New Birth Missionary Baptist Church won't have its popular Easter service at the Georgia Dome for the third consecutive year, even after holding discussions about a possible return.
New Birth won't return to the Dome because of "economic conditions," said Jason Kirksey, a Georgia Dome spokesman, who couldn't provide further details. However, Kirksey said the church had engaged in talks about holding an Easter service there.
The Georgia Dome website actually lists a New Birth Easter service for April 24, which Kirksey said should have been taken down. The spokesman couldn't say whether there was a New Birth booking at any point for this Easter.
New Birth, in a statement released by the church, offered the following: "It’s been three years since New Birth has held Resurrection Services at the Georgia Dome in downtown Atlanta. New Birth resumed its Resurrection Services at the New Birth Cathedral in Lithonia, in April of 2009, due to the state of the economy. Services will remain at the New Birth Cathedral this year with sunrise service at 6 a.m., followed by two services at 8 a.m. and 11 a.m."
The church statement said its 2011 Resurrection Celebration “Rise Up” will offer a community outreach ministry, which includes a job fair, free health and dental screenings, and feeding and clothing the homeless.
The New Birth Easter service typically draws tens of thousands of worshippers, including celebrities. Participants in previous services have included performer Jennifer Hudson and rapper-actor T.I.
Bishop Eddie Long, who leads the Lithonia-based megachurch, has been embroiled in a scandal in which four men have accused the prominent pastor of coercing them into having sexual relations. Long has denied the accusations, which are contained in four lawsuits.
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