Tweet Purports 'A Friend' Will Bail Out Auction-Bound Harlem Hate Church

As donations pour in to turn the auction block-bound Atlah World Missionary Church's property in Harlem into a shelter for homeless LGBT youth, notorious "Harlem Hate Pastor" Rev. James Manning hinted on Twitter that his cash-strapped organization may have a white knight in the wings who will bail the church out on its mountain of debt.

As reported by EDGE last week, Rev. Manning's Atlah Worldwide Church, famous for its church sign that posts such inflammatory messages as "Jesus would stone homos," is scheduled to be put up for public auction in February due to unpaid debts in excess of $1.02 million. The news brought cheers from the both the LGBT community and local Harlemites who have long protested the church's anti-gay message.

Perhaps none were happier about the news of the hate church's demise than the leadership of homeless and at risk LGBT youth organization the Ali Forney Center, who immediately set up an online donation page to raise $200,000 needed to secure the church's property. As of this writing, two days into their fundraising efforts, AFC garnered over $90,000 in donations.

However, while the donations have been pouring in to AFC, Atlah hinted on social media Saturday, that the church may not be headed to the auction block after all.

No announcements were made about this alleged donation following services Sunday. EDGE reached out to Atlah for details on the donation. Our message remains unanswered.

Of the $1.02 million owed by Manning's church are nine federal tax liens that amount to more than $355,000 dating back to 2002. He also owes New York State more than $28,000. Records show he owes more then $30,000 to other creditors. The city's Department of Environmental Protection lists the unpaid water bill as $194,000.

A public auction of the property is scheduled to take place on February 24.

"When the ATLAH story broke on Thursday, immediately I heard from neighbors: Wouldn't it be amazing if an LGBT group could acquire the property?" Stacy Parker Le Melle of Harlem's "Love Not Hate" movement told theHuffington Post on Friday . "What if it were the Ali Forney Center? We all knew that this would be poetic justice. We need to care for those kicked out of homes, often on religious-based grounds. We need to care for those most vulnerable to ATLAH's hate speech."

Donations can be made online on the Ali Forney Center's website.