New Birth Missionary Baptist Church Timeline

1939 -- Travelers Rest Baptist Church formed in Scottsdale.

1984 -- Travelers Rest moves to Decatur.

1987 -- Church renamed New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in May, and Eddie Long is appointed pastor in July; church has 300 members.

1994 -- Eddie Long expands ministry through TV with a New Birth News local broadcast; church reports 10,000 members; Long becomes bishop.

1995 -- New Birth Missionary produces Taking Authority TV broadcasts that reach 170 countries.

1996 -- New Birth Missionary pays $3 million for 170 acres worth $10 million near Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport.

1997 -- On 10th anniversary, New Birth Missionary reports a 18,000 membership; sells airport-area property for $11 million profit; opens South DeKalb Federal Church Credit Union.

2000 -- New Birth Missionary reports a 25,000 membership, making it Georgia's largest church.

2001 -- New Birth Missionary opens $50 million church in Lithonia that offers 10,000 seats, administrative offices, library, book store, computer lab, kitchen, audio and video studios and nursery.

2005 -- AJC reports in August that Eddie Long has received compensation of $3 million in salary, benefits and property use from nonprofit, tax-exempt charity he established for the poor, including use of $350,000 Bentley automobile.

2007 -- Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) investigates six televangelists, including Eddie Long, for alleged lavish spending using church funding.

2010 -- Eddie Long faces civil lawsuits from four men alleging he coerced them into sex in exchange for trips, cars and cash.

Compiled by AJC writer Dan Raley. Sources: ajc.com and newbirth.org