Allegations this week of sexual misconduct against a leading mega-church pastor in suburban Atlanta rocked the congregation, the evangelical community, and the city.  At Sunday morning worship, the pastor broke his silence.

Thousands gathered at the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Ga., to hear what he had to say.

“There have been allegations and attacks made on me,” Long said during his sermon. “I have never in my life portrayed myself as a perfect man. But I am not that man that’s being portrayed on the television.”

Long spoke for at least 15 minutes during each at both the 8am and 11am services, using the same speech. He never acknowledged the four young men and he never specifically denied any accusations laid out in the lawsuits.

Members started arriving for service before the sun came up at the sprawling campus 16 miles east of Atlanta. Drivers honked and cheered after the service ended, showing their support for Long. Others sold T-shirts reading “innocent until proven guilty.”

The pastor’s words left others unconvinced of his innocence.

“He said he’s going to stay in fight, he said he has five stones and he hasn’t thrown one yet, but I didn’t believe him.” said Karen Overstreet as she left the 8AM service. “I’m sorry, I’m not here to hurt him or throw him under the bus, but in my spirit and in my heart, I didn’t believe him.”

The first two accusers filed lawsuits in court on Tuesday, a third Wednesday and another came forward Friday, making the number of young men alleging inappropriate behavior at four. The suits accuse Long of giving them expensive jewelry, international trips and cars in exchange for sexual touching and kissing.