Victory Christian pastor Billy Joe Daugherty has lost his battle against cancer.
Early Sunday morning, the well-known 57-year-old founder and pastor of Victory Christian passed away at the M.D. Anderson Medical Center in Houston with his family by his side.
The pastor had been fighting lymphoma cancer for a month now and an infection ensued.
Church members said he showed some signs of improvement earlier Saturday, but was back in critical condition later that night. Daugherty passed around 4:40 a.m.
A family statement read at church services Sunday morning stated that a memorial service will be Monday Nov. 30th. The family has not announced a location or time yet.
The Victory Christian Center is staying open 24 hours a day to allow members to come in and pray for the family.
Members say Pastory Daugherty had a huge impact on their lives.
"Always had a good word for you in a personal way, positive, friendly and joyful," said Sandra Flick, a church member.
"He has made me who I am. His ministry. His love for people," said Alexandra Malhi. She grew up attending Victory Christian Center and went to school there. Now she attends Oral Roberts University.
"He is rejoicing. He is encouraging us to carry on and not to grieve too long. Pick up the torch and keep running," said Ronnie Flick, who attends Victory Christian Center.
During a Sunday morning church service, Victory Christian Center Pastor, Bruce Edward, told the congregation that Pastor Daughtery had passed away, but lives on in heaven.
"When a person who knows the Lord makes that step over to the other side, they've just graduated into the place destine for them," said Edward.
The Sunday 6 p.m. service will be streamed live at victory.com/watch
Stay tuned to 2NEWS for the latest.
