Evangelistic Rally Expected to Draw Thousands to Georgia Dome
Tens of thousands are expected to turn out for an evangelistic rally featuring a line-up of African-American Christian speakers and Gospel music performers at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta Saturday.
An estimated 30,000 to 40,000 are expected to attend the admission-free event, Stand 2010, a Georgia Dome spokeperson told The Christian Post. The rally is part of The Stand Campaign which seeks to raise awareness of Jesus Christ through love and evangelism. The campaign was founded in 2007 by Christian radio personality Cory "CoCo Brother" Condrey who will co-host the Atlanta rally alongside his wife.
Participants will be called to take a stand as "one body" as they listen to performances from Gospel artists including Jason Upton, Israel Houghton, Donnie McClurkin, Vicki Yohe, and Bryon Cage.
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Speakers will include Dr. Bernice King, Bishop Paul S. Morton and Pastor Jamal Bryant.
One of the main scheduled speakers, Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, a megachurch in Atlanta, may skip the event after lawsuits that accuse the minister of sexual coercion were recently filed.
Four young men from Long's congregation have taken legal action against the minister whom they claim used his spiritual authority to coerce them in to sexual relationships.
Long has denied the allegations. Last week, his attorneys filed an official response to the suit filed by Jamal Parris, stating, "Bishop Long denies that he engaged in any sexual conduct with plaintiff Jamal Parris or any other spiritual sons."
New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Monday responded to the allegations against its head pastor by admitting that he took the four men on trips but saying it could neither confirm nor deny the allegations.
Art Franklin, a spokesman for Long, has confirmed that Long will appear Saturday while Condrey has told radio listeners that the Atlanta minister may not show up, according to the Atlanta Journal Constitution.
The Atlanta event comes after the Stand Campaign held a series of Jesus Rallies across the nation. The latest evangelistic rally was held in Washington D.C. in August.
Stand 2010 will be held 6:00-10:00 p.m at the Georgia Dome. Doors open at 4:30 p.m.
Free tickets to the rally can be downloaded at the event's website: www.thestandcampaign.com.
