It was overflow parking and standing room only as Springfield Baptist kicked off a three-day dedication celebration series May 3-4 for its home at the 43-acre Iris Drive campus in Conyers with nationally reknown guest preacher Bishop T.D. Jakes on Friday.

Bishop T.D. Jakes, advisor to three presidents and called the next Billy Graham, spoke on Friday, May 2, 7 p.m. Attendees began lining up as early as 2 p.m.

At least 3,000 filled the main sanctuary and overflow seating filled the lobby and the Springfield ministries building next door. Parking filled the entire parking lot, which is used by GRTA during the weekday for a park and ride location, and the sports fields behind the building.

Here are a few scenes from Friday night.

Bishop Walter Scott Thomas will preach May 3, 11 a.m.

SBC Head Pastor Eric W. Lee will give the Sunday, May 4 services, 7:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. A ground breaking ceremony will be held Sunday,10 a.m. to dedicate its new home.

Springfield Baptist Church officially signed on the dotted line and closed on the $12-million, 25-year purchase of its property on Iris Drive next to Interstate 20.

The property, previously owned by Church in the Now, had initially been posted at $18.8 million in 2011 when it went into foreclosure.

Springfield Baptist, a 132-year-old church that began on the banks of the Yellow River in Newton County, entered into an agreement with the mortgage holder, Evangelical Christian Credit Union, in 2012 and moved from SBC's former facilities on Old Salem Road to this property on Easter weekend 2012.

Springfield Baptist raised more than $2.3 million in pledges during its "G.L.O.R.Y." capital campaign over the past several years. Those who donated $1,000 above regular tithes had a brick dedicated in their honor, with a symbolic pile of bricks occupying space next to the pulpit until all the money was raised.

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