He practiced what he preached — then he died of coronavirus.
An evangelical pastor died of COVID-19 just weeks after proudly showing off how packed his Virginia church was — and vowing to keep preaching “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”
In his last known in-person service on March 22, Bishop Gerald O. Glenn got his congregation at Richmond’s New Deliverance Evangelistic Church to stand to prove how many were there despite warnings against gatherings of more than 10 people.
“I firmly believe that God is larger than this dreaded virus. You can quote me on that,” he said, repeating it a second time to claps, saying that “people are healed” in his church.
Happily announcing he was being “controversial” by being “in violation” of safety protocols — with “way more than 10 people” at the church — he vowed to keep his church open “unless I’m in jail or the hospital.”
“I am essential,” he said of remaining open, saying, “I’m a preacher — I talk to God!”
On Sunday, his church announced “with an exceedingly sorrowful and heavy heart” that the pastor had died a week after being diagnosed with COVID-19.
His wife, Marcietia Glenn, is also sick with the bug, with church members offering their prayers.
Their daughter, Mar-Gerie Crawley, told WTVR that her father initially dismissed his symptoms because he has a condition that often leads to fevers and infections.
She is now urging everyone to stay home.
“It becomes very real to you,” she told WTVR after her parents’ diagnoses.
“I just beg people to understand the severity and the seriousness of this, because people are saying it’s not just about us, it’s about everyone around us.”
The post Virginia pastor who defiantly held church service dies of coronavirus appeared first on New York Post.
luv_u_deerly on April 13rd, 2020 at 23:22 UTC »
I always wonder what people like this are thinking as they are succumbing to the thing(virus) that they thought they were immune to or thought didn't exist. I saw other similar stories to this.
Do they think, "Oh shit I royally f-ed up." Or do they double down and never believe they made a bad decision.
c0y0t3_sly on April 13rd, 2020 at 22:20 UTC »
"I sent two boats and a helicopter, what more do you want?!"
wherewegrungo on April 13rd, 2020 at 21:07 UTC »
I understand the right to assemble and worship but clearly there is a reason to avoid large gatherings right now. If not to avoid death but to avoid the unnecessary strain on healthcare workers. Even if you do contract the virus and make a full recovery we can avoid using up resources. It's another unfortunate loss I hope that community takes this seriously.