Parousia, The Second Coming of Jesus Christ: Did Paula White Lead President Trump to Christ?
Paula White is a televangelist and recently recounted one of her favorite stories — about when Donald Trump reached out to her in 2011 for guidance on a possible White House run. “Would you bring some people around me to pray?” she said he asked her. “I really want to hear from God.” Paula White then recalled that she along with about 30 ministers from different evangelical Christian traditions at Trump Tower in Manhattan.
After the prayer session, when Donald Trump asked her what she thought, she responded: “I don’t feel it’s the right timing.” She listened, she continued, and the two talked and prayed about the matter over the next four years. When Paula White again gathered religious leaders at Trump Tower in September 2015, she backed the decision he’d already made to run for President of the United States. https://secondcoming.org/
Because of Paula White, evangelicals have “an unprecedented opportunity to have our voice and say heard” in the Oval Office, says Tim Clinton, president of the American Association of Christian Counselors.” Mr. Clinton believes God has placed Paula in a unique place for such a time as this.”
Not all Christians, including evangelicals, are fans of the wealthy, thrice-married White, who has long been associated with the prosperity gospel, a set of beliefs that says God will reward faith, and very generous giving, with financial blessings. Detractors point to a congressional investigation of her former church’s finances and accusations that she has taken advantage of her mostly African American parishioners through her fundraising. Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore has called her a “charlatan,” conservative Christian writer Erick Erickson has said she’s a “Trinity-denying heretic.”
Both the role of White and the role of the evangelical advisory council in the Trump administration are opaque, to say the least. The White House Office of Public Liaison (OPL), which is charged with outreach to interest groups, did not respond to my requests for details about how often White is there, who is on the council or whom she meets with. Moore told me that there is no official list of council members and that, while OPL issues invitations to religious leaders who visit, White and other members of the council supply the names.
The administration’s lack of specifics about the council has drawn criticism. “With this council, it is murky as to who is on it and what role they have,” says Robert P. Jones, author and CEO of the nonprofit Public Religion Research Institute. “It looks more like another campaign arm than a representative group.” https://studio.youtube.com/channel/UCIHo35zNI1a7f7I0uZQpfNQ/playlists
White says her position is that of a “faith adviser” and head of a council with an inner core of about three dozen evangelical leaders who communicate by conference call and occasional visits to Washington. About 10 to 15 leaders who are very engaged receive daily communications from OPL about matters important to Trump, such as religious liberty or criminal justice reform. The entire council rarely meets as a group, but 10 or so members will gather at times at the White House, depending on the issue the administration is seeking feedback about. White adds, however, that many other religious leaders have visited the White House for “listening sessions” and have input with the administration. (1)
- WashingtonPost.com Julia Dinn November 4, 2017