Rev. Jamal Bryant has scheduled the first drive-in service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church on Pentecost Sunday today. Now he’s billing it as a “parking lot protest.”
He’s asking people to wear white to the service at the Dekalb County Church.
The death of Georgia Floyd and the protests around the country and in Atlanta have impacted the church pastor.
"This was deja vu for me," said Bryant, who moved to Atlanta from Baltimore. "I felt like I was living the Freddie Gray experience all over again." The protests are showing the extent of young people's "unbridled rage and disappointment."
He said there is a wedge between the civil rights generation and the black lives matter generation. While the civil rights generation saw progress and change, the Black Lives Matter generation hasn't, he said citing the lack of charges or convictions in cases of Tamir rice, Michael brown and Trayvon Martin.
The service begins at 9:30 a.m. and is being streamed live on the church's website, social media sites and on Praise 102.5.
This Sunday is recognized as Pentecost Sunday, which marks the day when the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles.
Congregants can watch the live service from inside their vehicles. There will be projection screens and speakers throughout the parking lot.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, New Birth has been livestreaming instead of holding in-person services.
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