Bishop T.D. Jakes Says Pray for Embattled Bishop Eddie Long

By Mona Austin Since news broke last week of a prominent Georgia pastor allegedly  using his religious authority to justify sexual relations with young male congregants, people  have wondered why ministry leaders were silent about the accusations--wondering who among his peers had his back. One of America's leading pastors, Bishop T.D. Jakes of the Potter's House in Dallas, TX spoke out about the recent allegations of sexual coercion aimed at Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Cathedral in Lithonia, GA, a suburb of Atlanta. (CLICK ABOVE TO VIEW THE VIDEO.) During Sunday morning service Jakes said Christians should not jump to any conclusions, but just pray about the situation.  To those who were expecting him to make a public statement to address the matter, he explained why he didn't saying, "There's nothing to say. You can't make great decisions with poor information.  Until you can separate facts from conjecture there's nothing to say. . ." Jakes summed up the matter saying "God is in control," and once this court battle is over, "One thing's for sure: somebody, if not everybody in it is gon' need the blood [of Jesus]." Continued Jakes, "I ain't gon' have no headlines. I'ma tell you right now I need the blood.  If it hadn't been for the blood I'd have been consumed a long time ago." Christians believe the blood Jesus Christ shed during the Crucifixion for the transgressons and inequities and is ultimately the root of their salvation. Referring to Long's New Birth as a sister church, Bishop Jakes and the Potter's House family (numbering in the thousands) stood in  prayer asking for God's mercy over the city of Atlanta, those involved in the scandal and Bishop Long and his church family.  Jakes sealed the prayer with a final request for the collective Body of Christ, "When everything is all said and done let the devil know we're shaken, but not stirred."