''Hidden Potential'' is a television series originally hosted by Peggy Bunker, but later hosted by Brandie Malay, that helps home buyers (and viewers) visualize what their dream home could look like before they buy it. The series premiered on HGTV on October 1, 2007. In each episode, a home buyer looks at three homes that need renovation in order to meet their needs for the house. As they tour each home, a design expert show the home buyer computer-generated graphics that showcase the home's "hidden potential." In the end, the home buyer chooses one to turn into their dream home.

When the series initially started, Barry Wood was the design expert, however in later episodes Paige Rien, from another HGTV series ''Curb Appeal'', is also seen in this role.

Technology

In the show the designer has a laptop with the software "Home Design" by software maker Chief Architect to show potential renovations and estimate costs on the spot.

External links

Category:HGTV original programs

name	Paula White
birth date	April 20, 1966
birth place	Tupelo, Mississippi, U.S.
occupation	Life coach, Author, Inspirational Speaker, Philanthropist, Pastor
spouse	Member of a rock band (1984; divorced)Randy White(1990–2007; divorced)
children	1
religion	Christianity, non-denominational
website	Paula White Ministries
footnotes	}}

Paula Michelle White is a Christian author, speaker, and church leader. She is co-founder of Without Walls International Church; a large, influential, non-denominational, charismatic church with two locations in Florida. She hosts a television show, ''Paula White Today'', produced by Paula White Ministries seen on multiple networks including ''Black Entertainment Television'', and the ''Trinity Broadcast Network''. She currently is the senior pastor of both church locations for Without Walls International Church.

In many of her sermons, empowerment seminars, and books Paula White discusses her childhood traumas and teenage flirtations with self-destruction to teach about God's transforming power. Her style has been described as humorous and candid.

Early life and youth

Paula White was born Paula Michelle Furr April 20, 1966, in Tupelo, Mississippi, to Myra Joanelle and Donald Paul Furr III. Her parents owned a thriving toy and craft store. Paula and her brother, Mark, had all their needs and desires met. Donald and Myra Furr's marriage began to fail when Paula was five years old. Paula's mother left Tupelo and took her to Memphis. Paula's father followed with an ultimatum for Myra to give Paula to him or he would commit suicide. Myra refused. Later that night Donald Furr killed himself by running his car into a tree. Paula's mother became an alcoholic. While her mother worked, White was looked after by caregivers. White has she said that she was sexually and physically abused for seven years between the ages of six and thirteen, by different people on different occasions.

Paula’s mother remarried in 1975 to a military man when Paula was 9 years old . Her family later moved to the Washington D.C. area when her stepfather was stationed at the National Naval Medical Center. Paula White is a graduate of Seneca Valley High School in Germantown, Maryland.

In 1984 while living in Maryland, she was introduced to the gospel and became a Christian. On her television show in July 2005, White recounted the vision she received from God shortly after conversion: "When I was just eighteen years old and barely saved, the Lord gave me a vision that every time I opened my mouth and declared the Word of the Lord, there was a manifestation of his spirit where people were either healed, delivered, or saved. When I shut my mouth, they fell off into utter darkness and God spoke to me and said I called you to preach the gospel."

Paula White later on became a part of the National Church of God in Fort Washington under T.L. Lowery of Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee), and a small church in Gaithersburg-Damascus, Maryland area.

Christian Ministry

Without Walls International Church

Without Walls International Church, originally named South Tampa Christian Center, was founded by Paula White and Randy White (pastor) in 1991.

The church struggled financially at first, and it could not afford to pay Randy and Paula White a salary for the first two years. As a result, Randy and Paula lived on government assistance and the kindness of others. Soon the church began to grow quickly through the various outreach programs. From 1991 to 1998, the church changed locations three times until they secured the property located at 2511 North Grady Avenue in Tampa, Florida and changed the name of the church to Without Walls International Church and you can see her on television every sunday.

While the church was holding services in an outdoor tent in 1999, they reported 5,000 attendees a week and 10,000 ministered to outside of the church with 230 outreach ministries.

Without Walls International Church then purchased the property next to them at 3860 West Columbus Drive expanding their Tampa campus. The property acquired was a Canada Dry warehouse which they remodeled and is now today the main sanctuary for the church.

In 2002, Without Walls International Church began to expand to its second location in Lakeland, Florida. At this time, the church reported 14,000 members and 200 ministries including job training, evangelism among public housing projects and a teen club. On August 3, 2002, Without Walls International Church began to hold Saturday night services at Carpenter's Home Church in Lakeland renting the property. Carpenter's Home Church would later on be purchased by Without Walls International Church in 2005 for $8 million renaming the church to Without Walls Central Church.

In 2004, Without Walls International Church reported a congregation of 20,000 as the largest congregation in the area making the church the seventh largest church in the United States.

''The Tampa Tribune'' reported on March 5, 2008 that Without Walls International Church has put its 4,500–seat Tampa church up for sale, along with its grounds and offices and television studio, asking $30 million.

