Bishop Eddie Long was hospitalized with a serious illness, as reported by BET . However, on Saturday, October 22, rumors began to emerge online that the 63-year-old Bishop Long had died from his illness. Most people reporting the alleged death of Eddie are pointing to a social media message that was posted online — even though that message had not been confirmed. Those reports pegged Long as 62, although Google reports Long is 63.
Recently, a shockingly thinner Bishop Long could be seen in videos like the below video, with Eddie claiming that the Lord had healed him from all sicknesses.
According to Facebook user Christopher McMillon , he received a phone call from an unnamed source, claiming Bishop Long had died.
“I just received a phone call from Atlanta that Bishop Eddie Long died today. Also in doing a little research Bishop’s son sure posted a cryptic message. Has not yet been officially confirmed.”
Known as Prince Christopher on Facebook, his profile calls him the President and Founder at Holy Breath Ministries .
The so-called cryptic Instagram post can be seen below, from the Instagram account of Bishop Long.
According to reporter William G. McCray III , who published an article about the rumors of Bishop Long’s supposed death, there are rumors going around Atlanta that Bishop Long died.
“Rumors are flying all over Atlanta this morning that Bishop Eddie Long has died. Not even a week after he declared that The Lord healed him and had a alter call for New Birth members that were in attendance and suffer with illness and pain to come down for prayer. Five hours ago his oldest son posted a cryptic message on his social media accounts that reads, ‘No matter what they say about you, keep your head up!’ Along with the Psalm 121.
“It is hard to believe that last week possibly would be his last time standing behind his pulpit. An awesome blessing for the members in attendance to have gotten the final importation from their beloved leader. Obnoxious Media has yet to receive official confirmation, but very reliable sources close to the family and New Birth staff are saying it is true. It was here on ObnoxiousTelevision.com blog the world learned that he was deathly ill first and confirmed by him and his staff just 48 hours later.”
The rumors of Bishop Long’s alleged death reportedly began at the hospital and move forward therein. However, the most recent news reports only point to Bishop Long telling the church that God healed him , as reported by Atlanta Journal Constitution ? — not that Long had died, as of this writing.
Bishop Long’s wife, Elder Vanessa Long, joined him as he reported that God healed him.
Long can be seen in the top photo above from Sunday, September 26, 2010, at his New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Atlanta.
Bishop Long hugged an unnamed person as Eddie was in the midst of controversy — with Long being accused of grooming young men in his church into inappropriate sexual relationships.
Despite the rumors of Long’s death, the New Birth MBC Instagram page does not have any reports as of this writing claiming that Eddie died.
The most recent news reports in Google News about Bishop Long mostly point to Eddie’s video about being healed, not about any death reports attributed to Long.
As seen in the above photo, Bishop Long gripped the podium at his church as he spoke at the megachurch on Sunday, September 26, 2010, in the heat of the controversy.
Whether the death rumors surrounding Bishop Long are really true or just the stuff of fiction writers remains to be seen.
[Featured Image by John Amis/AP Images]