Paula White facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paula White
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White in 2021
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| Senior Advisor to the President for Faith and Opportunity Initiative | |
| In office May 3, 2018 – January 20, 2021 |
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| President | Donald Trump |
| Preceded by | Melissa Rogers |
| Succeeded by | Melissa Rogers |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Paula Michelle Furr
April 20, 1966 Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S. |
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| Children | 1 |
Paula Michelle White-Cain (born April 20, 1966) is an American Christian leader and speaker. She is known for her television programs and for advising former President Donald Trump.
White was a key advisor for Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. She gave the opening prayer at his inauguration ceremony in 2017. This made her the first female religious leader to do so. In 2019, Trump named her a special advisor for the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives.
From 2014 to 2019, White was the main pastor at New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida. This was a large, non-denominational church. Before that, she helped start and lead Without Walls International Church in Tampa, Florida, with her former husband, Randy White.
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Early Life and Faith
Paula White was born in Tupelo, Mississippi. Her parents owned a toy and craft store. When she was young, her parents faced difficulties. Her mother moved with Paula and her brother to Memphis, Tennessee.
Later, her mother remarried a U.S. Navy admiral. Her family then moved to the Washington, D.C. area. Paula graduated from Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland.
In 1984, while living in Maryland, she became a Christian. She joined the Damascus Church of God. She has shared that she felt a strong calling from God soon after this.
Christian Ministry
Starting Without Walls International Church
In 1991, Paula and Randy White started the Tampa Christian Center in Tampa, Florida. The church faced money problems at first. For the first two years, they could not pay themselves. They relied on government help and gifts from others.
Between 1991 and 1998, the church moved several times. It finally settled at a new location and changed its name to Without Walls International Church.
By 1999, the church was holding services in a large outdoor tent. It reported about 5,000 people attending each week. Its outreach programs helped many more people in the community.
The church grew and bought more property in Tampa. It also expanded to Lakeland, Florida in 2002. At that time, the church had about 14,000 members. It offered many programs, like job training and help for public housing residents.
In 2005, Without Walls International Church bought the Carpenter's Home Church property in Lakeland. This location was renamed Without Walls Central Church.
By 2004, Without Walls International Church had grown to about 20,000 members. This made it one of the largest churches in the United States.
In 2009, Paula White became the senior pastor of Without Walls International Church. She took over from her former husband, Randy White. In 2011, she also became the senior pastor of the Lakeland location. However, in 2012, Randy White returned to lead the Tampa church.
Financial Challenges
By 2008, Without Walls International Church faced financial difficulties. It put both its Tampa and Lakeland properties up for sale. The church worked to manage its debts.
In 2014, when Paula White was leading a different church, Without Walls International Church filed for a type of financial protection. This was due to its large debts. Paula White stated that she was no longer involved with Without Walls at that time.
Paula White Ministries and TV
Paula White started her television show, Paula White Today, in 2001. By 2006, her show was on nine different TV networks. These included Trinity Broadcast Network and Black Entertainment Television.
She considers T. D. Jakes to be her spiritual mentor. He invited her to speak at his conferences. She also spoke at his Mega Fest events in Atlanta.
White has also ministered to famous people like Michael Jackson, Gary Sheffield, and Darryl Strawberry.
In 2011, Paula White was chosen to be the new senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida. She officially started this role on January 1, 2012. She promised the church members that she would help them grow.
In May 2019, White announced she was stepping down as senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center. Her son and his wife took over as the new leaders. The church was renamed City of Destiny. White shared her plans to help start many new churches and a university.
During the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, White spoke about her ministry. She said her ministry helps people who are "soul sick" or "spiritually sick." She asked for donations to support this work.
Role with Donald Trump
Paula White became a personal minister to Donald Trump after he saw her TV show. They first spoke in 2002. She visited him in Atlantic City for private Bible studies. She also appeared on his television show.
In 2016, White was part of Trump's group of evangelical advisors during his presidential campaign. She gave the opening prayer at his inauguration ceremony in 2017.
After Trump became president, White continued to advise him spiritually. She held prayer meetings with him at the White House. In 2019, she was appointed to an official advisory role for the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives.
White strongly supported Trump's decision in 2017 to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. She also supported his reelection campaign. In 2020, she opened his reelection campaign rally with a prayer. She also used her religious platform to encourage people to vote for Trump.
Before the January 6 United States Capitol attack in 2021, White offered an opening prayer at the rally.
Political Views
White has spoken in favor of Trump's immigration policies. She defended the policy of holding immigrant children. She claimed that the conditions were not harsh. She said that children received meals and were in clean facilities.
Beliefs and Criticisms
Paula White supports prosperity theology. This belief teaches that God blesses people with health and wealth when they have faith.
Some religious leaders have criticized her beliefs. For example, some have questioned her academic background.
Her ministry has also focused on modern "apostolic and prophetic" ideas. These are common in some independent Christian groups. She sees herself as an "apostolic leader."
White has denied any accusations of teaching wrong beliefs.
In 2018, while discussing immigration, White said that Jesus migrated to Egypt. She stated that he did not break any laws. She said if he had broken laws, he would have been sinful. Some critics disagreed, saying Jesus was a refugee and was crucified under Roman law.
In 2020, White was criticized for a sermon where she prayed against "Satanic pregnancies." She later explained on Twitter that this was a metaphor. She said it referred to fighting evil plans, not actual pregnancies. Scholars have said her words were part of a "spiritual warfare" prayer.
In 2021, White took part in a "Prayer Rally for Peace on the Korean Peninsula." This event was hosted by the Unification Church. During the event, she praised Hak Ja Han Moon, the leader of the Unification Church.
Personal Life
Marriages
Paula White has been married three times.
Her first marriage was as a teenager. She married Dean Knight in 1985. They divorced in 1989.
She met Randy White in 1987. They married in 1990. Soon after, they moved to Florida and started Without Walls International Church. They divorced in 2007. They have stated that their divorce was friendly and they remain friends.
In 2015, she married Jonathan Cain, a musician from the rock band Journey.
Family
Paula White has one son, Bradley Knight, from her first marriage. In 2019, she named him a senior leader at her church.
She is also a stepmother to her second husband's three children. She is also a stepmother to her third husband's three children.
See also
- Seven Mountain Mandate
