By Karu F. Daniels, AOL Black Voices
When you address Juanita Bynum you better refer to her as "Doctor."
Or that's how she prefers to be referenced as.
A media alert announcing a last minute press conference for the Pentecostal Prophetess circulated earlier this afternoon saying that "Dr. Bynum will address the media regarding the current tax issues facing Juanita Bynum Ministries."
Held at the Atlanta gospel radio station WPZE-FM, the 48-year-old self-proclaimed "new face of domestic violence" wanted to face the music in regards to reports that implied her money was funny.
Earlier this week, Ware County Tax Commissioner Steve Barnard said this week the property owned by her ministry would be auctioned off next month if Bynum didn't pay more than $33,000 in property taxes.
Today, the Chicago native said that all those taxes have been paid, adding that she wants to turn the property into a spa for women and that her lawyers told her it could be considered a tax-exempt religious building.
"It didn't work out that way...So be it," the tell-it-like-it-is televangelist said.
What she didn't say was whether she planned to charge women to visit the spa, whether it would be an overnight facility or the size of the building where the spa would be housed.
The near 7000-square-foot house sits on more than 23 acres. Bynum's Waycross-based ministry bought the building Aug. 18, 2006, tax records indicate.
The county tax commissioner said he had received a check earlier for $33,904.15 from New Light Church World Outreach in Houston, the Associated Press reported. However, that the property technically remained set for auction on Nov. 6, he added.
"It's not paid off until the check clears the bank," he said, noting he expects to know next week whether the check clears.
In other related news, the tax drama isn't holding Bynum back from releasing her new music project.
Her publicist confirmed to The BV Newswire that 'Juanita Bynum: Unplugged' will be released in November via Flow Records. Recorded in "High Definition" at a small Atlanta church, the nearly 2 hour DVD is comprised of candid interviews, anointed, uncut performances from her latest hit opus 'A Piece of My Passion,' and her trademark dynamic ministering!
If this new project is anything like the I've witnessed recently on YouTube.com, it should be thoroughly enthralling.
The record label has pledged to donate a portion of the proceeds from each DVD sale to organizations fighting against Domestic Violence.
Shortly after being allegedly assaulted by her estranged husband Bishop Thomas Weeks, III, Bynum announced she will take a stand against mental and physical abuse by lending her support to a myriad of causes.
At presstime, an organization has not yet been named.
Comments: (172)
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By: Ipress on 10/19/2007 7:58PM
I am just having a hard time relating to her since she 'altered' her appearance. She doesn't seem real to me anymore.
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By: marietta on 10/20/2007 1:28AM
We just need to ask God to lead us to a good local, church in our community to meet the needs of our entire family . We need to stop running around the country behind all this hype and people and read our Bibles , pray and support 100 percent a local church and local Pastor.
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By: Annaya.net on 10/20/2007 10:35AM
SHe is a very powerful WOMAN with a lot that she is giving to the world! You can feel her strength and I feel her about that protecting her husband thing...I wonder though, "does her husband cheat?" because men in the church are the WORST!!!!!! LOL and JK
Hey I have a new book coming out called, "You know he loves you if..." visit my website at www.annaya.net to find out more. This book is HOT!
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By: believeit on 10/20/2007 1:44PM
She's just a money grubber looking to keep getting paid while being a false prophet.
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By: cassandra cook butler on 10/20/2007 1:51PM
well first she told us how to handle being single and not celibate in "no more sheets" then she told us how to love and minister to our mates in "teach me to love you" now she is going to tell us how to get our heads whupped in the parking lot. next she'll tell us how not to pay our taxes.
but it isn't really a problem for ms bynum. silly women will still flock to her meetings, buy her books and cd's and support her ministry looking for a prophetic word from the Lord instead of seeking Him for themselves/ 33,000 is nothing for her. she can make that in a week with cash to spare.
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By: norma mcgill on 10/20/2007 5:04PM
I just want to say to the person who is having a hard time relating to DR.Juanita Bynum since she has beautified herself. Honesy open up your bible and find a women is suppose to beautify herself. She is a very beautiful women. Listen to the lesson she is giving not her look. She is well very still together. Jealousy is a very dangerous thing.DR. Bynum has not change at all.She is still a women of God giving all she has, and much more. I love you Juanita don't ever stop.
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By: Sheila on 10/20/2007 5:08PM
First of all the bottomline is that JESUS died for us. You can either be led by the spirit of GOD or by the spirit of the world.
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By: Earth on 10/20/2007 5:08PM
You must give her props for pimping her congregation. She's up there with the rest of them. Her husband knows she's not all she pretend to be that's why he beat that ass. A new face for domestic violence that's peace. I just hope she don't get paid for it.
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By: DJN on 10/20/2007 5:11PM
Money has contaminated so many ministries, including Dr.Bynum's. She has lost her first love, which is Jesus Christ HIMSELF...Jesus's love covers, including covering her husband's SIN. I was a victim of domestic violence for many years, and I never exposed my former husband to public ridicule-which is not the Lord. She went public for sympathy and money, not to bring repentance and correction...
Ministries like this one are spoken about in the book of Revelation-and Jesus himself warns us about the coming of wolves in sheep clothing-The wolves feed off the donations of the deceived flock to buy antiques and manicures and large diamond rings make videos of their wedding. This is not the Gospel that Paul wrote while in chains. I pray she repents and returns to her first love.
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By: BEH on 10/20/2007 10:43PM
The "Rev. Dr." Bynum is a woman...a mere mortal, like all other "ministers". We are NOT called to worship these people. It says to worship the "Lord thy God" and have "no other God before him"! We put these people on pedestals, worship them, give them our money, follow them like stars and then wonder why our lives fall apart when they fall apart. Anyone, any minister, who cannot minister without digging into our wallets and purses is nothing more than a business person. Now she's the face of spousal abuse - I thought she already was. GOD GAVE YOU MINDS, PEOPLE, USE THEM! Stop worshipping these so called prophets and ministers. Put your eyes on the Lord and follow Him. Read Jeremiah 23 to see what I mean. From harsh experience I know that giving your all to those who are supposed to be spiritually leading us can almost kill you. It happened to me. That's why I take whatever any of them say with a grain of salt and look only to God for guidance. I have never been happier or closer to God. THINK! THINK! THINK! Go to God for yourselves! God gave you a mind - don't throw it away. Think!
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