Bishop Weeks’ church evicted

Bishop Thomas W. Weeks III, the leader of Global Destiny International Ministries, held services elsewhere Friday after his Duluth church was evicted from its campus Friday afternoon.

“He hasn’t made any payments at all since July of this year,” said Stephanie Friese, attorney for Grimes-Square Executive, Inc. “The landlord did try to work out something with him.”

Friese said the bishop owes more than $400,000 in rent and fees.

Eviction proceedings were initiated against Weeks in early October. According to court documents, Weeks tried unsuccessfully to delay the eviction.

A sheriff’s deputy came to the church campus Friday to carry out the eviction. The campus includes business offices and a church.

Church officials late Friday said Weeks was still planning to hold worship services later that night elsewhere.

Weeks’ divorce attorney, Randy Kessler, said he was unaware of the eviction. “I’m sure he will land on his feet, if that is indeed the case,” Kessler said. “He always does.”

Weeks has long battled financial problems. During his stormy marriage to national evangelist Juanita Bynum, he faced several civil lawsuits for past-due accounts —- including possible eviction from his church.

Weeks said in February Global Destiny Church had lost 1,600 of its 3,400 members after he attacked Bynum in an Atlanta hotel parking lot in 2007, but membership was on the rebound.

According to Gwinnett County Civil Court records, Friese filed an eviction notice Aug. 23, 2007. Court records show Weeks owed $50,555 in back rent for his church. That case was later dropped after a payment arrangement was reached. This time, the landlord and Weeks could not come to an agreement.

“He never offered a set amount of money,” Friese said. “The possession is now with the Gwinnett County Sheriff’s Office.”

News researcher Nisa Asokan contributed to this report.