Megachurches to fill huge venues on Easter

On Sunday, tens of thousands of worshippers are expected to fill the Georgia Dome for what is being billed as the country?s largest Easter service ? and certainly one of the most extravagant.

The insignia of suburban Atlanta?s New Birth Missionary Baptist Church will loom large over the crowd, which organizers estimate will swell to 40,000, including most of the church?s 25,000 members and thousands of homeless and poor who are offered free haircuts, hot showers and new clothes on site.

Those who attend the four-hour event will celebrate one of Christianity?s holiest days against the backdrop of a thunderous 500-voice choir and deafening applause likened to a pep rally.

?We turn the Georgia Dome into a huge church. … It is a production,? said Lee May, an 11-year member of New Birth, referring to the annual service held in the home of the NFL?s Atlanta Falcons.

New Birth is one of the few churches in the country with a congregation large enough to fill a stadium. The Potter?s House in Dallas also will hold its first Easter service at Reunion Arena, former home of the NBA?s Dallas Mavericks. Organizers of that celebration are predicting 20,000 worshippers.

For both of these so-called megachurches, the services are a rare opportunity for their massive congregations to meet under one roof at the same time, and for them to worship alongside the less fortunate ? many of whom watch wide-eyed at the extravaganza.

?It?s easy to get caught up in the fanfare, and you can really see that a lot of people get into all of that. But it helps bring people to the church,? May said.

As part of its Easter Sunday outreach, New Birth has given more than $500,000 in services and goods to the Atlanta area?s homeless since 1994, said Bishop Eddie Long, the church?s senior pastor.