Pastors Taffi and Creflo Dollar sent a statement Thursday offering condolences to the the family of Bishop Eddie L. Long and members of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church.
The Dollars, pastors of World Changers Church International in Fulton County, were close friends of Long’s.
“We send our sincere condolences and love to the family of Bishop Eddie L. Long,” the statement read. ” Our prayers are with you. We will forever be appreciative of the great love you have shared with us all, and we will continue to be impacted by the way you ministered to the saints, loved people, and sacrificed continually for the betterment of this world. The Bible says in Hebrews 11 verse 38, “Men of whom the world was not worthy… We will continue to wonder if we were ever worthy of your grace and anointing. Rest in peace, Great General. Rest in peace.
Dallas megachurch pastor, author and talk show host, T.D. Jakes also mourned Long.
“We here at The Potter’s House will always remember with fondness those years gone by where the Bishop played such an integral part of our early gatherings in Atlanta. Our hearts are broken for his wife Vanessa, his children and the New Birth church family.”
Long, 63, pastor of the Lithonia megachurch died Sunday of an aggressive form of cancer, New Birth said in a statement. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the church, 6400 Woodrow Rd. His memorial service will be held on Wednesay at 11 a.m.
The influential and controversial pastor’s health had been the subject of much speculation after his posted a video in which he looked emaciated. He later admitted that he was facing a health challenge.
His last time in the New Birth pulpit was on New Year’s Eve, he looked weak but still managed to bring members to their feet as they prepared to usher in the new year.
The devil, he said, asked him “why you going to church? You need to rest. You’re in recovery. I said, let me tell you something. I said if I was going for my ego, I’d lay here. If I was going trying to prove something, I’d lay here. I said God ain’t through with me and sometimes you need to see the skinny Eddie and the big Eddie and all that. It ain’t got nothing to do with physical appearance, it’s what in your heart .
Long had recently celebrated his 29th pastoral anniversary at a big gala.
Related:
Bishop Eddie Long died of cancer
Details on Bishop Eddie Long’s memorial service
A thin Eddie Long tells church that devil wanted him to stay home
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