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Son of ex-Rebel Cunningham drowns
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LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
Updated: Jun. 30, 2010 | 7:30 a.m.
Skip Jourdan, who plays guitar at Remnant Ministries, has missed only three Sundays in three years.
He knew where he had to be Tuesday night.
Jourdan was among 30 to 40 church members who quickly assembled at the church on Windmill Lane as news spread about the death of Randall Cunningham's 2½-year-old son. Cunningham, the former UNLV and NFL star quarterback, is pastor of Remnant Ministries.
"This is why you have a church family," Jourdan said. "This is why you belong to something like this. I can't imagine trying to go through something like this and not having a church family. Who are you going to turn to?"
Christian Cunningham, who would have been 3 in December, died after being found floating in the backyard hot tub, according to friends of the family. Randall Cunningham performs baptisms in the hot tub at his home, which is near the church.
A woman at Cunningham's house was with several children when she found the boy at about 4:30 p.m., Las Vegas police Lt. Dennis Flynn said. She removed the boy from the hot tub and began performing CPR. Paramedics took the child to St. Rose Dominican Hospital, Siena campus, where he died, Flynn said.
Abuse and neglect detectives were investigating the incident at the house on the 300 block of East Robindale Road, near Paradise Road. Flynn said the drowning appeared to be an accident.
"We know healing is going to take time," said one church member, who said she goes by the name Miss Happy. "We ask that everyone pray for the family. It hurts. It hurts."
Cunningham was believed to be in San Diego or on his way back at the time of the drowning.
Members of the church congregation gathered that night and shared stories, prayed and cried. They talked about Christian learning to speak, playing football and constantly smiling and having fun.
"He touched the lives of anybody who stood there and watched him," Miss Happy said. "He's one of those little kids like, 'I'll take you home with me.' I can sit here and talk all day about Christian."
Cunningham generally is considered the greatest player in UNLV history. He still holds the record with 8,020 career passing yards.
From there, he put together a 16-year NFL career that included four Pro Bowl selections. Cunningham also is largely credited with making quarterback a more mobile position.
He became an ordained minister in 2004 and opened Remnant Ministries later that year.
He and his wife, Felicity, have three other children: Randall II, Vashti and Grace.
Las Vegas Review-Journal reporter Lawrence Mower contributed to this report.
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We've met Randall Cunningham at our son's football practice a few years back and he was very gracious to take a photo with him. Our condolences to the Cunningham family.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=92932&id=100000452455357
When Pastor Randall Cunningham moved back to Las Vegas he began coaching my son's long time friend on his youth football team. I was envious because my son had aged out of youth football and would not have the opportunity to play on his team. Since that time, I've learned of his involvement in the community in many other ways. He's sponsored track meets my son has been involved in. He's been a volunteer coach at a local high school. I'm certain he's influenced many other programs benefiting the youth in our community that I am not aware of. Perhaps most impacting of all is his creation of Remnant Ministries. I first became aware of this church and his position as Pastor through a good friend of mine who is a member and a friend of his family. My friend has shared stories of his family and the great work he and his wife have contributed to their faithful members and to those in need. I have been inspired by the church he's created through hearing stories and witnessing the people and gatherings there as I've picked up or dropped off my friend's daughter at the church. I have attended many churches in this valley and believe Remnant Ministries is one of the most spirit filled congregations in existence. I see a church like no other, with faithful believers who love and care for each other, a church which offers more opportunities to learn and fellowship. This can only be due to the faith and efforts of Pastor Randall and his wife.
Pastor Randall has impacted and inspired an average working mother that he doesn't even know. I felt compelled to tell the world that a mother he has never met is heart stricken for his loss, and cries for his pain. I pray that his faith will carry Pastor Randall, his wife and family through this time of devastating tragedy.
What a tragic death.
I extend my Sympathy to The Cunningham Family
Hello VegasLocalGuy and everyone reading these comments. Both my daughters were recently Baptized in this Jacuzzi. Obviously VegasLocal you have never attended Remnant Church, because if you had you would know that Remnant is a beautiful multi-cultural church and I would highly encourage you to go visit Remnant one Sunday. I guarantee you that even in light of this recent tragedy they will make YOU feel extremely Loved! The Cunningham' are a very strong Christian family and they will trust and draw closer to God/Christ through this.
John 3:16
It doesn't matter where or what the church is, a young child has died. Pray for the family and the peace of the child...
Show some respect!
VegasLocalGuy... I've been to many 'scamming' churches, and Remnant Ministries isn't one of them. If you attended Remnant once... you'd clearly see it is not in a house; it's in a building that was built for the church. Most churches start out in the living room of one's house because, let's be honest, who has the money in the first year to buy and/or build a church building?
As for the woman who was babysitting, she was taking care of a small girl who was the same age as RC son, and she took BOTH children into the bathroom to 'go potty'. While she was helping the girl, the little boy ran off. Don't you think that if the abuse and neglect detectives ruled it accidental, maybe it was? I've cared for twins in my past, and they can be hard to handle sometimes, especially when you aren't used to taking care of two of them.
Don't be disrespectful! Obviously this family is in mourning, and I'm sure that if one of Randall Cunningham's other children were to read some of these comments, they'd only get more upset. They are only children themselves, with the oldest one barely a teenager, and the youngest barely in elementary school. If you don't care for Randall Cunningham, or his church, share your disrespecting comments on another article... not one talking about the death of his beloved son.
I'd pray for not only the Cunningham family, but for the woman who clearly was a dear family friend, who had to fish the boy out, and preform CPR until the paramedics came.
You are all in my prayers!
How very, very sad. May the Lord comfort the family in their time of sorrow. (Folks, please have the decency to refrain from posting hurtful comments on this tragedy. Thank you.)
@vegaslocalguy: Yours are truly ignorant posts! If you took the time to check out Remnant Ministries, you would find that they hold their services in a beautiful building on Windmill Lane in Las Vegas -- NOT in someone's house.
Get a clue.
Well MB, it is a fact that over 80% of these "churches" are run by African Americans and yes, it is a tax shelter scam. Most of these churches are rooms in someone's house. Would you go to church in a room at someone's house? I thought not.