DEL.ICIO.USEvicted, Bishop Weeks holds services in hotel
Duluth landlord said he hadn’t paid rent since July
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, November 16, 2008
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III held services in a Holiday Inn in Norcross Sunday, after his church was evicted from its Duluth campus two days before.
Weeks said in an interview Sunday that he was “re-sizing” his church “to fit economic times.”
Kimberly Smith /ksmith@ajc.com
Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, the leader of Global Destiny International Ministries, has long battled financial problems, including civil lawsuits for past-due accounts.
“We are committed to being an absolutely debt-free ministry,” he said.
Weeks, the leader of Global Destiny International Ministries, has long battled financial problems, including civil lawsuits for past-due accounts.
His church used to have about 3,400 members, but lost about 1,600 after he attacked his now ex-wife, national evangelist Juanita Bynum, in an Atlanta hotel parking lot in 2007.
On Sunday about 250 enthusiastic worshipers found their way to the meeting room at the Holiday Inn Select, 6050 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard. Church members clapped, sang, and praised the Lord as they waited for Weeks to start the service.
Weeks was optimistic about the future, saying it’ll be “greater than ever.”
He now calls his church Global Destiny Worldwide Vision.
“When something like this happens, it’s really an exodus into a new prophecy,” he said.
Weeks owes more than $400,000 in rent and fees to the landlord of his church campus, according to a lawyer for Grimes-Square Executive, Inc.
On Sunday, Weeks said that amount includes late fees, attorney’s fees and interest.
Eviction proceedings were initiated against Weeks in early October. He had not made payments toward the rent since July, according to the lawyer for the landlord. A sheriff’s deputy carried out the eviction Friday.
“People do not understand the cost of running a worldwide ministry,” Weeks said.
When he spoke to the congregation, Weeks said, “It’s been a difficult journey the last 17 months.” He thanked worshipers for their prayers the past two days. The sound system was weak, making it a challenge to hear in the back rows, where people were standing.
He told his congregation he wants to pay off debt and only worry about utilities, “and pay those off too, in advance.”
A long line of church members stood up and offered donations at the pulpit.
After introductory remarks, Weeks turned the service over to guest pastor Medina Pullings, who gave the main sermon.
Church usher Eric Duffy said he loves Bishop Weeks and doesn’t intend to stop coming. “This is just a block in the road,” Duffy said of the church’s eviction. “We just got to move the block and keep going.”
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