Bias Watch

Defiant pastor who kept church open despite coronavirus warnings dies a week later from COVID-19

Bishop Gerald O. Glenn of Richmond Virginia’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church
Bishop Gerald O. Glenn of Richmond Virginia’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church Photo: Screenshot

Evangelical pastors nationwide have repeatedly flouted the federal and state guidelines temporarily banning gatherings of more than ten people to prevent the spread of a novel coronavirus. Zealots in Florida and Louisiana have been arrested for violating the orders.

Misguided preachers nationwide have continued to hold in-person services despite the deadly risk to their congregations, but a Virginia pastor who vowed to keep his church open and to keep preaching “unless I’m in jail or the hospital” has died a week after preaching his defiant service.

Related: Trump tells pastors to forget coronavirus & pray for his re-election instead

Bishop Gerald O. Glenn of Richmond Virginia’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church opened the doors to worshippers on March 22 and gave his last sermon. He told the congregation that “people are healed” in his church and not harmed.

“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus. You can quote me on that,” he said. “I am essential. I’m a preacher — I talk to God!”

But a week later, the minister has died from COVID-19. His wife is also sick.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of our beloved Bishop Gerald O. Glenn, the Founder and Pastor of New Deliverance Evangelistic Church on Saturday, April 11, 2020 @ 9:00 PM. Please be in prayer with us for Mother Marcietia Glenn, our first family & the NDEC church family. We ask that you respectfully allow our First Family to grieve in their own way. We will announce final arrangements within the next few days.Be blessed and don’t stop praying for one another.“Then I heard a voice from heaven saying to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord from now on.’ ” “Yes,” says the Spirit, “that they may rest from their labors, and their works follow them.””‭‭Revelation‬ ‭14:13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

Posted by The New Deliverance Evangelistic Church on Sunday, April 12, 2020

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