From Panama to Pastoral Leadership: Dr. Renaldo White’s Journey of Faith, Culture & Resilience (Ep. 198) - Part 3

In this four‑part conversation on The Immigrant Experience in America, host Simone W. Johnson‑Smith sits down with Dr. Reynaldo White, a Panamanian‑born pastor, educator, author, musician, and community advocate whose life journey traverses Panama, Miami, and rural Alabama.

Dr. White recounts his upbringing in extreme poverty near the Panama Canal and his family’s move to the United States when his father joined the U.S. Army. He reflects on learning English and navigating identity in Miami, then describes the cultural adjustment of pastoring in Alabama—a state where racial categories rarely include Afro‑Latinos and where his Spanish‑language congregation received hate mail and threats. Despite this hostility, he and his wife built a multicultural church that eventually included nineteen nationalities. When church board members balked at purchasing a property, the Whites bought it themselves and later expanded it to 12,000 square feet to host both international and local congregations.

The episode explores Dr. White’s academic and professional path—from earning degrees in music performance and serving as a concert pianist who toured 69 countries, to completing a Ph.D. in educational leadership and teaching English Language Learners. He shares how his students encouraged him to write his childhood stories, which became bilingual books funding a school for former child addicts in Nairobi, Kenya.

Dr. White speaks candidly about family life: his daughter’s pregnancy crisis and the premature birth of his granddaughter at 23 weeks, followed by a miraculous recovery he attributes to prayer; adopting two sons with severe autism and raising them with discipline and love; fostering additional children; and the challenges that arise when biological parents reappear years later. He emphasises that parenting requires consistency and community support, urging listeners to embrace the African proverb “it takes a village to raise a child.”

Throughout the conversation, Dr. White weaves in themes of faith, resilience, and service. He advocates for military training as a pathway to discipline and career opportunities, recounts the benefits his own sons gained from Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training (AIT), and contrasts the efficiency of Miami’s immigrant community with the slow growth and isolation of rural Alabama. The episode closes with Dr. White’s call to build inclusive communities, support immigrant voices, and join his efforts—whether by reading his books, supporting the Nairobi school, or visiting his church in Alabama.

Guest Bio

Dr. Reynaldo White is a Panamanian‑American pastor, educator, author, and former concert pianist. Born near the Panama Canal, he immigrated to Miami as a child and later served in the U.S. Army. He holds degrees in music performance (bachelor’s and master’s) and a Ph.D. in educational leadership. Dr. White has performed for two U.S. presidents and toured 69 countries as a concert pianist, but he gave up touring to raise his adopted sons with autism. Now based in Alabama, he pastors Harvest International Ministry, teaches English Language Learners, and writes bilingual books—memoirs and children’s stories—that chronicle his immigrant journey and support a school for former child addicts in Nairobi, Kenya. He and his wife Jennifer are parents of three biological daughters, two adopted sons, foster children, and a granddaughter whose survival inspires their faith.

Key Takeaways

• Resilience in the face of prejudice: Dr. White and his congregation endured hate mail and police harassment when they founded a Spanish‑language church in Alabama. Their perseverance led to a thriving multicultural ministry that highlights the power of inclusion.

• Community parenting: The Whites relied on a network of surrogate grandparents and friends to help raise their adopted sons. Dr. White urges parents to “go back to the village” and involve trusted community members in child‑rearing, especially for children with special needs.

• The power of discipline and structure: Raising two autistic sons taught Dr. White the importance of consistency. He advocates for clear boundaries and believes military training equips young adults with discipline and transferable skills for civilian careers.

• Faith and miracles: His granddaughter’s premature birth and survival after collapsed lungs reinforced his belief in the power of prayer. This personal miracle underpins his ministry and his commitment to supporting families facing similar crises.

• Multifaceted identity: Dr. White embraces his identity as both Black and Latino, pushing back against the idea that one must choose. He compares cultural contexts—from Panama and Miami to rural Alabama—and finds pride in each facet of his heritage.

• From music to ministry: Before entering full‑time ministry, Dr. White performed globally as a concert pianist and holds advanced music degrees. He envisions returning to performance now that his sons are grown, but continues to blend artistry with teaching and pastoral work.

• Self‑funded ministry: When church leadership hesitated, the Whites personally purchased and expanded their church property, demonstrating entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to serving their community.

• Storytelling for social change: Encouraged by his students, Dr. White turned his life stories into bilingual books. The proceeds support a school in Kenya, demonstrating how personal narratives can drive educational and social impact.

 

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