Church Without Walls Faces Forclosure. Randy White Shocked!
- Posted by: Todd
- Posted on: Mon, November 10, 2008
- Viewed 57
- (28) comments so far
Credit union spokesman Jac La Tour said the company does not call in loans cavalierly.
“We worked with them for a number of months to reach an agreement,” La Tour said. “When that process was unsuccessful, we had to file foreclosure. It wasn’t a quick decision.”
La Tour denied the accusation that the 44-year-old credit union is trying to foreclose on the church to confiscate the property after learning there was a waiting buyer, saying his company aims to help ministries, not sell real estate.
Word of the possible foreclosure at Without Walls comes as the internationally known megachurch and its celebrity pastors are undergoing one of the ministry’s most difficult years.
In the last year, White has divorced, lost a daughter to brain cancer and seen attendance at his church decline sharply.
Your thoughts?
The last time I wrote about the Church Without Walls, Randy White said the church was making a comeback. It was one of my better sarcastic posts, I humbly admit. Now comes word from the Tampa Bay newspaper that the future of Without Walls International Church, once one of the fastest-growing congregations in the country, is in jeopardy as the church faces foreclosure of its Tampa property.
The California-based Evangelical Christian Credit Union (which, I might ad, has a great reputation) holds the church's mortgage, and filed foreclosure proceedings against Without Walls Tuesday of last week. Court records show the church defaulted on a loan that was due in August. The credit union is demanding immediate repayment of that loan and the $12-million mortgage on Without Walls' Grady Avenue property.
The Rev. Randy White, Without Walls' pastor, said he is shocked by the move. The pastor said church officials thought they were actively negotiating with the credit union as late as Tuesday afternoon when they received an e-mail from credit union executives.
"In my opinion, it's nothing more than greed from a Christian bank who's supposed to be working with Christians," White said. "I don't think Bank of America or SunTrust would ever do what this bank's done. I think it's because they're drowning, they're pulling so many people in with them. They're scrambling."
No, Randy... it's because you didn't pay your loan.
Comments
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Katrina on Mon, November 10, 2008
Randy said: “In my opinion, it’s nothing more than greed from a Christian bank who’s supposed to be working with Christians,”…
Well Randy….if you were Christian, I’m sure they’d work with you. Personally, I hope this is the beginning of the Lord taking a whip if chords to the false teachers and prophets who are making our Fathers house into a den of thieves. I hope this breaks him to the point where he humbles himself towards God and repents and is truly saved. Why do true Christians tolerate this kind of “tom-foolery!” WE should be the ones who stand up and point out these charlatans to put and end to false teachings and preserve the purity of Christianity. But because the world is in the church instead of the other way around we don’t want to be seen as intolerant or judgmental.
Randy & Paula, I will pray for you to surrender to Jesus as Lord and to quit worshipping the fame & wealth you have accumulated because of the lies you perpetrate. Let’s all pray for them as well as the rest.
Lynn on Mon, November 10, 2008
Though the Bible says not to be judgmental, God help us if we don’t judge some things by the Word of God. When the Whites stated that the divorce wouldn’t hurt their ministries, I think God had to step in and say, excuse me. I hate to see churches go though this in front of the world; however, I am glad to see it happen from the perspective that I now have hope that God’s people are finally waking up and leaving these ministries that make a mockery of God. In the past, most stay and make excuses. I long for the day when the church actually lives righteously in front of the world.
Don on Mon, November 10, 2008
I’ve had dealings with ECCU (and its predecessor, CBCU) for over 40 years and am very familiar with the organization. It is not only one of the largest and most successfully run credit unions in the country today, but is almost, if not totally, devoid of any loan delinquincies. This is the result of a very carefully managed loan portfolio and a typically thorough vetting process for church loans. ECCU is highly committed to the success of the local church. Their record and reputation is stellar.
Randy White says, “In my opinion, it’s nothing more than greed from a Christian bank who’s supposed to be working with Christians…I don’t think Bank of America or SunTrust would ever do what this bank’s done. I think it’s because they’re drowning, they’re pulling so many people in with them. They’re scrambling.” He couldn’t be more wrong. While I’m sorry the church is facing this financial calamity, I would be hard pressed to believe ECCU is not operating at the highest level of integrity in the matter. Like most issues, time will reveal both sides.
Richard Young on Mon, November 10, 2008
Randy and Paula White have made a lot of mistakes, but they have helped a lot of people as well. The Lord will judge his own and take care of his own. Let us not interfere.
