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.
1. I AM SO SORRY TO READ THIS STORY IT REALLY HURT MY HEART BECAUSE I LOOK-UP TO YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AS APERFECT COUPLE FOR MARRIAGE, I KNEW THAT GOD HAD PLAN THIS MARRIAGE. I HOPE THAT YOU ARE DOING OKAY AND I LOVE YOU AND YOUR HUSBAND AND IN THE NAME OF JESUS I HOPE EVERYTHING BE ALRIGHT.
redfgirlhazel@AOL.COM at 4:42AM on Aug 23rd 2007