I saw her on TBN the other night and she makes this annoying gasping sound every 4th breath while she screams incoherently into the microphone delivering her plea for money.
Other than that there is nothing bizarre about her. < sarcasm>
Posted on 08/24/2007 4:44:29 PM PDT by Terriergal
TV evangelist Paula White, who is a frequent speaker at a San Antonio church where she recently formed a ministry partnership, and her husband, Randy, announced Thursday night that they plan to divorce after a nearly 18-year marriage.
The split was made public during a Thursday evening service for their Tampa, Fla., congregation, Without Walls International Church, which they founded in 1991 and which became one of the nation's largest and fastest-growing churches.
What her forthcoming divorce will mean for Family Praise Center in Northwest San Antonio remains unclear. White plans to keep Tampa as her base and continue preaching there, but she's putting down some roots here. She bought a nearly $700,000 home outside Boerne earlier this month, about the same time she was giving a five-week sermon series at Family Praise Center, founded by Bishop Rick Hawkins.Increasingly, White, Hawkins, his son and the San Antonio church have developed closer links.
White is a rising TV evangelist who has widespread appeal among evangelical Christians, particularly women. Her "Paula White Today" show is broadcast nationally on major networks such as CMT and BET and her Life By Design empowerment conferences, based in New York City, are spreading to cities nationwide.
The Whites told the Tampa Tribune no infidelity was involved in their breakup, which they described as "amicable."
"This has been an ongoing process and journey," said Paula White, standing on stage with her husband. "But God is always faithful. God always carries you through the dark places of life."
Randy White told the audience Paula White would continue preaching all over the world and on television. "I'm going to pastor this church and focus on being a great dad," he said.
Paula White first came to Family Praise Center in November 2005 to speak at a church-sponsored conference. She began to speak more regularly here and in recent months has led Sunday morning and Wednesday night services, recorded shows for syndication and led a fundraiser for a teen-pregnancy center.
Will Norris, staff pastor and communications director for Family Praise Center, told the San Antonio Express-News two weeks ago that the church and White have a ministry partnership that includes joining forces on community outreach and receiving advice from her on how the church could grow.
Norris did not return numerous phone calls seeking details about the partnership. Reached after the church's Wednesday service, he repeatedly declined to comment, referring all questions to White's spokeswoman Sheila Withum of WDC Media. The California-based public relations firm also has done work for Family Praise Center.
Withum told the Express-News two weeks ago that San Antonio was a likely site for Paula White to establish a Life By Design center, a place where monthly conferences would be offered. The first center was established in New York City, where White has held two conferences in recent months and where she owns a Trump Tower condo.
Phone calls and e-mails to Withum the past couple of weeks were not returned.
Family Praise Center was founded by Hawkins in 1993 and his son Dustin Hawkins is pastor. Both men got divorced in February.
Norris said neither Dustin nor Rick Hawkins was available for comment. Calls this week to Rick Hawkins' home were not returned.
During the Wednesday night service, Dustin Hawkins gave the main message, noting that he and his father attended Paula White's Life By Design conference Sunday in New York City.
Paula White told the Tampa Tribune that her involvement with Family Praise Center as a ministry partner was minimal but did say she is serving as the "spiritual overseer" for Dustin Hawkins. Meanwhile, Rick Hawkins is a board member for White's newly formed PWM Life Center Inc., a tax-exempt, nonprofit agency created in February, according to documents filed with the Florida Department of State's Division of Corporations.
Rick Hawkins is known in San Antonio for founding the School of Excellence in Education in 1998, the city's largest charter school district that caters to so-called at-risk students and includes a high school named after him.
Paula White is scheduled to speak at Family Praise Center on Sept. 9 and at Cornerstone Church on the North Side on Sept. 23.
Her background — growing up poor in Mississippi and overcoming a troubled upbringing — resonates with her audiences, especially African Americans, who make up the majority at her Tampa church.
Family Praise Center counts among its members a high number of African American and Hispanic people. White and Hawkins are Anglo and have been active in inner-city outreach.
White's lavish lifestyle, which includes a private jet, a Mercedes and a $2.1 million home in an elite neighborhood in Tampa, has generated criticism. Such amenities, she says, reflect God's blessing and notes her frequent donations to worldwide humanitarian causes.
White bought a 3,300-square-foot home just east of Boerne near the Kendall-Comal county line this month. The property, appraised at $681,570, is on 3.7 acres and includes a pool, guesthouse and three-car garage.
During a speaking engagement Aug. 12 at Family Praise Center, White arrived on stage from a side entrance and took a seat at the front next to Rick and Dustin Hawkins. Several security guards stood watch nearby.
After the service, she exited into a private room. Her message that morning touched on common motivational themes she's stated in speeches and books about overcoming obstacles through faith.
"We are in the last days of the greatest outpouring of God's spirit and even though we ugly, come on, some of us have a mess," she said. "We don't look like ministry material. We don't act like ministry material. But we are fruitful because we have a heart towards God that is pure and hands that are clean."
Often, her sermon brought standing ovations.
