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Post by livinganewlife on Aug 22, 2007 19:44:10 GMT -5
Evangelist Bynum attacked by husband in parking lot
By SAEED AHMED
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 08/22/07
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.
Rich Adthingys/AJC
(ENLARGE)
Juanita Bynum, shown preaching at Megafest 2006, reportedly was attempting to reconcile with her estranged husband Wednesday when he attacked her in a hotel parking lot.
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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.
— Staff researcher Nisa Asokan contributed to this report.
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Post by krazeeboi on Aug 22, 2007 21:07:53 GMT -5
On another board, I made it known that I heard from a reliable source that Bynum and her husband were either divorced or headed toward one. This validates that. Really sad....
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Post by anointedteacher on Aug 22, 2007 21:09:52 GMT -5
This make me angry.... How can you preach and turn around and beat your wife? He need to sit down some where. I was wondering what happen to JBW, she haven't been on TBN or in the spotlight. I will be praying for her.... She is really going through.
I heard almost a year ago that they were getting a divorce, but wasn't sure if it were true. A man hand do not belong on a woman, Min. Week need to be set down from preaching for a while.
AT
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Post by krazeeboi on Aug 23, 2007 3:00:07 GMT -5
I am more than certain that Juanita is not the innocent victim that you portray her to be. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on that. BOTH of them need to be sat down for a while. I knew they took off too fast from the get go. You just got married (for a second time, at that) and you're doing marriage conferences like you're some sort of experts that have been married for years? Give me a break. Something told me it would come back to bite them in the behind. It's just a shame that all of this is bringing reproach on the Body of Christ.
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Post by Beck on Aug 23, 2007 5:48:17 GMT -5
Just another blow to how people view Christianity.. By nature everyone will flock to her defense because a man has no right to put his hands on a woman. But can we just pray for them without taking sides based on personal views.. Yes its wrong for him to hit her.. but we dont know half of the story... As my Bishop says.. "The devil is in the details.." In other words we get caught up trying to figure out what happened that it turns into gossip and we are further away from the truth. If we believe in the power of restoration and healing.. Seek the face of God for them because they need it.. Not just them but also the thousands of people who follow their ministry and has been blessed by what God has allowed them to speak.
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Post by giantsdodie on Aug 23, 2007 7:46:28 GMT -5
Unfortunately no one except GOD and those two know the entire true story. While there is no excuse for a man to put his hands on a woman, they both need much prayer regarding this situation and there is much prayer needed for the sheep under those ministries.
Krazee I feel much of what you are saying ( and I though some of the same things ) but what its worse right now is that once again ministers are in the public light for all the wrong reasons. Now you have a Bishop on the run for assault and battery.
Right now our position has to be one of prayer.
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Post by livinganewlife on Aug 23, 2007 8:55:56 GMT -5
I am truly praying for Juanita Bynum and i hope that while she spiritually seeking counsel that she enforces the law in this situation....
I know this is embarrassing for her and i am certain quite confusing as when one believes that God has put them together with their spouse and they turn and abuse you.......
IMO: Juanita is so visible and is perceived as a role model and her stand has been empowerment for women that she really needs to take a stand at a time like this even if God tells her to stay with her husband....Juanita needs to come out and take a MAJOR stand against spousal abuse....
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Post by anointedteacher on Aug 23, 2007 9:08:38 GMT -5
I am more than certain that Juanita is not the innocent victim that you portray her to be. If I were a betting man, I'd put money on that. BOTH of them need to be sat down for a while. I knew they took off too fast from the get go. You just got married (for a second time, at that) and you're doing marriage conferences like you're some sort of experts that have been married for years? Give me a break. Something told me it would come back to bite them in the behind. It's just a shame that all of this is bringing reproach on the Body of Christ. I know there are two sides to the store and I am not taking sides, but there are no excuse for a man of God to put his hand on a woman, especially his wife. If things got to hot, he could have easily got into his car and leave, not use her as a punching bag, even if she hit first. For what I understand about the conference, they did not minister, they gave testimonies. I guess Teach Me How to Love conference was really for them. GDD ... right our position is to pray..... AT |
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Post by Nikkol on Aug 23, 2007 9:12:52 GMT -5
So this is where everyone's been hiding......lol
I've received 2 emails already about this......
All I would add is that no woman should hit a man either. Since I wasn't there, I don't know the whole story and therefore wouldn't know if Thomas received some blows as well......
Side Note: Then again, as the lines began to blur more and more insofar as roles of men and women, I wouldn't be surprised if the fact that a man hits a woman would be seen as nothing major.....
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Post by livinganewlife on Aug 23, 2007 9:22:02 GMT -5
This is an article from Fox News in Atlanta; and what got me in this story as I have googled Bynum this morning is the part where he choked her, punched her and kicked her while she was on the ground. I don't care who or what it is when you kick a women (especially your wife) you are just PURE evil....
