Paula White, pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Apopka, Florida, has been one of President Donald Trump’s closest evangelical allies. And now she’s teasing what she says will be a major year for the White House’s faith agenda.
White, who became the first-ever female clergy member to deliver an invocation at a presidential inauguration last January, delivered a sneak peek this week of what’s to come, telling CBN’s “Faith Nation” that she and other faith leaders on Trump’s advisory council are gearing up to work on six, specific initiatives.
“We’ll have about six initiatives – exciting, exciting things that, if we thought we did some things last year, boy, wait until this year,” White told hosts David Brody and Jenna Browder. “We’ll be touching on everything from humanitarian, working of course on criminal justice reform, religious liberties, so many different aspects, mental healthcare, substance abuse.”
White said that some of these initiatives will roll out during the “early part of the year” and that there are plans to not only carry through on policy, but to sync up these efforts with houses of worship in an effort to maximize impact.
“There are many things that are planned through the White House and the president to see these initiatives not just launch but successfully working with churches, organizations, synagogues, all people of faith,” White added. “So, I’m excited to be a part of it and kind of to be at the helm working with the principles in the White House.”
Watch White’s comments around the 13-minute mark:
Faith Nation | January 3, 2018
FAITH NATION – What events had Christians celebrating in 2017? How did the political climate settle with the Church? Evangelical advisor to President Donald J. Trump, Paula White-Cain, joins #FaithNation with her insight. We’re also at the White House with Ben Kennedy to take a look at what’s coming up in Washington in 2018. Make sure to share Faith Nation with your friends!
Posted by CBN News on Wednesday, January 3, 2018
As Faithwire previously reported, Trump and White have long been friends. White has known Trump for around 15 years, taking Faithwire deep into her relationship during an in-depth interview last year. According to White, her relationship with Trump began after she received a random phone call from him more than a decade ago.
“He had been watching my sermons, and this is what is so crucial for people to understand: he had been watching sermons and repeated back to be almost verbatim three of my sermons on the value of vision,” White recalled, noting that he told her he thought they were excellent. “We just had a conversation about ministry and God.”
And that conversation was just the beginning, as the two started meeting whenever White was in New York, building a deep friendship over the years.
“I got to know his family and staff over that 15-year period. Little did I ever imagine … that would lead here,” she recalled. “He and his family and staff members … all became a part of … my New York family.”
White later added, “Our foundation was never on politics … it was really about God, life, friendship.”
Read more about Trump and White and their intriguing friendship here.