bAfter being accused of viciously attacking his wife, Prophetess Juanita Bynum, Bishop Thomas Weeks III tried to defend himself-kind of. Mostly he blamed the allegations of kicking and stomping his wife on the devil. Actually he blamed everything on the devil when he spoke from the pulpit of Atlanta’s Global Destiny ministries, the church he founded.

Weeks took the pulpit two days after his surrender[Sunday] 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. He didn’t, however, offer any specifics before introducing a guest minister who preached in his stead, then exiting the room.

The bishop is charged with aggravated assault for allegedly choking, kicking and hitting Bynum on Tuesday night in a parking lot at the Renaissance Concourse Hotel and with making terroristic threats to kill her. Both are felonies.

After turning himself in, he spent six hours in the Fulton County Jail before being released on $40,000 bond Friday.