Folks hardly step on insects and for a man to put his foot on a woman and kick her is unacceptable and cruel!
Well-Known TV Minister Told Police Husband Savagely Beat Her
Last Edited: Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007, 10:59 PM EDT
Created: Wednesday, 22 Aug 2007, 7:52 PM EDT
Juanita Bynum Case SideBar
Related Items
Videos
ATLANTA (FOX 5) -- Atlanta police said Wednesday that well-known television minister, Juanita Bynum, became the victim of domestic abuse after her husband savagely beat her in a hotel parking lot Tuesday night.
A relative of Reverend Bynum told FOX 5 News that the Reverend Bynum and her husband, Bishop Thomas Weeks, are in the middle of a separation.
Video: TV Minister Alleges Husband Assaulted Her
FOX 5's Art Franklin Reports
The relative said the two agreed to meet Tuesday night in the dining room of the Renaissance Hotel near Hartsfield-Jackson airport.
The meeting reportedly did not go well and ended with Bishop Weeks leaving abruptly. The relative said Reverend Bynum followed him to the parking lot where the two exchanged words.
According to an Atlanta Police Department report, that's when Weeks allegedly attacked her. In a statement to police, Reverend Bynum said her husband, Thomas Weeks, "choked her, pushed her down, kicked her and stomped her in the Renaissance parking lot."
Ronald Campbell of the APD said a bellhop at the hotel saw the attack, intervened and stopped it.
Officer Campbell said Reverend Bynum suffered multiple bruises and swelling and required hospitalization.
Reverend Bynum is being kept at an undisclosed location.
Police are searching for Thomas Weeks.
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Post by Melani23 on Aug 23, 2007 9:40:09 GMT -5
 They both need to sit down.  One must keep their focus off of possessions, things, money and keep their eyes forcused on the Lord. Even if she did hit him, she did not 'punch', 'choak', or 'stomp' on him.... There's no excuse whatsoever for any man, let alone a husband, to abuse a woman. Looks like another divorce for them both. Hmmm....that's why marriage works out character flaws (if you stay married to your ONE spouse). No excuses! Sad, sad, sad......  I guess this means that, when she comes back, she'll be (again) preaching and professing "No Mo' Sheets', lol. 
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Post by Nikkol on Aug 23, 2007 12:11:11 GMT -5
Eph 6:12
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
It's a spiritual battle.... God's putting things in order
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Post by giantsdodie on Aug 23, 2007 12:35:07 GMT -5
See this is what I am laking about. No one knows what really happened. None of us know the total facts. Our best position is to be prayerful about the whole matter. Did she assault him ?? Did she place her hands on him ?? Did she provoke him to wrath ?? We dont know.
Does that excuse the response? ABSOLUTELY NOT !!
What we do know is that this is a blow to the Body of Christ. The shames us all as Christians. Is anyone praying for Bishop Weeks and his family.
One thing I have found about saints is that unfortunately they can be the most vindictive. cold hearted, unforgiving, prejudiced. mean spirited folk on the planet. WHat happens when GOD deals with this man of GOD and desires to heal and restore him? DO we cut him off and discard him like yesterdays garbage.
What if the tables were turned and it was Juanita Bynum who was found beatin him down in the pakring lot if it was found out he did something? Would the woman of God be calling for Her head or would they be like " Well thats what he gets for puuting his hands on her.. He reaped what he sowed" Thats good for him "
I wonder...
Lets not allow the enemy to cause us to speculate, gossip and cast dispersions on an already ugly situation. Lets use the most powerful weapons we have in our arsenal. Love and Prayer.
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Post by stillfocused on Aug 23, 2007 13:16:31 GMT -5
Amen..GDD to your last post !! I am sick and tired of the body of Christ acting that we don't have any garbarge in lives because we do. Yet, this is another reason we ALL must seek the face of God. Not for his possessions, not for fame, not for fortune, not for another house, car, bigger church or anything that does not turn ANYONE back to him. I rememer her saying a few years that God would begin to expose ministries and they would fall; she gave a number. Sadly, this is a self fufilling prophesy. Lord, help to us all !! May we all seek to become men and women after the heart of God and not of his treasures and pleasures.
Sometime I learned a very valuable lesson..which is when things like this occur the best thing for one to not comment on the the situation. Because even though this is a very messed situation..don't open your mouth. Though the actions are not acceptable by either party..they have been anointed of God. I am not talking about "touch not anointed and do my prophet no harm". I am talking about taking a stand in prayer and intercession and allowing God to do what only he can do. So, reconcilation back to the Father can take place..and restoration can be take place. All I can say right now..is at all cost we must SEEK THE FACE OF THE FATHER !!
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Post by Rachel2 on Aug 23, 2007 13:20:41 GMT -5
Nikkol,
This would be an example of my "FREE WILL" point of view that we were discussing in the Marriage Forum on Divorce in Christian Marriages.
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They both need to sit down. 
