Pastor Jamal Bryant calls for arrest of man who disrupted service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church

Atlanta — A man walked into the sanctuary during a Sunday service at New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia in mid‑January and disrupted the worship, WSB‑TV reported. His companion filmed the encounter as he shouted denunciations at congregants.

Pastor Jamal Bryant, who leads the megachurch, now urges authorities to pursue an arrest. He argues the episode crossed the line of freedom to worship. A freedom the current administration wants to defend.

One week ago, federal agents arrested several people who organized, participated, or documented an anti‑ICE protest at a church in Minnesota. Bryant says the contrast raises serious questions about equal enforcement.

A Confrontation Inside a New Birth Missionary Raises Questions About Enforcement

The viral video shows a white man, who Bryant says is as an evangelical street preacher, standing near the sanctuary entrance. He filmed himself while accusing the congregation of moral failure and criticizing Bryant. Church security removed him, and the service resumed without injuries.

A Call for Equal Application of Federal Protections for New Birth

On his Let’s Be Clear podcast, Bryant described the incident as a deliberate intrusion into a sacred space. He said the man and his wife entered the church “for propaganda and disturbance” and used language he called hate speech.

Bryant also questioned why federal officials have not responded with the same urgency they showed in Minnesota. He pointed to comments from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, who said the Justice Department would enforce the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, which also covers interference with religious services.

Bondi’s remarks followed a protest at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minn. Federal agents later charged those who organized or participated in the anti‑ICE demonstration. They also charged independent journalists Don Lemon and Georgia Fort, as well as a college student who assisted with media coverage. Federal officials described the Minnesota event as a coordinated disruption, which drew criticism from press‑freedom advocates.

Concerns Rooted in a Long History of Threats Against Black Churches

Bryant said the New Birth incident fits a long pattern of threats against Black churches. He cited attacks ranging from Civil Rights‑era bombings to the 2015 massacre at Mother Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, where nine worshippers were killed during Bible study.

“This is not about disagreement,” Bryant said. “It is about safety.”

Identity of the Preacher Remains Unknown

Authorities have not identified the man in the video, and it remains unclear whether a formal investigation has begun. Bryant continues to press for action, saying equal enforcement is essential if federal officials intend to protect all houses of worship.