Paula White Ministries

Paula White recorded the first broadcast of ''Paula White Today'' in December 2001, and by 2006 her show appeared on nine television networks, including Trinity Broadcast Network, Daystar, and Black Entertainment Television

''Ebony magazine'' said of White, "You know you're on to something new and significant when the most popular woman preacher on the Black Entertainment Network is a white woman."

Paula considers T.D. Jakes her spiritual father. Jakes invited her to speak at his ''Woman Thou Art Loosed'' Conference in 2000. White also participated in the Mega Fest, hosted by Jakes in Atlanta, in 2004 and 2005. She has also met with General Colin Powell, former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, Former Prime Minister of Israel Benjamin Netanyahu, and Presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. She is the personal life coach of Tyra Banks and appeared on her show ''the Tyra Banks Show'' in an episode concerning promiscuity on October 4, 2006.

Paula White ministered to some famous celebrities and athletes including Michael Jackson, Donald Trump, Gary Sheffield, and Darryl Strawberry. Trump, who often brings her to Atlantic City for private Bible studies with athletes and celebrities, appeared on her television show for an exclusive interview. Paula White was pastor to Darryl Strawberry starting in 2003 following Strawberry’s release from prison for cocaine possession. Charisse Strawberry, Darryl Strawberry’s wife at that time, also worked as an assistant to Paula White, accompanying her on speaking engagements.

Senate inquiry

On November 6, 2007, United States senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa announced an investigation of Paula White's ministry by the United States Senate Committee on Finance along with five other ministries. Grassley asked the ministries to divulge financial information. When CBS News reported the story, Paula White's ministry denied any wrongdoing, and on March 31, 2008, the Senate Finance Committee received a joint financial report from Without Walls International Church and Paula White Ministries. Without Walls International Church was one of four ministries that refused to provide the full information Senator Grassley requested.

On January 6, 2011, Senator Grassley concluded the three year investigation with no penalties and no definitive findings of wrongdoing. The Alliance Defense Fund protested the investigation and the National Religious Broadcasters said the questions Senator Grassley asked were too broad. The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability plans to create a national commission in response to the Grassley report to lead a review on accountability and policy. Paula White interpreted the conclusion of the investigation to mean that Without Walls International Church was cleared.

Realignment

On Sunday, July 12, 2009, Paula White became the senior pastor of the church she co-founded, Without Walls International Church, replacing Randy White, her ex-husband. Randy White states he was stepping down as pastor due to health reasons and would still remain connected with the church in a different position.

On January 1, 2011, following the resignation of Scott Thomas, Paula White became the senior pastor of Without Walls Central Church in Lakeland, Florida making her the pastor of both church locations.

Personal Life

Marriage

Paula White's first marriage was as a teenager to the father of her son. In 1984 while living in Maryland with her newborn baby, she was introduced to the gospel and became a Christian. Her marriage ended soon after.

According to the book, ''Holy Mavericks'', a vital turning point came in Paula's life in 1989 when she met Randy White, a third-generation preacher in the Church of God denomination. Randy was recovering from the divorce of his first marriage and was in the early stages of reviving his career as a preacher and evangelist. They met while Randy was visiting the church Paula volunteered as a janitor. Randy and Paula became friends and dated for several months as they labored together in ministry projects. Less than a year after meeting, Randy proposed during a tour to Israel; Paula accepted. Shortly thereafter they moved from Maryland to Tampa, Florida.

In an article published in ''The Tampa Tribune'' on May 20, 2007, when Paula's husband (Randy White) was asked whether he's contemplating a divorce he replied, "No one can predict the future."

On Thursday, August 23, 2007, Randy and Paula White announced to their congregation that they would divorce. Randy stated from the pulpit of Without Walls International Church: "We have a very difficult announcement to make tonight before Tim Storey preaches. And that is that we are going through a divorce. It is the most difficult decision that I have had to make in my entire life and I come to you tonight to first let you know that I take full responsibility for a failed marriage." According to ''The Christian Post'', Paula White says the divorce was amicable and they remain friends. Following the divorce from 2007 to 2009, Paula White ministered in New York, Texas, and abroad, while making periodic visits to Tampa and Without Walls International Church. In 2009 Paula became the senior pastor of Without Walls International Church resulting in her taking residence in Tampa, Florida, again.

In July 2010, both White and fellow televangelist Benny Hinn denied allegations in ''The National Enquirer'' claiming that the two were engaged in an affair. In February 2011, Hinn was sued by the Christian publishing house Strang Communications, which claimed that a relationship with White did occur and that Hinn had violated the morality clause of his contract with the company.

Family

Paula White has a son named Bradley. Paula is a step-mother to Randy’s three children he had from a previous marriage: Kristen Renee, Angie, and Brandon. Randy and Paula never had children together. Kristen Renee died on April 30, 2008 at the age of 30 years old after a difficult battle with brain cancer. Randy White founded the Kristen Renee Foundation in Kristen's memory. Paula has no official role with the foundation but is an active supporter.

Bibliography

References

External links

Paula White Ministries

Without Walls International Church

Without Walls Central

Kristen Renee Foundation

Category:1966 births Category:American Christians Category:American Pentecostals Category:American television talk show hosts Category:Charismatic and Pentecostal Christianity Category:Living people Category:American television evangelists