Loyal reader T. Nicole Merritt responded to yesterday’s post on Bishop Eddie Long scaling back his extravagant Easter Sunday services due to the recession:
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Sandra,
Good day! I will keep this short as Im sure you receive a plethora of emails daily. I was a member of New Birth in Atlanta so I have to comment. Please let your readers know that New Birth has always been involved in the community by assisting people in various ways.
1. I personally was helped when I was going broke and could not pay my bills. I made a request for rental assistance and I received a check immediately. The only condition they had was that I attend financial management classes provided for FREE at the church.
2. When Katrina took place, New Birth set up a transition station at the church. I volunteered for this. They provided victims with showers, temporary places, permanent residences, clothing, food, etc.
Please ask your readers to stop making sweeping generalizations about “Mega Churches”. To their defense though, I was once where they are. I was sitting on the outside bad-mouthing all these pastors and ridiculing the members. But a friend invited me once and I sat there with my arms folded being extremely cynical…but then I opened my arms and my heart followed suit.
Thank you for your time and have a wonderful day.
T. Nicole Merritt
“the Delightful Diva”