Randi and Paula White (of Church Without Walls) anounce their divorce

[Father Rick]

You know... it's really sad that "ministry" can take people's lives in "different directions" to the point that the a couple in ministry have to divorce.

http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/aug/23/church-change/?news-breaking

Things like this just really bother me!

 

[SharonL]

The enemy never sleeps - always looking for those who minister that they can destroy.

 

[Alpine]

The most telling part of the article

Without Walls church board member Alick Clarke of Acton, Calif., a longtime friend, said the impending divorce is sad news.
"They were like my heroes. I really love them," he said. "But I'm also a little [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ed off. I didn't help them build their dream to have them throw it all away."
An Australian-born businessman, Clarke said he's given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the church since it was founded by the Whites in 1991 as the South Tampa Christian Center.
He partially blamed the couple's breakup on their devotion to preaching a prosperity message, exhorting followers to give more money to the church in order to be blessed with greater wealth.
"Too many ministries have become big business. That message is desecrating the church today," said Clarke, adding that he was disturbed to learn that with revenues at $40 million last year, the church was $22 million in debt.

 

[TimmyonDrums]

disturbed to learn that with revenues at $40 million last year, the church was $22 million in debt.

WOW, just wow.

Aren't they a little old to be getting a divorce. I mean, really. Isn't the old man like in his early 80's or sometin...

I mean he's put with the old lady for how many years, surely he can hang on another 5-10 years or so...

 

[gracechick]

Things that can be shaken will be shaken it would appear.

 

[TheMatmanReturns]

The most telling part of the article

Now, let's be fair. $40 MM in income as compared to $22 MM in debt is not a bad ratio. This is a 181% ROR over five years. This is not bad for a business.

Financial analysis aside, this is sad. You could see the heartbreak in the woman's picture. May God heal them from the inside out.

 

[LivingByFaith]

This is so sad to see such heartbreak in people's lives. Looking at Paula's face in that picture truly is worth a thousand words. I'll be praying for them, and that God will help them reconcile and hopefully not be so focused on money.

 

[JimB]

I will certainly pray for them. Divorce is a horrible solution to a problem that could be fixed if the parties really wanted it fixed. It’s called a permanent solution to a temporary problem. A marriage has to be more important than a "ministry" (believe me, I learned the hard way).

The interesting (and perhaps sadly telling) part of the announcement was:

Randy said Friday morning that he assumed the entire service would be broadcast. But Paula's TV associates decided it should not be aired, so the audio and video were cut.
​

Apparently, they did not work together. And, apparently, a “successful” ministry, TV program and a $1-million annual salary does not bring happiness nor fulfillment.

~Jim

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.​

 

[New_Wineskin]

The replies on that page from those that had been in the group are very interesting .

Money is demanded of the members while the leaders get rich . And , people will continue to be there and give them money . Fools and their money ...

 

[ShammahBenJudah]

We're certainly praying for them, to reunite them. The thing that troubles me is that they both plan to continue in ministry as if its OK.

Maybe they should take a break and get their lives back in order which ever way they're going. How can one minister order in God's house if they can't minister order in their own? They won't. I'm sure it won't be intentional, but they will minister the order they have to their sheep.

It urges us to pray for all of our leaders to be empowered to walk in integrity and wholeness. To lose our focus on "My Ministry" and gain a vision for God's people.

 

[JimB]

We're certainly praying for them, to reunite them. The thing that troubles me is that they both plan to continue in ministry as if its OK.

*****

That’s because they did it before and it worked. Both already have failed first marriages (according to the article).

~Jim

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.​

 

[JimB]

The replies on that page from those that had been in the group are very interesting .

Money is demanded of the members while the leaders get rich . And , people will continue to be there and give them money . Fools and their money ...

As sympathetic as I am to the trauma they must be facing, the situation can be remedied if, as NW suggest, they put their energies and love into saving their marriage instead of continuing their “ministries”. The choice is theirs.

