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Randy White (pastor)

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Randy White
Born (1958-01-11) January 11, 1958 (age 66)
Frederick, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation(s)Pastor, Bishop
Children4
WebsiteRAW Reality

Randy Alan White is a Christian pastor and church leader. He is co-founder of Without Walls International Church; a large, influential, non-denominational, charismatic church with two locations in Florida. His ex-wife, Paula White co-founded the church with him and is well-known pastor and evangelist. He retired from the ministry in 2009 and starting volunteering his time as a communinity activist for the Kristen Renee Foundation.

Early life and youth

Randy Alan White was born January 11, 1958, in Frederick, Maryland, to Frank White and Darlene Masser. Randy was the first born and he has a sister, Sandy. Frank White was a pastor of a small church in Frederick, Maryland, under the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee) denomination.

Randy White began working in Christian ministry at the age of 13 years old. He worked in the church's coffeehouse, went on prison ministry trips, and preached on the streets and in the parks. Moving out of his parents' home at an early age, Randy attended Lee University after high school.


Christian Ministry

Early Pastoral Positions

Randy White's first pastoral position was as with a small rural church in Maryland. In his own words, "After college I was assigned to a small, struggling church with lots of problems. In my zeal to succeed as a minister, I worked as if I were driven, going almost night and day. But the congregation's difficulties were resolved, and the church's growth broke all attendance records in my state."

Afterward, Randy was hired by Dr. T.L. Lowry as an associate minister, while also working as a traveling evangelist. Randy credits Dr. T.L. Lowry as a spiritual father and mentor.

Without Walls International Church

Without Walls International Church, originally named South Tampa Christian Center, was founded by Randy White and Paula White in 1991.

The church struggled financially at first, and it could not afford to pay Randy and Paula White a salary for the first two years. As a result, Randy and Paula lived on government assistance and the kindness of others. Soon the church began to grow quickly through the various outreach programs. From 1991 to 1998, the church changed locations three times until they secured the property located at 2511 North Grady Avenue in Tampa, Florida and changed the name of the church to Without Walls International Church.[1]

While the church was holding services in an outdoor tent in 1999, they reported 5,000 attendees a week and 10,000 ministered to outside of the church with 230 outreach ministries.[2]

Without Walls International Church then purchased the property next to them at 3860 West Columbus Drive expanding their Tampa campus. The property acquired was a Canada Dry warehouse which they remodeled and is now today the main sanctuary for the church.

In 2002, Without Walls International Church began to expand to its second location in Lakeland, Florida. At this time, the church reported 14,000 members and 200 ministries including job training, evangelism among public housing projects and a teen club. On August 3, 2002, Without Walls International Church began to hold Saturday night services at Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland renting the property.[3][4] Carpenter's Home Church would later on be purchased by Without Walls International Church in 2005 for $8 million renaming the church to Without Walls Central Church.[5]

In 2004, Without Walls International Church reported a congregation of 20,000 as the largest congregation in the area making the church the seventh largest church in the United States.[6]

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. [7]


Senate inquiry

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. [8] Grassley asked the ministries to divulge financial information[9][10]. When CBS News reported the story, Paula White's ministry denied any wrongdoing,[11] and on March 31, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee received a joint financial report from Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries. [12] 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. [13] The Alliance Defense Fund protested the investigation and the National Religious Broadcasters said the questions Senator Grassley asked were too broad. [13] 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.[13] Paula White interpreted the conclusion of the investigation to mean that Without Walls International Church was cleared. [14]

Retirement from Ministry

On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Randy White resigned as pastor and bishop of Without Walls International Church, and Paula White, his ex-wife, was named the successor. 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. [15][16]


Bibliography

  • White, Randy and Paula (2001). See Me, Hear Me, Know Me. Tampa: self published. ISBN 9780971265004.


References

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference holymav was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ John W. Smith (1999-09-24). "A church without a building". Reading Eagle. Retrieved 2011-4-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  3. ^ Cary McMullen (2002-07-27). "Without Walls Pastor Discusses Arrangement With Carenter's Church". The Ledger. Retrieved 2011-4-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  4. ^ Cary McMullen (2002-07-17). "Local Church To Share Chapel". The Ledger. Retrieved 2011-4-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  5. ^ Cary McMullen (2010-12-10). "Former Without Walls pastor starts foundation in daughter's name". The Ledger. Retrieved 2011-04-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  6. ^ Sharon Tubbs (2004-06-17). "Selling God to the masses". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2011-4-15. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  7. ^ 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)
  8. ^ Armen Keteyian (2007-11-06). "Televangelists Living Like Kings?". CBS News. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  9. ^ Kathy Lohr (2007-12-04). "Senator Probes Megachurches' Finances". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  10. ^ "Read Grassley's Letters" (PDF). National Public Radio. 2007-12-04. Retrieved 2007-12-10.
  11. ^ "Televangelists Living Like Kings?". CBS News. 2007-11-06. Retrieved 2007-09-17.
  12. ^ 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)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ Cite error: The named reference christianpost2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference christianpost1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  16. ^ Amy Scherzer (2009-09-25). "Former Without Walls pastor starts foundation in daughter's name". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 2011-04-15. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)


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