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Paula White

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Paula White
Born (1966-04-20) April 20, 1966 (age 58)
Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
Occupation(s)Life coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker, Philanthropist
Children1
WebsitePaula White Ministries

Paula Michelle White is a Christian life coach, author and motivational speaker, and the senior pastor of Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Florida.

Biography

Early life

Paula White was born Paula Michelle Furr April 20, 1966, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Myra Joanelle and Donald Furr. Her parents' marriage began to fail when she was five years old, her mother took Paula to Memphis. Paula’s father followed with an ultimatum for her mother to give Paula to him or he would commit suicide. White's mother refused, later that night Donald Furr killed himself by running his car into a tree.[1] Paula’s mother became an alcoholic. While her mother worked, White was looked after by caregivers, who she said sexually and physically abused her for seven years between the ages of six and thirteen.[2][3]

Young adulthood and growing ministry

She had a baby out of wedlock but soon married the child’s father. At age eighteen, while living in Maryland with her newborn baby, she was introduced to the gospel and became a Christian. Her marriage ended soon after.[3] She met her future husband, Randy White, when he visited a church where she was working as a janitor. They married in 1989 and moved to Tampa, Florida, where they started South Tampa Christian Center. (renamed Without Walls International Church in 1997.) Randy and Paula did not have any children together but had four children from previous relationships: Kristen Hernando, Angie, Brandon, and Bradley. Two grandchildren, Drew and Emma, were born in June 2005.[3]

Ebony magazine said of White, "You know you're on to something new and significant when the most popular woman preacher on the Black Entertainment Network is a white woman."[4]

White hosts a TV show called Paula White Today.[5] Paula considers T.D. Jakes her spiritual father. Jakes invited her to speak at his "Woman Thou Art Loosed" Conference in 2000. White also participated in the Mega Fest, hosted by Jakes in Atlanta, in 2004 and 2005. She has also met with General Colin Powell, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush.[6] She is the personal life coach of Tyra Banks and appeared on her show the Tyra Banks Show in an episode concerning promiscuity on October 4, 2006.[5]

Without Walls International Church was the seventh largest church in the United States.

Divorce, and ministry realignment

In an article published in The Tampa Tribune on May 20, 2007, when Paula's husband (Randy White) was asked whether he's contemplating a divorce he replied, "No one can predict the future."[7] On Thursday, August 23, 2007, Randy and Paula White announced to their congregation that they would divorce. According to The Christian Post, Paula White says the divorce was amicable, and her husband, Randy White, agreed to take the responsibility.[8] Following the divorce, Paula White ministered in New York, Texas, and abroad, while making periodic visits to Without Walls International Church. [9]

The Tampa Tribune reported on March 5, 2008 that Without Walls International Church has put its 4,500–seat Tampa church up for sale, along with its 13.3-acre (5 ha) grounds and 94,000-square-foot (8,733 m2) offices and television studio, asking $30 million.[10]

On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Paula White replaced her ex-husband, Randy White, as the senior pastor of Without Walls International Church she co-founded in 1991. Randy White states he was stepping down as pastor due to health reasons and would still remain connected with the church in a different position.[9]

On January 1, 2011, following the resignation of Scott Thomas, Paula White became the senior pastor of Without walls Central in Lakeland, Florida making her the pastor of both church locations.

Senate investigation

On November 6, 2007, United States senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of Paula White's ministry by the United States Senate Committee on Finance along with five other ministries.[11] Grassley asked the ministries to divulge financial information[12][13]. When CBS News reported the story, Paula White's ministry denied any wrongdoing,[14] and on March 31, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee received a joint financial report from Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries.[15] Without Walls International Church was one of four ministries that refused to provide the full information Senator Grassley requested.

On January 6, 2011, Senator Grassley concluded the three year investigation with no penalties and no definitive findings of wrongdoing.[16] The Alliance Defense Fund protested the investigation and the National Religious Broadcasters said the questions Senator Grassley asked were too broad.[16] The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability plans to create a national commission in response to the Grassley report to lead a review on accountability and policy.[16] Paula White interpreted the conclusion of the investigation to mean that Without Walls International Church was cleared. [8]

Bibliography

  • White, Paula (1998). He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not. Lake Mary: Charisma House. ISBN 9780884195658.
  • White, Paula (2003). Birthing Your Dreams : God's Plan for Living Victoriously. Nelson Reference. ISBN 9780785250697. {{cite book}}: Check |isbn= value: checksum (help)
  • White, Paula (2006). Deal with It!. Walton-on-Thames: Thomas Nelson. ISBN 9781599510088.
  • White, Paula (2007). You're All That!. Nashville: FaithWords. ISBN 9780446580236.

References

  1. ^ Steve Hubbard and Lisa Ryan (2007). "Turning Trash into Treasure: The Testimony of Paula White". Christian Broadcasting Network. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  2. ^ "Pastor Paula White". Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  3. ^ a b c Sherri Day (2007-07-15). "Questions tarnish rise to top". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  4. ^ "Renowned Life Coach 'Paula White' Offers Transformational Advice". Christian Communication Network. 2007-02-22. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  5. ^ a b Jackie Alnor (2006-10-21). "Paula White: Unable to Blush". Apostasy Alert. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
  6. ^ "Paula's Life Story". Paula White Ministries. Retrieved 2008-04-22. {{cite web}}: External link in |publisher= (help)
  7. ^ Michelle Bearden and Baird Helgeson (2007-05-20). "Of Faith, Fame & Fortune". The Tampa Tribune. Archived from the original on 2007-09-09. Retrieved 2007-09-11. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  8. ^ a b Lillian Kwon (2011-04-01). "Paula White Breaks Silence on Probes, Divorce, Benny Hinn". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2011-04-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  9. ^ a b Eric Young (2009-07-12). "Paula White Returns to Lead Ailing Megachurch". The Christian Post. Retrieved 2011-04-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  10. ^ Michelle Beardon and Baird Helgeson (2008-03-04). "Without Walls wants to sell its sanctuary". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2008-04-22. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  11. ^ Armen Keteyian (2007-11-06). "Televangelists Living Like Kings?". CBS News. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  12. ^ Kathy Lohr (2007-12-04). "Senator Probes Megachurches' Finances". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  13. ^ "Read Grassley's Letters" (PDF). National Public Radio. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  14. ^ "Televangelists Living Like Kings?". CBS News. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  15. ^ Bill Coats (2008-04-01). "Without Walls sends financial data to Senate". The Tampa Tribune. Retrieved 2008-04-22. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  16. ^ a b c Rachel Zoll (2011-01-07). "Televangelists escape penalty in Senate inquiry". MSNBC. Retrieved 2011-04-08. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

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