On March 12, America was introduced to the White family, courtesy of Ty Pennington, ABC’s hit show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” and a brand new house. And LifeWay Christian Resources was there behind the scenes to help make it happen.
John White, a second-generation pastor in Dewey, Okla., was known as a tender pastor with a big heart and a big family. John, his wife Danna, and their five children filled the parsonage of Bluestem Baptist Church and were known throughout the small community 45 minutes north of Tulsa as selfless people who exemplified and lived the two greatest commandments. They loved the Lord and their neighbors.
In April 2005, joy turned to tragedy when John’s earthly life ended with a massive heart attack on the day of his 19th wedding anniversary. Instead of a celebration, Danna was made a widow, and Sarah (17), Esther (16), Zeb (15), Rebekah (14), and Ruth (13) lost their father.
With John’s meager life insurance and some community fund-raisers, Danna was able to purchase two old trailers. But with no carpet, power, working kitchen, heat, or even locks on the doors, the children often spent the colder nights at friends’ homes just to stay warm.
“Danna has such amazing strength,” said Cindy White, who is married to James – John’s brother. “It’s been such a tough year, but Danna has always been such a welcoming and giving person. When you’ve got five kids at home – they always had friends over, kids who didn’t have a place to go. They always knew they’d find love at Danna’s. Even with a two-bedroom house, there was always room for people to come.”
Sorting books – Landon Gaines, left, and Phill Burgess sort through books in the White Family Chapel. Seven LifeWay employees worked in the chapel the night before the house was unveiled.Despite the hardship of the past year, Danna continued to have a missionary’s heart, and expressed repeatedly on the March 12 show her desire to minister to others in need.
In the White Family episode of “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition,” the design team built on Danna’s desire to be a ministry beacon in her community. Providentially, the show contacted LifeWay to play a special role in its plans to help stock a chapel being built inside the home.
Karin Jarlstedt, a design producer on the show, contacted Phill Burgess, executive director of LifeWay’s Holman Bible Outreach International.
Jarlstedt had an urgent request for Burgess: 50 pew Bibles and 50 Baptist Hymnals – all embossed with “The White Family Chapel.” An additional 1,000 Bibles to give away to the volunteers would be great, she added, as would some new books to stock a library.
“After hearing the story of Danna White and her kids, we knew there was no way we couldn’t participate in blessing this family,” said Burgess.
Just 48 hours after being contacted by the show, everything the producers asked for was headed to Tulsa on a LifeWay truck driven by Chad Price and Marcus Rich of LifeWay’s logistics department. There, they joined Burgess and employees of the Tulsa LifeWay Christian Store.
Prayer – Phill Burgess of Holman Bible Outreach; Chad Price and Marcus Rich of LifeWay; Landon Gaines, Chrysta Jerigan and J.R. Phillips of Tulsa’s LifeWay store pray together after setting up the chapel.Even though the LifeWay work didn’t make it to the screen, the results were equally as gratifying, said Landon Gaines, manager of the Tulsa LifeWay Christian Store.
“Our mission was to be a part of this show and to have a hand in impacting this family in a very positive way,” Gaines said. “Even though we weren’t shown, it feels rewarding to know our hard work and involvement will help spread the gospel of Jesus Christ for generations to come. By helping people to know Christ, our vision statement was fulfilled again through this event.”