 p.m. Friday at 1835 N. Perris Blvd. A memorial service will be 3 p.m. Saturday at Mark Lewis's home, 1180 N. Perris Blvd.
**This was his last sermon: 2nd Timothy 4:5-9
"But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry. For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished [my] course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing. Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me."
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THANK YOU SO MUCH RADIO TV ENGINEER FOR SPONSORING MY PASTOR--BLESSINGS TO YOU!
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