Without Walls Megachurch Surprises Church Member With Car
Without Walls International Church, led by Bishop Randy White, surprised a member of the church, who usually spends two hours on a bus to attend services, with a car on Sunday.
Members of the nondenominational charismatic church in Florida had already donated money to the young man, identified as Donye, a week ago after White told the congregation about his long commute.
"The bus takes him two hours one way and 15 stops!" White, founder and senior pastor, said at the end of his sermon on Feb. 16 as he shared Donye's story. White noted that although Donye – who is on the praise team and is in White's Timothy class – does not have a car, he still finds a way to come to church.
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"He is so faithful and loyal," White wrote on his Facebook Page that Sunday. "God blessed his socks off today as people just started blessing him with money. It really hit home. My heart is to help people, and today, God showed up in a powerful way."
Afterward, a church member sent a text message to White, saying, "I am calling Donye later and devoting my week to finding him a car if I had to give my entire check this week. I love you so much and who you are. I understand your heart and am so honored to be under your leadership! I will!"
A Sunday later (Feb. 23), the church was ready to surprise Donye with a car of his own, Without Walls said in a statement.
Without Walls was founded by White and his then wife Paula White in 1991. While the church had grown to be one of the largest in the country, it began to struggle in 2007. Along with the Whites' divorce, they were among six televangelists being probed by the Senate for possible misuse of their nonprofit status. Some of the church staff turned on the Whites and went to the media with their complaints, accusing the couple of focusing on money and fame. Randy and Paula White are seen as subscribing to the prosperity gospel.
The church went into debt and the congregation began to shrink. Randy White resigned in 2009, citing health reasons. Paula White led the church until June 2012, when she was named to succeed Zachery Tims as pastor of New Destiny Christian Center near Orlando. Tims was found dead last year in a New York City hotel.
Randy White returned to lead Without Walls in 2012.
According to The Ledger, Without Walls is currently in a foreclosure fight over its Lakeland property, which once served as an additional location for Without Walls services. The Lakeland church has been closed since 2011.
