Arizona Conference
Charles White Remembers His Great-Grandparents, James and Ellen
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CHARLES WHITE
n June, Pastor Charles White will be leaving his post as senior pastor at the Camelback church in Phoenix, Ariz., to begin a new ministry telling the story of his greatgrandparents, James and Ellen White. The Arizona Conference has retained his services for six months so he can be available within the conference. Then he will continue taking appointments throughout the North American Division and beyond. Arizona President Tony Anobile says, “Although we will miss the pastoral leadership of Charles and Dianne White at Camelback, we believe he has valuable truths to share about his family, especially his great-grandmother, who gave inspired directives to the Seventh-day Adventist Church from its beginnings. I have heard his presentations and know his audiences will gain a new love and respect for Ellen G. White as they learn how she was a real person,
Charles White’s grandfather, Willie White, and his second wife, Ethel May Lacey White, had five children. Their youngest, Francis White, is front row left in the little chair. Francis is Charles’ father.
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PHIL DRAPER
called by God, who cared deeply for her growing family while leading the Adventist church.” White and his wife of 34 years, Dianne, have five grown children. James and Ellen White had four boys. Henry died of pneuPastor Charles White will retire from Camelback church in Phoenix, monia as a teenager. Ariz., in June to begin hosting Ellen G. White seminars. Little John Herbert died at three months, leaving Edson and Willie. White family. He has given Ellen G. White semiEdson married but had no children. Willie nars at many camp meetings and has traveled married and had two daughters by his first wife, to churches throughout North America and in Mary Kelsey, who died after complications from other countries to talk about her ministry. an illness. His second wife, Ethel Mae Lacey In 2013, Charles White was invited to be White, who was nearly 20 years younger than part of the Centennial Celebration at the White him, had five more children with Willie. Memorial Medical Center in Los Angeles. In Charles White’s father, Francis, was the 2014, he was chosen to be the speaker for the youngest of Willie and Mae’s children. Charles 100th graduating class of Loma Linda University has one younger sister, Elaine Garland. School of Medicine. During his lectures, White will share stories “It is my desire during the Ellen G. White and personal family insights. His favorite story is seminars from my personal family history to be about Willie and the lumber rafts, and provides of benefit in making my great-grandmother’s a glimpse of the pioneers’ practical missionary work more personal, better understood and zeal. accepted,” says White. “Willie was notorious for falling asleep when The Arizona Conference is offering the opporhe was sitting on the platform during a meeting tunity during the last half of 2015 for Charles or church service,” Charles White says. “I will White to do this specialized ministry full-time. share one of the most humorous incidents that He will be available to churches, schools and centers on ‘sleeping Willie’ and my great-grand- other institutions within the Arizona Conference mother’s explanation of why Willie was prone to and beyond. sleeping in church. “My ministry has been, and continues to be, “I will also talk about the three motivating grace- and gospel-oriented,” says White. “I am forces behind Ellen White’s broad-based mineternally thankful to God for His love, and the istry. It is my considered conviction that we as privilege He has given me in sharing the good committed Adventists will greatly benefit from news of salvation.” re-investing time in reading the writings of my great-grandmother, Ellen G. White.” Phil Draper Through the years, White has been invited to share his personal information regarding the