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Without Walls Church On 'Donor Alert' List

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By BAIRD HELGESON and MICHELLE BEARDEN

bhelgeson@tampatrib.com mbearden@tampatrib.com

Published: December 17, 2008

TAMPA - Bad news keeps coming to Without Walls International Church.

A ministry watchdog group added the Tampa megachurch to a list of ministries that don't meet its standards for donations, the cash-strapped ministry sold its private jet and fire inspectors found the church has not resolved about 20 fire code violations.

Ministrywatch.com listed Without Walls and Paula White Ministries among 30 on its "donor alert" list. The ministries do not meet the group's requirements for integrity, accountability and openness.

"Donors want to know that a nonprofit organization is doing the right thing before God and man, even when no one is watching," said Rodney Pitzer, a spokesman for the group.

Without Walls' and Paula White Ministries' failure to comply with U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley's inquiry into their finances prompted the group to include them on the list, Pitzer said. They are among six ministries Grassley is questioning.

Grassley's office is working with attorneys from Without Walls to get the ministry to comply, said Theresa Pattara, tax counsel for Grassley. "Staff has been collecting information from whistleblowers and other sources on not just the six ministries but also others which have been referred to the committee."

The "donor alert" listing is the latest blow to a ministry once recognized as one of the nation's fastest-growing churches.

On Dec. 11, Without Walls sold its private Gulfstream jet, according to records obtained by The Tampa Tribune. That occurred about a month after the Evangelical Christian Credit Union began foreclosure proceedings against the church and its Lakeland branch. The credit union said the church defaulted on a $1 million loan due in August, which prompted the lender to also begin foreclosure proceedings on another $24.5 million in loans.

It's not known how much the church made from the sale of the aircraft, built in 1970. Similar models are on the market for up to $1.2 million.

Without Walls founder Randy White did not respond to messages seeking comment.

On Wednesday, Tampa fire inspectors visited the church to see whether code violations in the two buildings had been corrected. That was the deadline set by the city's code enforcement board.

The inspectors reported that the four-story administrative building is vacant and work is under way, said Tampa Fire Rescue Capt. Bill Wade. The staff has moved to the sanctuary, where work is also under way.

Inspectors will submit a report to the board and return in about a week to check progress, Wade said. The board will review the report and decide whether to begin levying fines.

Fire inspectors discovered the problems in February, but sent the matter to the code board when the church failed to address the issues.

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at (813) 259-7668. Reporter Michelle Bearden can be reached at (813) 259-7613.

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