A 39-year-old pastor from Kanas City, Missouri, has died after a five-month battle with coronavirus.

Pastor Michael 'Grizzy' Griswold, was a former drug dealer. who turned his life after finding faith in his 20s.

He ministered as a youth pastor at Macedonia Baptist Church.

His wife Venus Griswold, told The Kansas City Star that when her husband began his battle with the virus about five months ago, a doctor told her, "he’s gonna be fine." That outlook, she added, did not last very long.

"He was like, "he’s gonna be fine, he’s young, he’s going to be fine,"" Venus Griswold told the publication. 

"The next day, I walk in and his oxygen levels are just tanking, and so at that point, it was the decision. Do you put him on life support? Or do you let him go? And so I put him on life support."

There were hopes that Pastor Grizzy would be able to receive a lung transplant but he died on June 6 before a match could be found. 

His family and friends remembered his life in a touching memorial service on Sunday.

"Grizzy’s impact was so magnanimous that I’m telling you 20 years from now, this church will remember Grizzy," Macedonia Baptist Church’s Senior Pastor John L. Brooks told the Kansas City Star. "I’m telling you, older people and younger people."

Malcolm Griswold, the late pastor’s young brother, added:  "When I think of Mike and his whole transformation story, I witness the power of God saving Michael from his life from his own lifestyle," he said.