Hot News: Juanita Bynum beaten by husband

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REV. JUANITA BYNUM 'SAVAGELY' BEATEN BY BISHOP THOMAS WEEKS

Famed televangelist suffers domestic abuse from minister husband.

August 23, 2007
It was only yesterday in EUR's Gospel Pages that we broke the news of 48-year-old Juanita Bynum playing the part of a twenty something TV producer in the upcoming movie "Mama I Want to Sing."

Now comes the news that the televangelist, known for her fiery and frank sermons about women's empowerment have won her a national following, got the crap beat out of her by her husband who's also a minister!

Atlanta police say Bynum, became the victim of domestic abuse after her husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, savagely beat her in a hotel parking lot Tuesday night-Wednesday morning.

It has also come to light that Rev. Bynum and Bishop Weeks are in the middle of a separation. Apparently the two agreed to meet in the dining room of the Renaissance Hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson airport to try and work out their differences.

The meeting reportedly did not go well and ended with Bishop Weeks leaving abruptly. Reverend Bynum followed him to the parking lot where the two exchanged words, says a Bynum relative.

Then, according to an Atlanta Police Department report, Weeks allegedly attacked her. In a statement to police, Bynum said Weeks, "choked her, pushed her down, kicked her and stomped her in the Renaissance parking lot."

A bellhop at the hotel saw the attack, stepped in and stopped it, says officer Ron Campbell of the APD.

Rev. Bynum was taken to a local hospital and treated for multiple bruises and swelling. She's being kept an undisclosed location.

At EUR press time, police were searching for Bishop Thomas Weeks.



Husband attacks evangelist Bynum in parking lot
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Juanita Bynum, a preacher whose fiery and frank sermons about women's empowerment have won her a national following, was attacked by her husband in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel early Wednesday morning, police said.

Bynum, whose ministry is based in Waycross, and her estranged husband, Thomas W. Weeks III, had met up at Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to try to reconcile, Atlanta police said.

But while at the parking lot about 4 a.m., the two got into a physical fight until a bellman at the hotel pulled Bynum's husband off her, Officer Ronald Campbell said.

"She was bruised up and battered," Campbell said. "She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso."

The husband, who is also a preacher, left the scene. No charges have been filed against him, according to police.

Police found out about the fray from a staff member at Piedmont Hospital, where Bynum was taken for a checkup. She could not be reached Wednesday night.

A popular Pentecostal evangelist, Bynum lives in Hempstead, N.Y., but her administrative offices are in Waycross. She is open about her past, freely talking about sex and being on welfare, hospitalized with a mental breakdown, divorced and spiritually broken.

Once a homemaker, a hairdresser and a flight attendant, Bynum's big break came when Bishop T.D. Jakes invited her to speak at one of his conferences several years ago. Her ministry took off a couple of years later after she gave her unrehearsed "No More Sheets" sermon on breaking free of sexual promiscuity at a singles event.

Since then, she has parlayed her tough-love evangelism into a one-woman industry, writing several best-selling books, recording inspirational CDs and preaching to millions through televised sermons.

She has been a regular at Megafest, Jakes' four-day festival of worship, music, education and praise that drew thousands every year it took place in Atlanta.

Her 2002 wedding to Weeks, who started the Global Destiny churches nationwide, was televised and, according to media reports, featured a gown with a bodice covered in crystals and a 7.76-carat diamond ring.


Evangelist's Husband Surrenders

Early Friday, the husband of popular evangelist Juanita Bynum turned himself in to police to face charges of beating his wife outside an Atlanta hotel.

Thomas W. Weeks III is also a minister -- and his attorneys said there are two sides to the story, and that it is not as cut and dry as police have suggested.

Weeks was accompanied by his lawyer when he surrendered at the Fulton County Jail, said Atlanta Police spokesman James Polite.

After being photographed and fingerprinted, Weeks was expected to be released on bail, Polite said.

Weeks faces charges of aggravated assault and terroristic threats following a confrontation in which he left his estranged wife badly bruised, Atlanta police said.

Police said the fight was so bad that a doorman at the hotel had to step in and stop it. But apparently, it was not Bynum who initiated the charges. Hospital workers called police who then proceeded with the case.

The 2002 televised wedding between Juanita Bynum and Thomas Weeks III was an opulent affair that heralded what had become a global ministry for the two popular pastors.

Bynum's ministry has been celebrated for its empowerment of women.

But now, pictures as shown on TMZ.com purport to show the injuries Bynum sustained at the hands of her husband.

"We took warrants out on him today for aggravated and terroristic threats," said Ron Campbell of the Atlanta Police Department. "Both counts are felonies."

Police said the couple had come to a restaurant at a hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to hammer out their marital problems. But at 4 a.m. Wednesday, something went terribly wrong.

"They got into an argument, and as they were walking through the parking lot, he started to choke her, pushed her down, began to kick her, and stomp her," said Campbell.

