The death of Bishop Eddie L. Long, senior pastor of megachurch New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, GA, was confirmed early Sunday morning (Jan. 15) in a statement released by the church.
“New Birth Missionary Baptist Church celebrates the life and legacy of Bishop Eddie L. Long who is now spiritually healed and home with the Lord. Bishop Long, Senior Pastor of New Birth, transitioned from this life early Sunday morning after a gallant private fight with an aggressive form of cancer,” the statement begins.
Journalist Roland Martin shared the letter on social media.
Statement from New Birth on the death of @BishopEddieLong. https://t.co/Pc7dZ9LhXx
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) January 15, 2017
In recent months, Bishop Long attributed his dramatic weight loss to a vegan diet and healthier lifestyle. In September 2016, New Birth released a statement that Long was not hospitalized, as speculated, but was recovering from a “health challenge.”