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By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
Holy toledo!!!
Scandal has rocked another prominent member of the black gospel industry.
Revered televangelist Juanita Bynum nearly came thisclose to meeting her maker after suffering a near fatal attack at the hands of her estranged husband yesterday.
Authorities said that the nationally renowned clergywoman was assaulted by her preacher husband in the parking lot of an Atlanta hotel early Wednesday.
According to published reports, Thomas W. Weeks III, who is the founder of Global Destiny churches, met with Bynum at Renaissance Concourse Hotel near Atlanta's airport to try to reconcile, police said.
About 4 a.m., they broke out in fisticuffs in the parking lot until a hotel bellman pulled Weeks off, Officer Ronald Campbell told the Associated Press.
"She was bruised up and battered," Campbell said. "She had purple bruising around her neck and upper torso."
No charges had been filed by Wednesday night against Weeks, who left the scene according to police.
"I am currently recovering from my injuries and resting well," Bynum is believed to have written on her "official" MySpace page today. "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. The bible says in Proverbs 4:25 'let your eyes look right on with fixed purpose and let your gaze be straight before you.'"
Hallowed be thy name.
Bynum, a Pentecostal preacher who was born in Chicago and lives in Hempstead, N.Y., has administrative offices in Waycross, Georgia.
The former homemaker, welfare recipient, drug offender, hairdresser, anorexic and flight attendant got a big break when Bishop T.D. Jakes invited her to speak at one of his conferences several years ago.
After the two reportedly had a falling out, Bynum's ministry blossomed further after her 'No More Sheets' sermon -- on breaking free of sexual promiscuity -- at a singles event.
The message became an anthem for female empowerment, galvanizing the already divorced diva into the stratosphere of the black celebrity clergy elite with best-selling books, inspirational CDs, DVDs and sold out speaking engagements.
She has used terms as "Prophetess," "Minister" and "Dr." as a prefix to her name.
Bynum, 48, recently shared the national stage with Yolanda Adams, Pastor Shirley Caesar, Fantasia, Smokie Norful, Fred Hammond, Coko, The Caravans and Dr. Bobby Jones on 'BET's Celebration of Gospel.'
Bynum and Weeks, 54, were married in 2002 in a lavish, televised wedding that would make black rich bridezillas blush.
The enterprising evangelist is expected to make her acting debut in the forthcoming big screen adaptation of 'Mama I Want to Sing' -- starring Ciara, Hill Harper, Patti LaBelle, Lynn Whitfield, Billy Zane and Kim Porter.
MORE ON BYNUM:
WHAT IN GOD'S NAME?: Check Out Juanita Bynum's Bruises
UPDATE: According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution newspaper, Weeks surrendered to Atlanta police Friday.
Bond was set at $30,000 on a charge of aggravated assault and $10,000 on a charge of terroristic threats, and a magistrate ordered Weeks to have no contact with Bynum or her sister, Tina Culpepper.
Comments: (1514)
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By: Nkiruka Iris Olaku on 11/25/2007 6:55PM
This cannot be happening to my most adored blac female preacher. God please salvage this marriage. My hubby jut bought me her CD 'A Piece of My Passion'.
The man needs to be taken into rehab. Sister Juanita kick the devil in the face. The best is yet to come for you with the work of the ministry that God entrusted you with. Soar dear, see you when it's all over God's giant.
Regards,
Nkiru Olaku.
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By: ANDY on 11/23/2007 6:14PM
THESE FOOLS CLAIM TO BE REPRESENTING GOD? REMINDS ME OF WHY I DETEST ORGANIZED RELIGION. IF PEOPLE WANT TO FIND GOD AND FIND PEACE, THEY ARE MUCH BETTER OFF TAKING A WALK IN THE WOODS, LOOK OUTSIDE AT WHAT'S AROUND THEM, GET AN IDEA OF THE SIMPLE BEAUTY OF GOD'S CREATION THAT'S ALL AROUND US - IT'S THAT EASY. THESE PEOPLE CAN'T EVEN CONTROL THEIR OWN DAILY LIVES AND RESORT TO VIOLENCE TO SOLVE THEIR PROBLEMS. HOW CAN THEY POSSIBLY CLAIM TO EVEN BEGIN TO UNDERSTAND GOD, LET ALONE TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OTHER PEOPLES' TIME AND MONEY BY CLAIMING TO HAVE THE ANSWERS FOR OTHER PEOPLES' PROBLEMS? THEY NEED TO TAKE IT DOWN ABOUT 10 NOTCHES, RELAX, AND CONTEMPLATE THEIR OWN INNER PEACE RATHER THAN PREACHING A MILLION MILES A MINUTE AND ATTEMPTING TO TELL OTHERS HOW TO "FIND GOD." I WONDER WHAT JESUS WOULD THINK IF HE KNEW THE TELEVISED, MANIC, DYSFUNCTIONAL, HYPOCRITICAL DEBAUCLE (AVAILABLE FOR 3 EASY PAYMENTS OF $19.99) WHICH MODERN RELIGION HAS BECOME. HOW SAD. AND HOW VERY FAR AWAY FROM WHAT JESUS WAS REALLY ABOUT.
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By: ruby on 11/23/2007 10:40PM
It deeply grives me to here about this.Juanita Bynum is a sister in CHRIST. I only hope she will surrender this part of her life to JESUS.Repent,and sit down and waite on GOD to be restored.AND STOP PUTTING GOD's Business in the world.
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By: William Bradley on 11/26/2007 11:34PM
There was one perfect man but no perfect marriages. Marriage is like any other ministry. It is by hard work, dilligence,etc., and is a commitment that the couple decided to enter into long term. Ministers are the biggest targets for criticism and their lives the most observed because of all they represent. People naturally assume anyone involved in the Lord's work has it all together, and they look to them for their own life's answers. Hey, look to God and you yourself won't fall, even when those you hold in high esteem do. The best thing you could do for these people is hold them up in your prayers to God, not condemning either, but using the same grace that God loved and forgave you with of your sins. Don't carry gossip if you are a Christian. God has called you to not mirror the world but imitate Him (...follow Him). (Ephesians 5:1) Gossip and slander are dirt cheap, but forgiveness and grace cost a precious price of a man's blood. Are you big enough to love people in their shortcomings and weaknesses? God accepts us just as we are and helps us improve. Give these people to the Lord. He's the real expert in helping with broken marriages and messed up lives. Pray for laborers to be sent across this couple's path that will be used of God to reach out and with God's help build a strong and sure marriage...a founded on Christ's love and His word. If the differences are so irreconcilable that nothing can be done, then still hold them up in prayer. The Body of Christ is to look out for one another. We don't function independantly of the other parts. If one part is out of sync, we take action to get it back into good working condition in it's place The world doesn't operate that way. That's what makes us so different and so misunderstood, because the natural can't comprehend the spiritual. God's ways and thoughts are always higher, and those are our models and patterns for all we think, say,and do. I think concerning this couple, maybe some repentance needs to come from both sides. There's always two sides to every situation. Wisdom has to be in place and guidence based on God's truths. The Bible says our fight is not with flesh and blood anyway. Pray for this couple in faith, because that's the fight we as Christians are to enter into. Love never fails.
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