Politics January 20, 2017
When Donald Trump’s personal minister Paula White-Cain led the nation in prayer at the inauguration it was the first time much of the country had seen the telegenic televangelist.
But it won’t be the last as she now has a job in the new administration chairing the Evangelical Advisory Board.
Something of a controversial figure given that she encourages followers to get closer to God by sending money to her – her website suggests the “seed” amount of $115 – Paula was only the second woman ever chosen to pray at an inauguration.
But she was the first to preach the prosperity gospel, a belief that God will bless true believers not just with eternal salvation but with material wealth here on Earth. Her own wealth has been the subject of a congressional probe that was dropped after she refused to cooperate with investigators. Southern Baptist leader Russell Moore has called her a “charlatan.”
READ MORE: Donald Trump Is The New U.S. President: How Did We Arrive Here? (VIDEO)
ENTITY has investigated the preacher and presents five fascinating facts about the woman known as President Trump’s spiritual adviser.
She married Jonathan Cain of Journey in 2015, making him her third husband. Her first was another musician, Dean Knight, whom she married when still a teenager, and her second was preacher Randy White whom she started dating while she was working as a church janitor.
Paula’s father, Donald, committed suicide and her mother, Myra, became an alcoholic. She was largely looked after by caregivers but said she was sexually and physically abused by them. Paula also struggled with the eating disorder bulimia in her youth.
READ MORE: 5 Women Who Have Rejected Donald Trump
Trump spotted her on Christian television 15 years ago and invited her to Bible study with him. She has since become his personal minister and has been credited with converting Trump to Christianity.
Paula is the “personal life coach” of supermodel and “America’s Next Top Model” star Tyra Banks and appeared several times on “The Tyra Banks Show.”
READ MORE: The Good, The Bad, & The Angry: A Donald Trump Presidency (VIDEO)
A televangelist since 2001, her show “Paula White Today” appeared on several networks but became especially popular on Black Entertainment Television. “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,” noted Ebony magazine. She is the Senior Pastor at a multicultural church, the New Destiny Christian Center, in Florida.
