By January 1991, New Birth had dedicated a facility worth over $2 million to the glory of God, a testament to the church’s growth. Reflecting on his journey, Reverend Long shared, ‘God had to teach me and grow me. As I’m growing, the congregation is growing. Now, he’s giving me more responsibility. God said, ‘I’ve sheltered you, and you were the preacher; now you’ve been here five years, and I have taught you many things. Now, you are the pastor. Be pastor.” Reverend Long’s commitment to breaking religious traditions and teaching the word of God shaped the church’s identity as ‘The Church That Shares and Cares.’

New Birth was cited as the fastest-growing church in North America the following year, and many new ministries were born, including the opening of a New Birth Christian School, Faith Academy, known as New Birth Christian Academy. The school opened by welcoming kindergarten through third-grade students with plans to expand each year.

The church theme for 1993, “Vision to Victory,” as explained by Reverend Long, represented their purpose to do ministry throughout the community and the country.

The next five years would see an unprecedented growth of new members and new ministries. In His sovereignty, God chose New Birth as a major forerunner for the body of Christ and appropriately appointed its powerful leader, Reverend Eddie L. Long; each year, he unveiled a different theme as he received vision and divine direction from God. Subsequently, as he followed God’s will, New Birth’s favor grew with man and with God, from glory to glory.

In 1994, the new theme, “Taking Authority,” was adopted based on Matthew 16:19. The year began with an unforgettable service: On Wednesday, January 13, Reverend Long was consecrated as the third presiding Bishop of the Full Gospel Baptist Church Fellowship. This historic period was the year Bishop Long introduced the community to Project Destiny (formally Project Impact), a comprehensive family restoration program that provides services to youth and their families who are challenged by the demands of their environment.

Bishop Long expanded his ministry through television in 1994 and began the “New Birth News” broadcast on a local television network.

Bishop Long ushered in the theme “Building God a House” in 1995, based on Psalm 127:1. “New Birth News” gave way to the weekly, Emmy Award winning “Taking Authority” broadcast, which aired internationally on several networks, reaching over 170 countries. That year, Bishop Long led New Birth in a bold stance for God when he publicly challenged the Muslim-led million-man march. 

After Building God a House, it was time to set it in order. Ezekiel 43:10 inspired the theme for 1996: “Setting the House in Order.” This year saw a myriad of Spirit-filled messages by Bishop Long released as audio and video series, one of which still claims the highest number of sales in the New Birth Media Book Store: “I Don’t Want Delilah, I Need You.” Bishop Long was obedient to God in setting the house in order, the church received tremendous favor and was able to purchase 170 acres of prime property worth over $10 million for only $3 million. During a caravan to the new land, Bishop Long stated, “God spoke to me in reference to putting the church in order, that it would become His church and not man’s church. God said, ‘Upon this rock I will build my church, and the very gates of hell will not prevail against it.’ (Matthew 16:17–19). So whatever hell threw up, it could not stand because it was God’s movement.

1997, Bishop Long’s 10th anniversary year brought a growth in membership to over 18,000. Early in the year, New Birth and several area churches opened a joint credit union, the South Dekalb Church Federal Credit Union. Later that year after selling the 170 acres acquired in 1996, the church made a profit of $11 million. With this profit, they were able to purchase over 240 acres for a new multimillion-dollar church complex, pay off church debt and deposit $2 million in the bank.

These major achievements were a perfect representation of God’s favor and befitting of the new theme, “Thy Kingdom Come,” based on Matthew 6:10. Growing from a newspaper into a magazine, the “New Birth Voice” captured these and many other blessings bestowed upon New Birth.

Though experiencing much favor with God, the New Birth family still had to go higher and higher in Him. In 1998, they were led by Bishop Long to “Launch Out Into the Deep,” based on a sermon from Luke 5:4. New Birth reached out to the world through all forms of media, including commercials, international television and radio broadcasts, and a new book was published by Bishop Long, “I Don’t Want Delilah, I Need You.” Bishop Long spoke to members of the Georgia State Senate and prayed for the United States House of Representatives, and New Birth always welcomed candidates in local elections. God was expanding the ministry of New Birth throughout the country, so His glory would be revealed to all. On October 17 thousands of members rejoiced at the official groundbreaking ceremony for the new church complex, and building plans were underway.

“It’s On In ’99!” This exciting theme was a testament to the whirlwind of blessing and growth for New Birth in 1999. Membership grew to over 23,000 members. Bishop Long wrote a new book, “Taking Over,” and God elevated New Birth to a new level in its ministry outside the four walls of the church, even as far as Japan and Africa.

Also, in October of 1999, the New Birth family celebrated the grand opening of its new Family Life Center on October 4 and 5, located on the current New Birth Stonecrest campus. The center served as a temporary worship site while construction of the new sanctuary complex continued. After the sanctuary was complete, the Family Life Center operated as a fitness facility called the Samson Health & Fitness Center. Member benefits include concierge lifestyle and sports nutrition, month-to-month memberships, personal training, group fitness and aerobics, spinning and cycling classes, one-on-one and group fitness, and weight loss consultation.