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Post by heaven on Nov 14, 2008 17:07:53 GMT -5
Bishop Weeks Evicted From Gwinnett County Church
DULUTH, Ga. -- Bishop Thomas Weeks III, the man who split from televangelist Juanita Bynum in a very public divorce earlier this year, was evicted Friday from his Gwinnett County church.
Sheriff's deputies carried out the eviction while a church convocation was in progress at Weeks' Global Destiny Ministries, located at 4830 Rivergreen Parkway. With congregation members by his side, Weeks was forced to leave Global Destiny Ministries’ Duluth campus.
“They have been told to leave the property,” said Stacey Bourbonnais, with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office. “We will secure the building, inventory the property, then sell up to the judgment amount.”
Documents filed in state court in Gwinnett County showed Weeks and the church owe $511,842 to the owners of the buildings.
“It’s difficult in terms of the emotion,” said Weeks. “For almost three years, I have put in 16-18 hour days here on this campus, traveling worldwide, building it for the Kingdom.”
The church had been operating out of two suites at the office complex.
"We're not the only church going through this financial situation," Weeks said.
An hour earlier, Gwinnett County sheriff’s deputies rolled in to serve two eviction notices.
Weeks explained to Channel 2’s Rachel Kim one of the reasons he believed the operation fell on tough times. “There were some members that left because of a situation well-known in Atlanta. Our congregation went from 3,000 to 300,” said Weeks.
Bynum and Weeks married in 2002 in an elaborate ceremony. They built Global Destiny Ministries in Duluth together before their relationship fizzled.
On Aug. 21, 2007, Weeks attacked Bynum in the parking lot of the Renaissance Concourse Hotel in Atlanta after the couple met to discuss their problems. They had been separated since spring 2007.
Weeks pleaded guilty in March to aggravated assault in the attack on his wife. He was sentenced as a first offender, given three years of probation and ordered to attend anger management classes and perform 200 hours of community service.
They finalized their divorce in June of this year.
Weeks said after the couple’s problems were thrown into the spotlight, church members left and there was no way to pay the bills.
"At one point, it cost $450,000 a month to run the operation," said Weeks. "We resized it to about $110,000 monthly," he said.
Weeks said he had hoped to stop the eviction.
"We had several pledges coming in the next couple of days and unfortunately they didn't arrive so we could go ahead and pay the last of what we needed to pay to stop the process," he said.
Weeks asked the community to pray for all church leaders during the difficult economic times.
“We’re looking forward to making the adjustment and moving to a bigger and brighter day where all of our debt is paid,” said Weeks.
Weeks said he has three other church locations currently operating debt free in London, Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles.
"We're looking forward to making our Atlanta location debt free as well," he said.
I know that was embarrassing. They evicted Him doing His annual Birth Out Conference.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 14, 2008 17:09:19 GMT -5
Let's pray for Bro. Weeks and for those who are still affected by this whole situation.
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Post by heaven on Nov 14, 2008 17:21:22 GMT -5
Let's pray for Bro. Weeks and for those who are still affected by this whole situation. Yes cause everybody that works for him, they don't have a job now. He should have canceled the conference and been preparing everybody for this. It's not like he didnt know it was going to happen, He knew He didn't have the money to pay. If you go to wsbtv.com. They have pictures of everybody having to leave out of the building. |
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Post by stillfocused on Nov 14, 2008 17:31:31 GMT -5
No, they are not the only church facing this matter. I believe that this season is a time for the body of Christ to really learn how to be better stewards of our financial matters and get those matters settled before many of things that will be transferred can be transferred.
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Post by heaven on Nov 14, 2008 17:39:47 GMT -5
No, they are not the only church facing this matter. I believe that this season is a time for the body of Christ to really learn how to be better stewards of our financial matters and get those matters settled before many of things that will be transferred can be transferred. Yes, but Bishop Weeks has been knowing this every since they first separated. So he should have been preparing them for this. It's not fair for everyone to have to loose their job and not have a place to worship because of him. |
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 14, 2008 17:54:44 GMT -5
Do we know for sure that he hasn't prepared everyone for this?
wouldn't the accountants know this? How about those that work in the payroll dept?
How about the others that receive the mail?