Lucia Perez, a Family Praise Center member, said some people there were wondering why Paula White has been frequenting the church in recent months, but ultimately the only issue affecting them was how to deal with the abnormally large audiences she generated.
"At first, people questioned it. It was like, 'Wow, she's been here a lot,'" Perez said. "But the only thing different (for church members) was that the church was packed."
If it's so amicable why do they have to divorce? Because he's not giving her the 'fulfillment' she needs? Because she's not giving him the 'fulfillment' he needs?
Family Praise Center was founded by Hawkins in 1993 and his son Dustin Hawkins is pastor. Both men got divorced in February. ... Norris said neither Dustin nor Rick Hawkins was available for comment.... she is serving as the "spiritual overseer" for Dustin Hawkins.
Birds of a feather.
Why would anyone keep listening to these people?
Seems she has become too popular?
What God has joined, let no man put asunder.
Maybe God hasn’t joined them...
Or do they plan to openly live in sin? Or is their enterprise only about making money.What scriptural basis do they claim for the divorce.
shalom b'shem Yah'shua
Malachi 2:16 - “I hate divorce,” says the Lord God of Israel, “and I hate a man’s covering himself with violence as well as with his garment,” says the Lord Almighty. So guard yourself in your spirit, and do not break faith
“We are in the last days of the greatest outpouring of God’s spirit and even though we ugly, come on, some of us have a mess,” she said. “We don’t look like ministry material. We don’t act like ministry material. But we are fruitful because we have a heart towards God that is pure and hands that are clean.”
What utter bunk. Paula, you and Randy AIN’T ministry material, and never were. Huckster clowns.
White is a rising TV evangelist who has widespread appeal among evangelical Christians,
Really? I'd never, ever heard of her until reading this article.
White's lavish lifestyle, which includes a private jet, a Mercedes and a $2.1 million home in an elite neighborhood in Tampa, has generated criticism. Such amenities, she says, reflect God's blessing
But from the signs, I'd say she travels in circles I pay no attention to.
"Oh, Lord won't you buy me
a Mercedes-Benz
My friends all have Porche's
I must make ammends"
I know the Scripture tells us not to rejoice when our enemy suffers, but I cannot help but smile a wee bit, wondering if folk who buy the clap-trap doctrine of these prosperity pimps who teach name-it and claim-it will put two and two together. If the faith in faith doctrine is true, how could any of its proponents and practitioners suffer?
Just like the fool in Miami who claims he is Jesus the Christ as well as the anti-christ. His wife doesn’t believe him, but thousands of deceived do.
The Great Apostasy is here!
I doubt it. Discernment isn't a strong gift in folks who fall for these 'preachers'.
Re: “Why would anyone keep listening to these people?”
The blible tells us: Then if anyone says to you, ‘Look, here is the Christ!’ or, ‘Look, He is there!’ do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders
To deceive, if possible, - EVEN the elect.
I have not only problems with Paula - but others televevangelist women who wear tons of makeup and jewelry, wigs,
And NEVER wear the same outfit twice.
THAT is called avarice (An inordinate desire for gaining and possessing wealth; greed) - It’s the same sin as gluttony - only a gluttony of materialism!
I find it very hard to receive their messages even though the speakers are great.
How are you doing dear? I have prayed hard for you.
Never heard of ‘em. What’s their hair look like?
You shouldn’t smile when this happens, you should pray for those who are in error to repent to get back to their roots and to the Truth. God brings correction on those He loves like it says in Hebrews 12.
King David and Solomon and others had moments in their lives when they slipped out of godliness into bad things as well.
YBPDLNPLP
I saw her on TBN the other night and she makes this annoying gasping sound every 4th breath while she screams incoherently into the microphone delivering her plea for money.
Other than that there is nothing bizarre about her. < sarcasm>
Is this the same tele-preacher couple that were beating each other up in the Atlanta parking lot yesterday, or is this another tele-preacher couple?
I found the thread from yesterday, and that was a different tele-preacher couple that was beating on each other in the parking lot.
Oh well: another day, another divorce among the self-proclaimed paragons of Christian video virtue.
As you said: How can anyone not see that the “spirit” that has “blessed” these people with a Mercedes and a multi-million dollar mansion is NOT the Holy Spirit, but some other spirit entirely? Of all these media prophets, a few are merely misguided while the rest are clearly possessed.
LOL!
I saw the pic and my initial reaction was, “Oh no, could it be *that* one?” There’s one crazy dame I’ve passed by on the tele a few times - I had to stop because of the “train wreck” effect. I wasn’t sure until I read your description. Yup, that’s the one! If that schtick of hers is indicative of the tone of the marital discord, it’s no wonder the marriage went down in flames.
I have problems with people clapping in church although it's becoming the norm. It not only reflect poorly upon the reverence of the congregation but self-gratifies the person people are clapping. Church has become entertainment rather than worship.
Her divorce is treated as ho-hum by her husband, her, and most likely the congregation. In actuality they should be kick out of the pulpit until they get their act together. Does anyone think they will ever council or preach against divorce when they have parted "amicably"?
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