Here’s an interesting part of the article:

Without Walls church board member Alick Clarke of Acton, Calif., a longtime friend, said the impending divorce is sad news.

"They were like my heroes. I really love them," he said. "But I'm also a little [bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse][bless and do not curse]ed off. I didn't help them build their dream to have them throw it all away."

An Australian-born businessman, Clarke said he's given hundreds of thousands of dollars to the church since it was founded by the Whites in 1991 as the South Tampa Christian Center.

He partially blamed the couple's breakup on their devotion to preaching a prosperity message, exhorting followers to give more money to the church in order to be blessed with greater wealth.

"Too many ministries have become big business. That message is desecrating the church today," said 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."
​

~Jim

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.​

 

[vanilla8]

Sad, and the report is somewhat disturbing. They should take time out or they will burn out spiritually, if they haven't already.

 

[DevotiontoBible]

This is an example of what happens when the prosperity gospel replaces the real Gospel in one's life.

 

[JeCrois]

Wow...

I can't believe that two people in their position and Christian stance would allow this to happen. What kind of example are they setting for the multitudes that they reach? I'm with you, Jim...if they wanted this marriage to work and submitted to God, this probably would never have happened.

Satan has climbed into this situation and it sounds to me as if they aren't doing enough to put a stop to it.

This reminds me of a youth pastor at my church years and years ago before I even really started going to youth services was caught in an affair. These things are so elevated when they happen to people in positions of some kind of leadership because it not only hurts themselves but tons of other people.

Sad, sad...

 

[dkbwarrior]

This is an example of what happens when the prosperity gospel replaces the real Gospel in one's life.

There was a local charismatic church in our area where the pastor and his wife divorced and she married the youth pastor and the church split.They were heavily against the prosperity message.

The fact that they were against the prosperity message, probably had about as much to do with their divorce, as the fact that these two are for the prosperity message has to do with this divorce.

Seriously, please...

I agree with the previous poster who said they should concentrate on their marriage, rather than the ministry. This should not happen, and is a terrible witness.

Peace...

 

[DevotiontoBible]

There was a local charismatic church in our area where the pastor and his wife divorced and she married the youth pastor and the church split.They were heavily against the prosperity message.

The fact that they were against the prosperity message, probably had about as much to do with their divorce, as the fact that these two are for the prosperity message has to do with this divorce.

Seriously, please...

I agree with the previous poster who said they should concentrate on their marriage, rather than the ministry. This should not happen, and is a terrible witness.

Peace...

I was referring to this case. There are a lot of divorces for many different reasons but I haven't seen a marriage divorce where the husaband loved the wife as Christ loves the Church and the wife submitted to her husband as the Bible says.

 

[dkbwarrior]

I was referring to this case. There are a lot of divorces for many different reasons but I haven't seen a marriage divorce where the husaband loved the wife as Christ loves the Church and the wife submitted to her husband as the Bible says.

I agree with you on that.

 

[JimB]

There was a local charismatic church in our area where the pastor and his wife divorced and she married the youth pastor and the church split.They were heavily against the prosperity message.

The fact that they were against the prosperity message, probably had about as much to do with their divorce, as the fact that these two are for the prosperity message has to do with this divorce.

Seriously, please...

I agree with the previous poster who said they should concentrate on their marriage, rather than the ministry. This should not happen, and is a terrible witness.

Peace...

Yeah, but the charge was made by a friend and board member of the church who probably knows the situation in question better than you do.

~Jim

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.​

 

[dkbwarrior]

Yeah, but the charge was made by a friend and board member of the church who probably knows the situation in question better than you do.

~Jim

I can explain it to you, but I can't understand it for you.​

I know, I read his statement. But he didn't explain how the two were connected. They could prosper together as well as apart, and they are much less likely to prosper if they divorce. It doesn't logically follow.

However, I think I will leave this one alone, as I have never been very comfortable personally with this ministry. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying anything bad about them, and I pray that God will lead them into healing, but I never felt led to participate in their ministry.

Peace...