Who received the 1st notice that was on the door?
Or is Bro. Weeks the accountant, payroll person, mail room clerk and all other positions that would have been notified of this matter?
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Post by anointedteacher on Nov 14, 2008 21:01:56 GMT -5
My heartarche... this is sad....
He should have moved to a smaller facility that hold may be 500 and build his self up again.
ASWSOY, His enter circle may have known and was doing what some of us try to do... stand on the Word of God.... Believing God for a Miracle.... No negative talk, all positive.... speak it into existence and Birth-out a mircle.... all along God may have been telling him to move and pastor a smaller congregation and get back to the basic or sit down.... I don't know, but I hate the fact that he was evicted right in front of the congregation. I pray God's perfect Will be done in this situation.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 14, 2008 22:18:34 GMT -5
AT,
That could very well be true as you know how spiritual we can become at times.
The point of my post was that I didn't want this to become a Bro. Weeks bashing for we really need to move on from that and pray for healing and as you said:
.
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Post by anointedteacher on Nov 14, 2008 22:56:49 GMT -5
AT, That could very well be true as you know how spiritual we can become at times. The point of my post was that I didn't want this to become a Bro. Weeks bashing for we really need to move on from that and pray for healing and as you said: . It that suppose to mean  |
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Post by keita on Nov 16, 2008 11:30:41 GMT -5
(((((((Calling "Drs." I.V. and Bridget Hilliard!!!!!!!)))))))
(((((((STAT!))))))) Maybe they can help TW with his foreclosure issues in the same way they did JB with hers. He's absolutely right about that. For example, former pastors and now divorced couple Randy and Paula White's "Without Walls" church is facing foreclosure also. "Archbishop" Earl Paulk's church is now up for sale, as well. Like many, I have been long expecting this season for (especially the mega type) churches and ministries, and I believe we're going to be seeing A LOT more of this type of action during this time. Amen... Amen... And AMEN. LOL! I don't interpret tongues but that sure sounds like "Shut up and pray." to me. Can't go wrong with that.  I would also caution that we cease from all unrighteous judgment of and are very careful to take NO (not even "secret") pleasure in the fall and distress of our brothers and sisters in Christ. That is, unless we want some of the same at "our houses" (of all 3 kinds) too.   
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Post by keita on Nov 16, 2008 13:29:47 GMT -5
from:
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Friday, November 14, 2008
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, the leader of Global Destiny International Ministries, held services elsewhere Friday after his Duluth church was evicted from its campus Friday afternoon.
“He hasn’t made any payments at all since July of this year,” said Stephanie Friese, attorney for Grimes-Square Executive, Inc. “The landlord did try to work out something with him.”
Bishop Thomas Weeks’ church in Duluth was evicted after the landlord said he did not pay rent since June.Friese said the bishop owes more than $400,000 in rent and fees.
Eviction proceedings were initiated against Weeks in early October. According to court documents, Weeks tried unsuccessfully to delay the eviction.
A sheriff’s deputy came to the church campus Friday to carry out the eviction. The campus includes business offices and a church.
Church officials said late Friday Weeks was still planning to hold worship services later that night. Church members were scheduled to meet outside of Global Destiny at 6:30 p.m. and then go elsewhere.
Weeks’ divorce attorney Randy Kessler said he was unaware of the eviction. “I’m sure he will land on his feet if that is indeed the case,” Kessler said. “He always does.”
Weeks has long battled financial problems. During his stormy marriage to national evangelist Juanita Bynum, he faced several civil lawsuits for past-due accounts — including possible eviction from his church.
Weeks said in February Global Destiny Church had lost 1,600 of its 3,400 members after he attacked Bynum in an Atlanta hotel parking lot in 2007, but membership was on the rebound.
According to Gwinnett County Civil Court records, Friese filed an eviction notice on Aug. 23, 2007. Court records show Weeks owed $50,555 in back rent for his church .That case was later dropped after a payment arrangement was reached.
This time the landlord and Weeks could not come to an agreement.
“He never offered a set amount of money,” Friese said. So his church is shut tight. “The possession is now with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.”
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Post by heaven on Nov 16, 2008 17:51:45 GMT -5
He owes way more than she did. Over $400,000, He gone need a couple of people. And He has other people and companies suing him too.
