Despite highly publicized plan to spend three days in a coffin, La. bishop opts for tent instead

SHREVEPORT - Instead of sealing himself in a casket for the next three days, a Baptist minister will spend Friday and Saturday night in a makeshift tomb.

For days, Sunrise Baptist Church in Shreveport has been posting on Twitter and Facebook about Bishop Rickey Moore's plan to lock himself in a coffin on the afternoon of Good Friday and remain there until Sunday - Easter - as part of his congregation's observance of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

The Crucifixion and Realsurection in 3D only at Sunrise BC. Shreveport la. 3220 lakeshore dr. 1:00pm pic.twitter.com/yIv3AtWVAd — Bishop Rickey Moore (@BishopRickeyMo2) March 21, 2016

But, as the ceremony was set to begin Friday afternoon, the church revealed Bishop Moore will stay in the tomb, which is built out of braces and cloth, until Sunday morning. A man who answered the phone at the church and identified himself as a member of the clergy but provided no name said the coffin publicity was not a hoax, but was only a secondary plan should the outdoor tomb idea not work because of weather issues.

There is no electricity in the tomb, but the clergyman was unsure about food, water or how Bishop Moore would relieve himself.

The entrance to the tomb is blocked with a homemade stone. Guards will stand beside the tomb, similar to what is depicted in the Bible.

Originally, the church promoted Bishop Moore's plan as a way to get people's attention and share God's message. Despite the church saying Friday the coffin was only a precautionary measure in the event weather forced the bishop from his outdoor show, it has spent days building an audience and showing the coffin.

"[Bishop Moore] will stay, physically stay, in this casket; two o'clock in the morning, want to drive by, five o'clock in the morning, want to drive by... he's still there," a church official said in a video posted to Twitter.

Bishop will be sealed in this coffin for 3 days, To.see the Resurrection and Crucifixion in 3D, Good Friday 1:00pm pic.twitter.com/jPTqATeOFz — Bishop Rickey Moore (@BishopRickeyMo2) March 21, 2016

A real life depiction of the events Christians believe Jesus endured was set to begin at 1 p.m., but a Shreveport area TV station reported the event started late. Services continue Easter Sunday. Bishop Moore is set to leave the tomb at 3 a.m. Sunday.

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