Richard Young author
Rise of Lakewood Church and Joel Osteen
The Journey of TD Jakes
Mark Triplett on Mon, November 10, 2008
I truly have no opinion about this church with the exception that if we TRULY believe that God will supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory…, why did this church, and most churches for that matter, feel the need to put their trust in a bank instead of the Maker of the Universe?
Does Romans 13:8 mean nothing? “Owe no man anything but to love one another…” Or how about Deuteronomy 15:6
“...thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not borrow; and thou shalt reign over many nations, but they shall not reign over thee” or Deuteronomy 28:12
The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.
Borrowing makes the bank the master and God’s church the slave.
I work at a church that has been debt-free for over 30 years and in that 30 years we have built 3 new buildings and are now beginning construction of a new $30 million auditorium all paid for in cash. In the end, God gets the glory for what He has done and not the First Bank Around the Corner.
Please don’t say that it isn’t realistic or it can’t be done, my church has done it for years. It must be God’s timing and not ours!
Derek Vreeland on Mon, November 10, 2008
My thoughts are much more pragmatic.
I hope this sends the message that large churches should be careful about building bigger buildings. It may be a much more sounder financial move to open up multiple campuses or invest funds in planting new churches.
Again this is not a ethical statement as much as a pragmatic one. I am not against mega-churches, I just wonder if it is always the best move in invest in larger facilities, particularly when the under thirty generation seems to be much more interested in smaller gatherings. Going into debt to build a stadium may leave the next generation with a large unusable “cathedral.”
Derek
Derek
TJ on Mon, November 10, 2008
Wow, surprising. My heart actually is breaking for the Whites. Literally a rags to riches story. Unfortunately they let the blessings over-ride the blesser. One thing I will say about their lifestyles - the prosperity “gospel” doesn’t even work for “prosperous” people.
Contrary to public opinion, banks don’t like to foreclose on property, and ABSOLUTELY despise foreclosing on churches. It’s bad business. I’m sure, even at this point, all WWIC and Randy White has to do is cut the fat, forget paying lawyers (probably the same as what they are past due) to fight this, and pay this! Seriously, when are ministries going to wake up and realize a good name is more important than plasma screens, jets, and fancy lighting?
brandy on Mon, November 10, 2008
he needs to get serious with god , get him a busharbour and start again , this time preaching jesus, and not money.
Pat on Mon, November 10, 2008
Pathetic. As to Randy’s opinion that commercial banks wouldn’t have done this, all he needs to do is read in the news about some of the banks’ scrupulous practices of late and he would know that the credit union has probably been very gracious to them.
Mark Triplett, hats off to you and your ministry for being debt free!
Ron Forseth on Mon, November 10, 2008
I don’t really know the whole story behind what happened with this pastor and church. And I don’t begrudge a lender holding a borrower accountable. But I don’t want to be found wagging my tongue at a man who is must be going through a tremendous amount of suffering. To lose a daughter and have a marriage and church collapse in rapid succession must be unspeakably painful. Lord, have your way and have mercy.
Paul J. on Mon, November 10, 2008
Maybe he can get in on the bailout bill!
CS on Mon, November 10, 2008
“No, Randy… it’s because you didn’t pay your loan.”
Ba-zing! That is exactly it.
If you agree to borrow money with certain promises and guarantees and then cannot pay it back, that usually qualifies as theft. Except, here they can legally claim the property to recoup their losses.
Of course, it doesn’t help that their doctrine and theology are messed up, and that they see this as an assault on their faith.
—
CS
Peter Hamm on Mon, November 10, 2008
Maybe they didn’t have enough faith… And this is the “storm” that came…
Just kidding, but we see people complain about the way the “bank” treats them all the time, even though they get themselves into a pickle they shouldn’t have. This seems to be just more of this fiscal irresponsibility on an institutional church level.
Katrina on Mon, November 10, 2008
I missed something earlier…Does he dare call this credit union GREEDY?!?!?! Talk about the pot calling the kettle black!
Another question would be, “Why not just believe in faith (as they teach) or sow a seed (as they teach) and God, like a slot machine, should pour out a financial blessing upon him and his ministry to cover his debt….right?”
Pastor Dan on Mon, November 10, 2008
looks the church “without walls” soon won’t have any walls… not trying to be trite but I just couldn’t escape the irony… http://www.mondaymorninginsight.com/images/smileys/smile.gif
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