The controversial pastor Eddie Long, leader of the nation's largest megachurches, passed away at the mere age of 63. Funeral services for Bishop Long will commence on Jan. 25 at 11 a.m.

Elder Craig Heath made the announcement during an early morning international prayer service for the late Bishop. The service will be held at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia. The members of the church, who started and ended the service with song, were all emotional throughout the service. The leaders present were clearly saddened by the loss of one of the most influential pastors in the institution.

At the prayer call, Heath told the church members that Long's funeral service will be an opportunity to celebrate his life, legacy, sacrifice, and service.

For the uninitiated, the preacher is best known for his firm stance on same-sex marriage, and his infamous march against it.

Although the charismatic pastor might not have always looked the part, the 25,000 members of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church celebrate him for persuading the youth, particularly the aimless rebellious teens, to attend church. His relations with the youth, however, eventually led to his downfall.

CNN describes the late pastor as a paradox. Long condemned homosexuality yet he faced and settled lawsuits against four young men who claimed to have been coerced into doing sexual relations with him. The youth were all members of the church. The terms of the settlement were never revealed to the public. In addition, the pastor was known for giving lavish donations to charities and people in need, yet he was investigated by Congress when the charity he founded was paying for his grand lifestyle.

Despite his setbacks, the church still chooses to see the pastor as a charismatic, giving, and humbling man.

Long succumbed to an aggressive form of cancer that he had battled for years, the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church said in a statement. He is survived by his wife, four children, and three grandchildren.