Polk County's largest church sanctuary sits idle, its power turned off and its future uncertain.WITHOUT WALLS CENTRAL, formerly Carpenter's Home Church, isn't in use and power has been disconnected.
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Without Walls Central, the 9,000-seat sanctuary in North Lakeland formerly known as Carpenter's Home Church, has not held services since at least August, when Lakeland Electric disconnected electrical service because of missed payments by its owner, Tampa-based Without Walls International Church.
Rev. Randy White, a co-founder of Without Walls International and the ex-husband of its senior pastor, Paula White, told The Ledger in November that the Lakeland property was on the verge of either being sold or going into foreclosure and that an announcement on its future would come soon. White has not responded to several subsequent phone messages.
The status of the sanctuary became even more uncertain last week with reports that Paula White may assume leadership of one of Florida's largest congregations, New Destiny Church in Apopka. The megachurch's leader, Pastor Zachery Tims, died in August. Paula White replaced Randy White as leader of Without Walls International in 2009.
A spokesman for New Destiny Church did not return a call from The Ledger. Church leaders are scheduled to announce Tims' replacement on Jan. 1, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
Source: The Lakeland Ledger | Gary White
