Posted on 08/27/2007 8:03:06 AM PDT by Cecily
Global Destiny Ministries members on Sunday circled their spiritual wagons around their pastor, Bishop Thomas Weeks III, now charged with beating his estranged wife, the nationally known evangelist Juanita Bynum.
Members of Global Destiny Church in Duluth urged people to cautious about taking sides in the dispute between Bishop Thomas Weeks III and his wife, Juanita Bynum.
Most congregants approached for interviews after Sunday's 8 a.m. service declined to comment on the marital problems of Weeks, 40, and Bynum, 48.
Those who did urged caution in taking sides in the issue and passing judgment on two people they consider spiritual giants, but also human.
"There are three sides to every story," said Clarkston's Shannon Mayers, a frequent visitor. "Nobody has the right to judge anybody. God is in the midst of that and will work it out."
Member Maurice Adams, 26, of Atlanta said he was disappointed to hear the news but still considers Weeks his bishop.
"We all make mistakes. He deserves another opportunity," Adams said. "I'm hurt, but I do respect him for being man enough to show his face today."
Weeks took the pulpit two days after his surrender to authorities in connection with the alleged attack on Bynum. His remarks included appreciation for the prayers and support that he said have come in for him and his wife and thanks to those in attendance in spite of the controversy.
Weeks sparked thunderous applause and cheers when he asked members to tell those seated next to them: "We've got certain things going on right now, but I refuse to stop coming to the house God built."
Weeks, wearing a dark suit and his customary bow tie, blamed the devil for the accusation that has him facing two felony charges.
(Excerpt) Read more at ajc.com ...
Excellent point!
I agree that we’re all sinners, and all that, but people with very serious problems with sin should not be in positions of spiritual leadership.
"The devil made me do it" !There does not seem to be any personal responsibility
or repentance in his statements.
1 Peter 5 About the Elders 1 Therefore, as a fellow elder and witness to the sufferings of the Messiah, and also a participant in the glory about to be revealed, I exhort the elders among you: 2 shepherd God's flock among you, not overseeing out of compulsion but freely, according to God's will; not for the money but eagerly; 3 not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. 4 And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
Not for the money but eagerly (eagerly, as an end in itself). Not out of compulsion but freely (is being a pastor a burden that makes you groan or is it a passion?). Not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock (how you pastor matters). Lots of meat there in that one little verse. Wish more pastors would step down when they begin to falter.
Oh, really? Then why does scripture admonish us to put out of the church those who are in sin and refuse to repent?
What do these people think will we reviewed at the Pearly Gates....their fashion sense?
I agree.
Not this fellow specifically, but it’s as hard for a pastor with a family to take a sabatical or time off as it is for a guy in any other profession. There really should be sabaticals, monestaries etc. for that sort of need among Protestant clergy. Especially hard in a smaller church without much money.
Gird Up Your Loins!This is what you get from the "cancer demons", "prosperity demons", and now "beating demons" types at the Word of Faith movement.All you TBN fans might be interested in this bit of news. Juanita Bynum was assaulted by her husband yesterday, Bishop Thomas Weeks III. Mr. and Mrs. Weeks, of course, lead marriage seminars around the country.
I once saw Juanita Bynum preach a sermon on TBN in which she issued a call to men to exercise headship. She kept yelling (screaming?) over and over again (with a voice that could melt glass) "gird up your loins!" Its a wonder she could even speak afterward.
Bynum, who calls herself a "prophetess," is a former hairdresser and flight attendant, the perfect resume to be a regular preacher/prophetess on TBN. Her lavish (dare I say it, garish) wedding to Bishop Thomas Weeks III was broadcast live on TBN back in 2002. That tells you all you need to know about her role in certain Pentecostal circles.
Sadly, Bishop Weeks was arrested outside a hotel in Atlanta for assaulting her. They are currently separated (Click here: Bishop charged with attacking evangelist wife | ajc.com). While there is never any justification whatsoever for domestic violence and the good Bishop belongs in the slammer if he assaulted her, I cannot help but wonder if the breaking point for Weeks is that he finally had enough of being told to "gird up his loins."
Meanwhile, Reformed Chicks Blabbling tells the whole sordid tale far better than I ever could (Click here: Reformed Chicks Blabbing: Juanita Bynum was attacked by her husband) . . .
You would think the "prophetess" would have seen the demon coming before she married this lout.
Perhaps the $$$ clouded her "vision".
Weeks, wearing a dark suit and his customary bow tie, blamed the devil for the accusation that has him facing two felony charges.
Bishop Weeks and Prophetess Bynum need to take a seminar from Michael Vick on personal responsibility.
Cue the Beavis and Butthead snicker tape.
Unless the paper mangled his statement (always possible), this is worse than “the devil made me do it.”I caught that too, but, like you disclaimed, it might have been the paper. (At the site they used this line TWICE: "Members of Global Destiny Church in Duluth urged people to cautious about taking sides...")Weeks, wearing a dark suit and his customary bow tie, blamed the devil for the accusation that has him facing two felony charges.
Not touching this one. Nope, not me.
That’s a good point. A friend of mine (fellow Girl Scout leader) is married to a Presbyterian minister, and his board of elders insists that he take time off, just like a regular employee of any firm.
The article said that she’s 48 and he’s 40. If she wanted a man who would be leader of his home, perhaps she shouldn’t have married a man over whom she had so much seniority.
...”blames Satan for his woes.”
Well, yeah. So could every pedophile, homicidal lunatic and crack addict in the world.
A pastor should be able to recognize when there are weaknesses in his life and that he no longer wears the full armor of God.
When is the church going to stop blaming the devil for its actions? The devil has become our scapegoat and our “Excuse God”. Let’s get real. We are both spiritual and natural and have a soul that has to be transformed through constant prayer, effort and new behavior. Yes, we should pray for them both but the truth still remains. We MUST take responsibility for our behavior and deal with the consequences - both from God and natural authorities. He needs to step down for a while. 4:00am??? Why didn’t they sit with a spiritual mentor for reconciliation? Funny how quick they were to offer marital advice to the multitudes and marriage CDs when behind closed doors they had many problems of their own. I pray the Lord heals them. Heals him from undisciplined anger and heals her from the spirit of co-dependence, her last husband did the same thing.
What we need in the church is character and integrity. JESUS HELP US!!!
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