Before George Floyd moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2018 he was known for being involved in Christian ministry work and leading a basketball outreach program in his Texas community, according to his pastors and others who knew him as a 'gentle giant'.

It was revealed on Tuesday that the 46-year-old, who was killed on May 25 while in the custody of Minneapolis police, helped others while living in Houston's Third Ward community. 

According to an Instagram post shared by photographer, Nijalon Du'Boi, Floyd treated him like family and witnessed the moment he was baptized. 

'Big Floyd put his arm around me, embraced me in 3rd Ward, treated me like family and made sure he came to see me get baptized in Cuney,' Du'Boi shared. 






Before George Floyd (pictured holding his Bible) moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 2018 he was known for being involved in Christian ministry work and leading a basketball outreach program in his Texas community







It was revealed on Tuesday that the 46-year-old (left), who was killed on May 25 while in the custody of Minneapolis police, once helped others while living in Houston's Third Ward community


'To watch him laying on the ground being suffocated by the police, repeating the exact words of Eric Gardner "I can't breathe" took my breath. My heart and actions are with 3rd Ward during this time. I'm grateful for a God who is near the broken hearted and the crushed in spirit, Du'Boi added. 

Christian rap artist Corey Paul, who in 2010 helped start Resurrection Houston, a church in the Third Ward, told The Stream that Floyd took 'the younger guys under his wing' and put them in basketball tournaments. 

'He was using the game of basketball to help guide them. When we came in, he was our person of peace who ushered us into the community,' Paul said. 






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According to Paul, the young basketball hoops assembly players wouldn't be allowed to play during church service, adding that Floyd would help with baptisms that took place on the basketball court. 

'Floyd went before us, saying: "This is good, we need this."' Then he'd help us pull these big tin tubs out on the court. We'd fill them up with water for people to get baptized.

'Floyd was influential in bringing church to a basketball court in that poverty-stricken neighborhood.'


















Christian rap artist Corey Paul, who in 2010 helped start Resurrection Houston, a church in the Third Ward said that Floyd (pictured, guarding a young man) took 'the younger guys under his wing' and put them in basketball tournaments







Paul recalled how Floyd (pictured wearing blue jersey with No. 3) once told him: 'If you're about God's business, you're about my business. So whatever you need, I got you'


Paul recalled to the Stream how Floyd once told him: 'If you're about God's business, you're about my business. So whatever you need, I got you.'

Before Floyd's death, he was working two jobs trying to make ends meet. According to Christianity Today, he moved to Minneapolis for a discipleship program, which included job placement. 

'George Floyd was a person of peace sent from the Lord that helped the gospel go forward in a place that I never lived in,' Patrick Ngwolo, the pastor of Resurrection Houston, told the news site. 

'The platform for us to reach that neighborhood and the hundreds of people we reached through that time and up to now was built on the backs of people like Floyd,' he added. 

The new revelations come as thousands continue to protest Floyd's death. Powerful images from peaceful demonstrations in Maryland and New York City.

Protesters were seen holding signs outside the Bethesda Library in Maryland as New Yorkers gathered at Foley Square as part of a demonstration.  


















The new revelations come as thousands continue to protest Floyd's death. Powerful images from peaceful demonstrations in Maryland (pictured) and New York City







Thousands held signs that read 'Black Lives Matter' and 'I Can't Breathe' outside the Bethesda Library in Maryland







Meanwhile, New Yorkers gathered at Foley Square (pictured) as part of a demonstration







Others gathered at Washington Square Park in Manhattan on Tuesday
















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Friend Recalls Floyd As ¿Person of Peace¿ Who Led Basketball Outreach