Bishop Eddie Long Leads Football Team to Christ After Player's Tragic Death
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, led by Bishop Eddie Long, shared that a high school football team made the decision to receive Christ during an altar call on Sunday, just two days after 16-year-old high school football player De'Antre Turman died after breaking his neck during a scrimmage on the field.
"The greatest miracle of all is #salvation. Do you believe God can save a football team? Welcome to the Kingdom Towers High School Titans!" New Birth Missionary Baptist Church shared Monday on its Facebook page.
According to the Georgia megachurch, members of the Towers High School football team, all wearing their uniform, lined up at the altar before moving to the stage during the Aug. 18 service.
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A video clip of the service shared by the Dekalb County megachurch had the caption: "Standing as one, the Towers high school football team comes forth and receives salvation."
"Watch the Towers High School football team, they came forth in the Power of One Sunday to receive Christ. Go Titans! We stand with you and are proud of you! Fam share this miracle of #salvation with someone you know," New Birth added on its Facebook page.
In the three-minute video clip, members of the congregation can been seen celebrating and worshipping as the young men file one by one up to the stage of the expansive church, along with several others who have apparently made a decision to follow Jesus Christ.
"Look at here!" screams Long at one point. "It's a new birth!"
The video shared by New Birth Missionary Baptist Church can be viewed below:
The team gathered at Long's megachurch on Sunday two days after another young athlete from nearby Fulton County lost his life after sustaining a critical injury on the football field.
De'Antre Turman, a junior cornerback for the Creekside High School Seminoles, was hurt during a scrimmage Friday night, and died of a broken neck the same evening at Grady Memorial Hospital.
The 16-year-old athlete and his teammates were gearing up for the 2013-2014 football season when what has been described as a routine tackle resulted in Turman's death. He reportedly had been offered a full scholarship to the University of Kentucky in June.
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church's senior pastor, Bishop Long, has been plagued in recent years with allegations of sexual and financial misconduct. The Georgia ministry also recently announced the closure of its Faith Community Christian Academy at the end of the school year, citing a slow economy and low enrollment as reasons for shuttering the pre-K-12 private school.
Long founded New Birth in 1987. The megachurch states on its website that it is home to about 25,000 members, although reports suggest that the number of congregants may have been negatively impacted by the sexual misconduct allegations leveled against Long by five young men in 2010.
