I know some of y’all have been wondering why I haven’t posted on the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church shooting. The truth is,? I’m feeling some kinda way about the way the Lord works.
You see, I’m a firm believer that He reveals all and although the “Good Bishop” chose to privately mediate those sexual coercion allegations against him, it’s blatantly apparent that the Lord is not gonna let his misdeeds slide without punishment.
[READ: Bishop Eddie Long Wants You To Know… TRANSCRIPT + VIDEO]
I almost feel sorry for the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church community, because they have put their faith in someone who has let them down. We’ve all been there. But when the signs are as clear as your hand in front of your face, there is nothing left to do but move on and pray for closure.
That being said, Bishop Eddie Long’s sex scandal and the recent reports about Long’s participation in the failed investments of several church members aren’t the only signs He’s giving us.
There was a shooting in the New Birth church parking lot last Saturday…. yes a SHOOTING! and on top of that, investigations have revealed that the financial scandal that Long pleaded about on YouTube is somehow tied to illegal gambling!!!
*sigh* I swear blogging about this is like beating a dead horse…
Details + Fox5 I-Team investigation video below:
Saturday, February 5, 2011, an unidentified man was shot in the parking lot of Long’s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA. He is now in critical condition.
Authorities say the shooting is not connected to the church but at this point, we can only speculate that it’s some kind of a sign.
In addition to the shooting, Atlanta’s Fox 5 aired an extensive investigative report last week about the latest controversy surrounding Bishop Long’s dealings with the financial investmensts of several members of his church.
According to the Fox 5 investigation, Long allegedly told his congregation that everything Taylor said was based “on the word of God” and trusting churchgoers ate it up and assumed their hard earned retirement funds would be safe, based on their pastor’s endorsement.
VIDEO: Fox5 Investigation of Bishop Eddie Long Investment Scandal
Taylor allegedly said that when he was in high school, he created a $3.5 million dollar company that was a website that sold job postings for high school kids.
His new idea, which he sold as an investment opportunity to Long’s congregation, was sweepstakes video game machines.
While the paperwork stated that there was no guarantee about investment returns, investors from the church received certificates of guarantees that promised that they would receive revenue that was equal to or greater than the amount invested.
The company that sold the game machines was eventually indicted for operating an illegal gambling enterprise. Last September, Fox 5 revealed that police in Virginia raided a number of sweepstakes store fronts and charged 11 owners and companies with illegal gambling.
City Capital sent a letter to investors promising to pay back 100% of the investments in cash or stock , but according to Fox 5, the stock may only be worth pennies.
Long has refused to talk to reporters on the subject, but in his video (which you can view HERE), he claims that he received no “financial blessing or gift” from Ephren Taylor for promoting the Capital City investment opportunity.
Taylor countered in a prepared statement (which you can read HERE), stating that Long had received a cut of all books and cds sold to church members. A spokesperson for Long told the news station that this money was collected only to pay expenses.
Parishioners invested substantial sums of money, with some investments ranging from $10,000 to over $200,000, representing their lifetime savings.
According to the Fox report, the sweepstakes gaming machines were just a portion of the investments gone bad. IRAs and 401K plans were also part of the portfolio.
What’s done in the dark…