Q&A Interview - Pastor Clarinda White

G&G: Pastor White, welcome to the Grace & Glory Magazine family! We are excited for this opportunity to feature you for our Mother's Day issue. You are a jewel to the Kingdom of God, and it is an honor to have you share with us. So, let’s start at the beginning to get to know you better. Tell us how your journey into ministry began?

Pastor White: I am humbled and honored for this interview. I started speaking and ministering over 20 years ago at my father’s church, formerly Mt. Hattin B.C. It was at Mt. Hattin that my father gave me the liberty to preach and serve as the youth minister. I learned so much serving the role of youth minister. I learned how to love God’s people without claiming them as my own. I learned how to lead and exemplify the virtues of Christ. I also learned how to pray and seek God’s face continuously. I learned how as a minister and now as a Pastor to seek God for direction and discernment for every decision that I need to make in my life and Miracle Church.

G&G: Most pastors have shared that “preaching the gospel” was not what they had planned for their lives. Did you always know this was your purpose? Did you have other plans for your life?

Pastor White: Pastoring was not on my radar. I enjoyed then and still do now, love serving God and His people. I was never the one that sought after or even desired to be out front. But God’s plan must always prevail and supersede my plans. I can say that I did not take the position of Pastor light heartedly. It was through much prayer and fasting that I accepted the call and walked in it. I wanted to make sure that God was the initiator and anchor of the role of Pastor. I wanted to make sure my heart was in the right place, and I was not walking into the role of Pastor with the wrong intentions or motivations.

G&G: Pastor White, looking back, are you at all surprised at where you are today, when did you realize God had called you to an assignment of such magnitude?

Pastor White: I am extremely surprised that God is using me. I have always felt that I am the least, I am so humbled and grateful that God chose me. I knew that God called me when I had a dream over 20 years ago in which I was preaching at the church I was baptized in, Southern Baptist Church. I was not preaching at the time but in my dream, I was in the pulpit preaching. I awakened by the phone ringing and when I answered it was the Pastor Nathaniel Higgs of the church I was just dreaming about, and he said to me that God told him to call me to tell me I was called to do a work for Him. That I would be preaching the gospel and that God was going to use me mightily for His glory. What a confirmation and awesome testimony.

G&G: Pastor White, you are the Pastor and Founder of the Miracle Church. Would you share with us the vision that led to the birth of the Miracle Church? How would you describe the ministry of Miracle Church?

Pastor White: I have always believed that God is still performing signs, miracles and wonders. Miracle Church was founded on the belief that God is a miracle worker, that He is still healing, saving and delivering men and women. Our vision is to share the miraculous power of God to the world.

G&G: Pastor White, did the pandemic change your perspective in ministry? How did the Miracle church survive the pandemic? Did you ask yourself, what have I signed up for? Did you want to throw in the towel?

Pastor White: The pandemic did not change my perspective in ministry but validated that the church is needed more now than ever before. No, I did not ask myself what have I signed up for, nor did I want to throw in the towel. I felt motivated and my desire to save the lost kicked into high gear during the pandemic. I was stretched by learning a whole new way of doing ministry via the internet, but I did not at any time feel discouraged.

G&G: Pastor White, what is on the horizon for the Miracle Church? Where would you like to see this ministry in the next five years?

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Pastor White: Great things are on the horizon for Miracle Church. The vision that God has given me is great. I am currently working on a book that will be published by year end. I plan to continue to Pastor Miracle Church and expand our Love In Action television broadcast in other markets around the country. I plan to continue to expand our international prayer ministry What Happens When Women Pray into other parts of the world (we are currently in Kenya, Minnesota, and Maryland).

G&G: Pastor White, let’s shift to your passion for women. I understand you are also the founder of a movement that is near and dear to your heart “What Happens When Women Pray”? Would you share with us the vision behind this movement?

Pastor White: What Happens When Women Pray is a global prayer movement that started in 2015. After having a traumatic experience as a child, I learned how to pray at an early age. Little did I know that one traumatic experience where I first learned to pray would develop into a global prayer ministry that has impacted thousands of lives.

G&G: Pastor White, was there a significant factor that created the need for the “What Happens When Women Pray” movement?

Pastor White: The most significant factor is that prayer changes things. Anything can happen when women connect and pray for each other and our families. Through our event marriages have been made whole, healing has taken place and restoration to the body of Christ has impacted the lives of hundreds of women and their families.

G&G: Pastor White, I understand this movement started with just a few local members and has increased in number, tell us about your national connections?

Pastor White: Yes, What Happens When Women Pray prayer movement started with 100 women, we have since then touched the lives of over 1,000 women and have expanded into the Midwest and Kenya.

G&G: Would you tell us about this year’s “What Happens When Women Pray” conference?

Pastor White: I am very excited about this year’s conference we have over 300 women pre-registered, we have nine awesome prayer warrior women who I believe will pray heaven down to earth. Each intercessor will be praying on topics that are near and dear to women.

G&G: Pastor White, with so much tragedy and heartache in society today, would you say that this conference is a valuable resource?

Pastor White: Absolutely, prayer is our connection to God. It is through my prayer time with the Lord that I remained calm and at peace during some of the most challenging times in my life. Through our conference we are showing that prayers of righteous women avail much.

G&G: Pastor White, how does someone connect with this conference or become a member?

Pastor White: You can become a member by joining our Facebook page, our meet up group or simply email whathappenswhenwomenpray@gmail.com.

G&G: Pastor White, my last few questions are about you. What three words would you choose to best describe yourself?

Pastor White: Three words that I would describe myself are, humble, happy and free.

G&G: Pastor White, being a woman pastor have you ever experienced discrimination or situations of not being accepted as a woman pastor?

Pastor White: Yes, I have experienced several situations of not being accepted as a woman in ministry. But I have never allowed those situations to stop me or discourage me. The opposite has happened, I have become stronger and more focused on becoming who God says I am.

G&G: What would you say to an aspiring young woman in ministry, who may be wrestling with a call on her life?

Pastor White: Obey and accept the call of God on your life.

Q&G: Pastor White, are there any women in your life, that have served as mentors for you?

Pastor White: Yes, Dr. Leah White and Dr. Cecilia Bryant are my spiritual mothers. They have pulled me under their wing, and I am a much better preacher and Pastor because of their love and guidance.

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