By Jeremy W. Steele
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Pastor Rick Henry, (left) of Friend Road House of Prayer, was one of many who came to the Herndon home Friday. He embraces Charles Herndon, a grieving father. (Mike Simons photo) | ZOOM |

MIDDLETOWN - The front door hardly ever closed Friday, as friends and family filtered in and out of the small gray house on 16th Avenue, offering food, condolences and fellowship.

In the background, a man's deep, powerful voice spoke of predestination. It was one of the many sermons 23-year-old Charles Herndon II had given since he began preaching at 17 in Middletown's Faith Fellowship Church.

"He was destined to step up and be a powerful mentor," said family friend Joya Hairston, wiping away tears and pausing to listen to a small tape player in the Herndons' living room. "And he did that."

Herndon, known as "Bumper,'' died Thursday morning after the church van he and four other men were riding in hit a tree along Interstate 75 in central Kentucky. The van's driver, Mark D. Neupert, 26, a member of the Faith Fellowship congregation, also died. Neupert, a formerly homeless man who had been helped by the church he embraced, apparently lost control of the van.

Herndon

The other three men were injured. Kevin L. Aldridge was in fair condition and Todd Lee in serious condition at University of Kentucky Hospital on Friday. John E. Burg was discharged Thursday.

The men were on their way to ManPower, an Atlanta religious conference, where Herndon was to meet with Bishop T.D. Jakes, a renowned preacher.

Family and friends praised Herndon for sharing his faith with the young and old in his life, mentoring nieces and his nephew and delivering food to senior citizens in Middletown. Herndon, an associate minister at 150-member Faith Fellowship Church, was about to begin theological training.

"He had a heart like David for the Lord," Hairston said. "We used to call him a modern-day David."

Herndon is survived by parents Charles and Pat Herndon, sisters Mia Sullivan and Tia Herndon, and 2-year-old daughter Charis.

"I miss him," said 9-year-old nephew Cody Quinn. "He helped me a lot with track and football. He was my coach."

Pat Herndon, who with her husband has helped build African-American youth groups in Middletown, said her son was able to reach young people in a way few could.

She would often wait up for him so they could talk about his most recent religious revelations. One of his last lessons for the family was on the biblical difference between fact and truth.

"Fact says he's dead," Pat Herndon said. "But truth says he'll live for an eternity. His death can never be in vain."

He was a 1998 graduate of Middletown High School, where he played football. He often traveled to preach to youth groups and was making a name for himself as a guest preacher.

"He was a preacher's preacher," Faith Fellowship Church Bishop David Green Jr. said. "He was an old man in a young man's body. I'd sit there listening to him speak and wonder where he got this from."

Loved ones counted off names of the young people he had brought into the church and away from drugs and violence.

"He had respect from people on one side of the fence or the other," Hairston said, then was interrupted by a shout from Herndon's tape-recorded sermon.

"Conquer it!" came the voice.

"He was a conqueror," the family friend replied.

Friends recounted how Herndon helped them conquer their own problems.

Herndon helped bring Neupert into the church, friends said. The church helped Neupert get a job and an apartment, Green said. Neupert joined the congregation several months ago and operated the church's sound equipment and was a fixture at church events.

"We had a block party last Saturday. He was the one running around and doing everything," Green said. "He was just so excited about being a part of the church."

Services for Charles Herndon II

Visitation is scheduled for 6-8 p.m. Tuesday at the Hall-Jordan and Pretty Funeral Chapel, 918 S. Main St. in Middletown. The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday at United Missionary Baptist Church, at 18th Avenue and Minnesota Street.

For information: (513) 420-9628.

Arrangements for Mark Neupert are pending.E-mail jsteele@enquirer.com