When I read that and it said that He hadn't even bothered to make any payment arrangements with the landlord, that was a red flag to me. The landlord was willing to work with him like He did the first time. The fact that he didn't tells me something else is going on. And that he hasn't bothered to pay anything since June. If I was a member I would want to know what He's been doing with the money. The rent should have been the first thing payed.
I hate to bring this up, but a lot of what Juanita said happened is proving itself true. Like when she said he asked about her tithes. I believe that because they were about to be evicted from the church and he needed that money.
He needs to tell the church the truth and let them know what's really going on.
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Post by And Such Were Some Of You on Nov 16, 2008 18:32:19 GMT -5
He owes way more than she did. Over $400,000, He gone need a couple of people. And He has other people and companies suing him too. When I read that and it said that He hadn't even bothered to make any payment arrangements with the landlord, that was a red flag to me. The landlord was willing to work with him like He did the first time. The fact that he didn't tells me something else is going on. And that he hasn't bothered to pay anything since June. If I was a member I would want to know what He's been doing with the money. The rent should have been the first thing payed. I believe you misread sis: This sounds to me that he and the landlord did in fact speak but a workable agreement could not be found. Based on this: tells me that there was a certain way that the landlord was looking for Bro. Weeks to pay and that amount was not stated. Again we should be careful of speculating what Bro. Weeks intention was. Also, it is easy to say that the rent should have been the first thing to be paid, but as one who has been evicted, it is not always that easy. Also, who are we to judge? He made it no secret that he needed money. However, she DID. She never admitted (that I can remember) that she needed money - but she has not stopped doing all of these little things to obtain money. The latest being to pay to read her diary! What is it that the church doesn't know? Since he married (and later divorced) Sis. Bynum, his business has been laid out there. What more is there to tell? Also, he was in money trouble prior to the marriage, so again, what more is there to tell? |
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Post by heaven on Nov 16, 2008 19:53:32 GMT -5
He does have some explaining to do like what has he been using the churches money for since he hasn't been paying the rent since june. And what other bills has he not paid? If I was a member I would be asking these questions which i'm sure some of them are.
He needs to have a meeting with the church and lay everything out there so they will know what's going on and what to expect. Just telling them i'm going to fix it ain't gone work.
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Post by anointedteacher on Nov 16, 2008 21:56:16 GMT -5
He does have some explaining to do like what has he been using the churches money for since he hasn't been paying the rent since june. And what other bills has he not paid? If I was a member I would be asking these questions which i'm sure some of them are. He needs to have a meeting with the church and lay everything out there so they will know what's going on and what to expect. Just telling them i'm going to fix it ain't gone work. This a multi-million dollar facility that can probably hold about 5000 or more... there are two properties on the campus... WITH ONLY 300 members... A/C in the summer and heating during the fall and winter. He have a staff... He have to pay his own rent, light and phone along with the properties. It is impossible for Weeks to pay rent!!! He can't travel like he used too and preach at big conferences and get Big Pay.... Not only he lose members, some doors probably were shut... Would you invite him to speak at your church? most likely NO.... No wonder he keep having these BirthOut conferences and and something going on every week. Wisdom would say...MOVE TO A SMALLER PLACE AND KEEP YOUR FAITHFUL MEMBERS... he cut down his monthly expenses from 400,000/month to 100,000/month.... still too much... I would have seek out for a smaller facility and cut my monthly bills to 5000 to 6000/month. I would have sold most of my expensive equipments... open up a day care, school and Bible College (there are bible college and seminaries that will allow you to hold class on your property and make money) I really feel bad about what have happen ... when he loss 50% of his congregation and he having financial problem with a Eviction.... and ppl continue to leave... He should have left that property. God Blessing come with no sorrow  The Media dig into both of their businesses... and laid it out for everybody to see... That why they were constantly having new conference to a void confusion, lies and speculations. At the beginning he did lied about the need for money... and she told the truth that she needed to use the facility for her mentor class.... He criticized her for not paying her taxes and wasteing money and being broke, in all his interviews and news conf. .... He never mention anything about his own situation till now... and she never mention anything about his money problem or her own. |
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