Weeks' attorneys said there are two sides to the story, but only one in his heart.

"He wanted his wife to know that he loves her very much and that he is grief stricken over the circumstances that he finds himself in," said attorney Ed Garland.

Marriage counseling has been a big part of Weeks' appeal, even as he fights to save his own marriage.

"As far as we know, no divorce has been filed," said Garland. "The bishop has no intention of filing for divorce. Again, he loves his wife he wants that to be a known fact."

Bynum issued a statement on her MySpace page on Thursday.

"I am recovering from all of my injuries and resting well," the statement said. "There are so many great things happening for me in my future, and so much to look forward to concerning my destiny, this too shall pass."

She and her husband pastor the Global Destiny International Center in Duluth, but the church has congregations from California to London.

[escaladebmrman]

this don't make any sense, he is a coward to the tenth degree, if i was anywhere near him, i would punch his lights out for hitting a lady, If it is over between you two, then leave amicably,

[wsburke]

Bishop Thomas W. Weeks, III has a well known father in (Thomas W. Weeks, Sr.) Wilmington, DE who is also a Bishop and has his own church named "New Destiny". I wonder what is mother and father are thinking?

[audaciousred]

It is a darn shame that this happened. How can a man think that he can hit a woman, and he had nothing to do with her birth? Maybe we need a committee of Known "Real Men" teaching classes on all to men up.

This has nothing to do with the church, it has to do with the people. I was thought that there are always 3 sides to every story; yours, mine and the truth. People - where is the love for self, for others? I must say though, when he left abruptly, she should not have followed. Not excusing his actions, just want to say 'self perservation first"

[Sandi]

It's ashame that she was beaten by her husband who is suppose to be a man of God. I just hope that people don't start assuming that all religious men are like that. It's unfortunate that she was beaten and my prayers go out to her. However, it seems like Mike always takes an opportunity and uses just about every topic to bash on religious people. Okay, I respect that he's not a religious person, but, he doesn't have to bash on those who are. I understand that they are some phony relgious people but not all. He seems to be for porn stars and everyone who is into sex, but not for religious people. This doesn't send a good message to our young people who are now listening to his show. He was even glorifying nudist.

When I see religious men like Reverend Run from Run's House and what good examples he is setting has a husband, father and a man in general, it brings joy to my heart to see that some religous men are applyin the bible in their lives. So you can see that when a man of God really loves God and apply what the bible says in his life, he would love and cherish his wife and not beat her.

[Dream On]

Originally Posted by audaciousred

I must say though, when he left abruptly, she should not have followed. Not excusing his actions, just want to say 'self perservation first"

I totally agree. When he left abruptly she should have went the other way. He obviously needed time to cool off. Like you I'm not excusing his action but sometimes, as women when need to step back and let that man cool down.

[NmyPrime]

He needs to re-read his own book ~~ Teach me how to love you

[Sinceresista]

In response to Sandi and In Michael's defense (even though he doesn't need my help) I don't think this post has anything to do with his religious beliefs, i believe he is informing the public of what happens in the lives of men and women, whether they are "people of the cloth" or not. The sad reality is, that it happens and it's time that we stop sweeping these things under the rug and deal with them.

[kennedyjones]

Seriously anything can happen to anyone of us. So we needn't be shocked at this story bc they are Pastors. None of us know what goes on in our fellow church members' or leaders' homes. It goes on everywhere! We should be outraged for ALL instances, not just well known victims or abusers! WHAT ABOUT NAIMA AND RAY? OR JESSICA AND PAUL? OR ABDUL AND SHAEEDA?

I am not condoning physical abuse in any form.....

But I will say this.. man puleez!!!! I reckognize that men are (in most cases) stronger than women. But I tell you what...I might be in the hospital longer than the man who puts his hands on me.. but he will visit the facility as well AS A PATIENT !!

It is a hurtful thing. My prayers out to all who are involved!

ADDENDUM: Unless we were there or a significant part of the marriage we don't know the events that lead up to or the truth of the event that actually took place. Let us remember that as we formulate our opinions about other people's lives.

[Sandi]

And in my defense, I've been listening to Mike for 4 years and he turns every topic into a religious bashing topic. One time he was talking about kids who are not reading and he said that its the church's fault. Come on. what kind of nonsens is this. If Mike can keep it real with us, we can keep it real with him. Don't get me wrong, I do like some of his topics, but sometimes he goes overboard with his bashing of christians. I am sure that religious men are not the only ones who beat on women, but we only have a post about a minister. Yesterday, they were talking about the Jena 6 incident, and it turned into a minister bashing show.

Originally Posted by Sinceresista

In response to Sandi and In Michael's defense (even though he doesn't need my help) I don't think this post has anything to do with his religious beliefs, i believe he is informing the public of what happens in the lives of men and women, whether they are "people of the cloth" or not. The sad reality is, that it happens and it's time that we stop sweeping these things under the rug and deal with them.