I think it comes down to personal belief, then. Until last year, I might have agreed with you.
I posted before that when my mother died last year, I was at her bedside holding her hand. I know that at the instant of her death I felt her spirit soar free of her body. I felt a great uplift of joy and I know it was her spirit rejoicing in her new freedom.
I know my mother's spirit is no longer in her body, no longer bound by her age and illness (we learned she had incurable cancer 9 days before she died). Equally, I know her spirit still exists.
I read an interesting article recently:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/newswe...a-doctor-s-experience-with-the-afterlife.html
I'm honestly not trying to change anyone's beliefs, just trying to explain what is behind my point of view and what might be behind that pastor's point of view.
As I understand Christianity, Christians also believe that the spirit survives death. I assume that the pastor was Christian from the name of his church, so I'm making the leap that he was speaking from the point of view of someone who believes the spirit does not die with the body.