Norcross Church Could Soon Join National List Of 'Hate Groups'

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Strong Hold Baptisy Church in Norcross could soon be labeled as a 'Hate Group' by the Southern Poverty Law Center after a number of anti-LGBT sermons given by pastor David Berzins were uploaded to Youtube.

CONTENT WARNING: This audio piece includes a section of a sermon that contains anti-LGBT slurs and  language [from 0:32 to 0:53]. Listener discretion is advised.

Across the nation, many in the Christian community are discussing the relationship between the Bible and sexual identity.

Here in Atlanta, Jamal Bryant is the pastor of New Birth Missionary Baptist Church. He has compared being gay to drug addiction and referred to homosexuality as a “rebellion” against God.

And in Norcross, David Berzins is pastor of Strong Hold Baptist Church. Berzins has repeatedly spoken out against the LGBT community, even saying that homosexuals "deserve the death penalty."GPB Morning Edition host Leah Fleming speaks with pastor David Berzins and Heidi Beirich of the SPLC

The Southern Poverty Law Center may soon designate Berzins’ church as a ‘hate group' in next year's nationwide count.

GPB's Leah Fleming speaks with Berzins about his controversial message and Heidi Beirich of the SPLC's Intelligence Project to learn how the group identifies and classifies hate groups.

EDITOR'S NOTE: This post has been updated with a content warning for anti-LGBT language used by pastor Berzins during a recent sermon.