Bishop T.D. Jakes and gospel artist John P. Kee will help welcome New Birth Missionary Baptist Church back to in-person worship services after a two-year hiatus.
Like several other churches, Easter weekend will mark the first time congregations have held full services inside the sanctuary since the pandemic began. Some had continued with virtual services only, while others have allowed parishioners to return using a reservation system or used a hybrid system.
The Stonecrest megachurch, led by Senior Pastor Jamal Harrison Bryant, will hold reopening activities, billed as “The Return,” beginning at 7:30 p.m. April 15 with Jakes and Kee.
Jakes is bishop of The Potter’s House, a nondenominational megachurch in Dallas. He is also a respected author and filmmaker.
Recently, Jakes’ real estate company acquired more than 100 acres of Fort McPherson property adjacent to Tyler Perry Studios in southwest Atlanta for mixed-use development and provide more affordable housing in the area.
The events will culminate with Resurrection Sunday services at 9:30 a.m. April 17 with Bryant and gospel artist VaShawn Mitchell. The church is at 6400 Woodrow Road in Stonecrest.
New Birth initially planned to welcome members back to in-person on New Year’s Eve but a spike in COVID-19 cases prevented the reopening effort. Now, with a statewide decline in COVID-19 cases and a rise in vaccinations, the church’s leadership identified Easter weekend as a perfect opportunity to welcome members and visitors back into the 9,000-seat sanctuary.
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