Preacher Eddie Long Denies Wrongdoing

Baptist televangelist Eddie Long told his Georgia congregation on Sunday that he feels like “David against Goliath,” addressing the four lawsuits from young men who have accused him of abusing his position as Bishop to coerce them into sexual relations when they were in their teens.

The embattled pastor repudiated the allegations saying that he has never portrayed himself as a perfect man, “but I am not the man that’s being portrayed on the television — that is not me.”

The four men who have brought these civil charges against Eddie Long are Anthony Flagg, 21, Maurice Robinson, 20, Jamal Parris, 23, and Spencer LeGrande, 22. All of them were over the age of consent (16) in George when they allege that Long engaged in improper sexual relations with them during trips to such locations as Kenya, South Africa, Turks and Caicos Islands and New Zealand. The pastor, they claim, induced and/or rewarded them with gifts of cash, cars and jewelry.

Long did not address the specific accusations made against him either during his address, nor after when he briefly spoke with reporters.

Eddie Long is a married man and the father of four children. Since becoming pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church, the increase in its membership has been phenomenal, growing from some 300 to 2,500 members.

Members of Long’s congregation are confident that these claims of sexual misconduct will be shown to be false.

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