After a rare joint appearance Thursday night, when the co-founders delivered the news to a stunned congregation, Randy White returned to the pulpit alone, as expected. White told the Tribune last week that his wife had returned to New York Friday morning, after they made their announcement.
That wasn't unusual. In the past year, as her own ministry has evolved, Paula White's appearances at the North Grady Avenue church have become sporadic.
So, rather than say to the congregation, "I need to take some time away from my position so Paula and I can work on our marriage"--something Charles Stanley should have done when he was going through his divorce--Randy decides that the money is just too good, and he's gonna stay entrenched in his position. And before you say, "They just announced their divorce last Thursday," you don't just wake up one morning and say, "Hey, ya know, I think we oughta divorce." This is a situation that has been developing for some time.
Well, towards the end of the Sunday service, just to play on people's emotions a little more,
...White made his way to the podium, as his congregation cheered, buried his face in a black cloth and appeared to sob. Shortly after receiving a supportive hug from Messer, White appeared to crumble completely. His shoulders sagged, and he laid his head on his arm at the podium and gave way to even deeper sobbing. Eventually, Messer and a host of black-suited ministers gathered, laid their hands on White and formed a tight prayer circle around him.Maybe Randy should have thought a little more before he even started the California project. Because obviously this was NOT something of God. Unless you think that God starts things and doesn't finish them. But we know that's not true.
On the video monitor behind White, the words "international church" appeared to hover over White's prostrate body, as though he were carrying them on his back.
Intended or not, the symbolism may prove prophetic.
In his interview with the Tribune last week, White said he plans to resume his role as the church's senior pastor and that he has put on hold plans to start another church in Malibu, Calif.
Independent Conservative has an in-depth analysis of the factors behind the Whites divorce--and its connection to the Bynum/Weeks mess (can you say "TD Jakes"?)--over at his blog. I found this interesting--
Without Walls Founders Divorcing - A longer article about the divorce announcement.
In the article, Paula White seems to defy all her statements of how giving her money or other deeds will grant earthly success when she says:‘I wish there was a magic formula that gave you guarantees in life,’ she said.
She never mentions no guarantee when she’s asking for money and claiming it will cause an “angel” to stand watch over you. I’m sure even the angels turn up their noses when she runs such scams!
