Paula White & Randy to Divorce: Big Business Church to Blame?
By Lynda Johnson
Aug 27, 2007
Randy and Paula White were the founders and co-pastors of Without Walls International Church, one of the largest "mega Churches" in the country. They are divorcing and announced it to their congregation last week. Did the big business of the church cause the split of this couple?
Paula White & Randy to Divorce: Big Business Church to Blame?
Lillian Kwon of the Christian Post writes that he Whites preach a prosperity message and notes that critics say their message of prosperity were at the expense of humility and family values. "Too many ministries have become big business. That message is desecrating the church today," said Without Walls church board member Alick Clarke, adding that he was disturbed to learn that with revenues at $40 million last year, the church was $22 million in debt. "That's just not right."
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The Whites have declined to say what the church pays them but say the church now supports more than 90 missions and in-house and community outreach programs. "What they've done for this community, people have no idea," Tampa physician Sydel LeGrande told the local Tribune.
"I know they're not perfect. I've heard some of the things said around town, and some of it is probably true, but this much I know: God has placed a tremendous call on their lives. It requires a lot of them," said LeGrande, also a congregant at Without Walls, known as the perfect church for people who aren’t, for a dozen years.
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MSN reports that Michael Chitwood, whose financial services company devised their compensation package, said he recalled they have taken an annual salary as high as $1.5 million collectively, though most years it's closer to $600,000. Their multimillion-dollar ministry includes a private jet. They were approved to take up to $3 million collectively, said the president of Chitwood & Chitwood of Tennessee.
Randy White has said much of their wealth comes from more than 23 successful business ventures, including real estate and his role as a pitchman for Great HealthWorks' Omega XL fatty acid pills.
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The announcement: Randy called Paula to the podium about an hour into the service. He was somber; Paula appeared choked up. "It's the most difficult decision I've ever had to make in my entire life," he told the congregation, describing Paula as an exceptional woman, mother and preacher.
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