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Paula White Returning With 'Life By Design' Seminar

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By BAIRD HELGESON, The Tampa Tribune

Published: March 11, 2008

Updated: 03/10/2008 10:46 pm

TAMPA - Paula White is coming home this week.

The co-founder of Without Walls International Church will bring her Life By Design conference to the Tampa church Thursday night through Saturday.

White, who faces a U.S. senator's inquiry about possible violations of the ministry's tax-exempt status, has drawn thousands of attendees for conferences in New York and San Antonio, Texas, in recent months.

The event is part church service and part empowerment workshop.

"My goal as a life coach is to mentor and encourage individuals to be all they can be, to understand who they are and their unique purpose in life," White said in a statement before a conference in New York in July. "There is a plan designated for each person, and I believe this meeting will help enable people to walk in that plan."

White, who is a life coach and runs a worldwide television ministry, could not be reached for comment.

Guests include Bishop T.D. Jakes, Noel Jones, and CeCe Winans. The musical guest will be Javen, a rhythm-and-blues artist.

Tickets are available for $25 at www.paulawhite.org. White and her ex-husband, Randy, created a stir in the evangelical community in August when they announced they were getting a divorce after nearly 18 years of marriage.

He runs Without Walls and she formed a partnership with a ministry in San Antonio called The Epicenter: A Place For Life.

White now splits her time between a condo in New York and a home in San Antonio.

The conference was relocated to Tampa from Without Walls Central in Lakeland, which can seat about 10,000. Without Walls in Tampa can hold about 4,000 people.

Paula White's officials would not say why they changed locations.

"We expect a full house." said White's spokeswoman, Sheila Withum.

The Life By Design conference in New York in July drew about 3,000 people, according to news reports.

Of the sellout crowd in New York, White said in the statement: "This is a clear indication that people want to live a life of wholeness - spirit, soul and body and want to understand their unique purpose in life."

White will return to Tampa during a tumultuous time for Without Walls and her organization, Paula White Ministries.

In November, U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, sent letters to the Whites and heads of five other ministries questioning whether they have used church money to bankroll their lavish lifestyles.

So far, the Whites and two others have refused to turn over any information.

Grassley is expected to send letters soon reiterating that he could subpoena the information or call public hearings if they do not cooperate.

Reporter Baird Helgeson can be reached at bhelgeson@tampatrib.com or (813) 259-7668.

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