Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia has responded to reports that he is suffering from unspecified stage 4 gastro-intestinal cancer. Long released a statement Tuesday afternoon saying that he is recovering from a "health challenge" without offering any more specific details of exactly what that challenge may be.
Long's church released a statement saying Long was not in the hospital as some reports had claimed, and the statement quoted Long as saying:
"I am recovering from a health challenge that I trust God to deliver me from. It is unrelated to the eating for life diet consisting of mostly raw vegetables that I am continuing, as part of a holistic approach to good health. At this time, my family and I are requesting that you respect our privacy."
He added, "I truly appreciate your prayers and support for me, my loved ones and my beloved New Birth Church Family."
The church said there would be no further comments released at this time.
At the end of last week, the founder of Obnoxioustv blog William McCray III, claimed that the controversial pastor had been hospitalized suffering from stage 4 cancer.
McCray III made his claims based on what he says he was told by "a close friend" of Long, who is apparently a member of Long's church.
McCray III wrote: "Recently, while out to dinner with some prominent minister friends a person approached our table and specifically want to speak to Sir William, (sic) in a very humble and politely asked if they could have seat. We said sure and the source went on to share they were a member of New Birth and choose to stay through the scandal. The source shared their name and shared they were very close to Bishop Long and asked if Obnoxious Media would take it easy on bishop due to his having cancer."
The blog entry also stated: "After a couple of phone calls and text messages it was confirmed this was a very reliable source. They explained that Bishop Long has cancer in his digestive system and it was discovered in the 4th stage and he literally has months to live."
Long was recently in the public eye for his drastic weight loss, which he claims to have achieved through a new vegan diet he had been on.
The Obnoxioustv's blog entry continued: "Bishop Long has been admitted to an Atlanta hospital this week where he has been since Monday and not yet discharged."
"The Reliable Source went on to say the doctors have give Bishop Long up and (sic) their is nothing they can do, but try to make him comfortable. Although, Bishop Long is not willing to accept that he is ill and quoting the scripture that life and death lies in the power of the tongue."
McCray also wrote: "The person very close to Bishop Long said he had to say something, which is why he made the video due to his not preaching for close to three months and wasting away before the church's eyes. He has required assistance from his wife Vanessa to walk in and out of the services. Bishop Long has been doing everything he can to live spiritually as well as naturally. He is on a totally liquid diet because he cannot digest food at all."
Bishop Eddie Long's older brother, Pastor Joe Long, died in 2010 aged 59 from prostate cancer.
