Randy White (pastor)
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Randy White | |
|---|---|
 Bayshore Blvd Tampa, FL | |
| Born | January 11, 1958 Frederick, Maryland, U.S. |
| Occupation | Pastor |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Randall "Randy" Alan White (born January 11, 1958) is an American pastor and proponent of prosperity theology. He is the co-founder of Without Walls International Church, a large non-denominational church in Florida.[1]
Senate inquiry
Without Walls International Church was founded by Randy White and Paula White in 1991.[1] From 1991 to 1998, the church changed locations three times until they secured the property located at 2511 North Grady Avenue in Tampa, Florida.[2][verification needed] 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.[3]
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.[4][5] 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.[6]
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.[7] In 2008, it 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.[8]
On July 12, 2009, White resigned as pastor and bishop of Without Walls International Church, and Paula White, his ex-wife, was named the successor. Randy White said he was stepping down as pastor because of health and would still remain connected with the church in a different position.[9][10] Randy White returned to the staff of Without Walls in July 2012.[11]
In 2011, Without Walls Central Church was vacated due to debts.[12] In 2014, the United States Bankruptcy Court required a sale of properties;[13] the following year, the church building was purchased and demolished by developers.[14][15][16] In August 2014, Without Walls announced that it had paid its debts and was moving to a new Tampa location.[11]
On November 6, 2007, United States Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of Without Walls International Church by the United States Senate Committee on Finance along with five other ministries.[17] Grassley asked the ministries to divulge financial information.[18][19] When CBS News reported the story, Paula White's ministry denied any wrongdoing,[17] and on March 31, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee received a joint financial report from Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries.[20] The Alliance Defense Fund protested the investigation and the National Religious Broadcasters said the questions Senator Grassley asked were too broad.[21]
On January 6, 2011, Senator Grassley concluded the investigation with no penalties and no definitive findings of wrongdoing.[21]
