7:28 pm
Dwayne Wade Buys His Mother a Church: “I’m So Proud of Her”
This summer Dwayne Wade will be on a heavy training regimen to get back to his superstar level on the court. Off the court, his mother, Jolinda Wade has already beat him to it.
Make that - Pastor Jolinda Wade.
Because of his mother’s addiction to drugs, Dwayne Wade was raised by his older sister, Tragil Wade. His mother sold drugs, used them, and up until a few years ago, walked Chicago’s streets as a fugitive.
Through the years family members tried to get her to change her ways. One Sunday in 2001, Tragil Wade was able to convince her mother to attend a church service with her. It was a day that changed Jolinda Wade’s life. A light turned on within her. She went on to successfully complete a drug rehab program and turned herself in to Illinois authorities to serve a prison term she was tacked with after skipping out of a work-release program.
While in prison Jolinda started a ministry. It was an expression of how that church day had influenced her and the light of God that was now in her life. When she was released Jolinda’s spiritual journey continued.
In 2004, she and a male friend, LaDell Jones, began formal ministry training. That’s where she earned the title Pastor Jolinda Wade.
In October 2007, Jolinda and Ladell rented a room where they could deliver their testimony. The room was too small for the comfort of their 47 church members, so they searched and found a place for sale.
Where to get the money?
Through the rough times Dwayne Wade never lost love for his mother.
Since entering the NBA and his mother’s rebirth, he bought her a car, a house, and without her asking, bought the church too.
The church was christened the Temple of Praise.
On Sunday, May 18, Jolinda Wade and LaDell Jones opened the church doors for a ribbon cutting ceremony; hundreds of people were in attendance, including Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson’s mothers.
Dwayne Wade sat in the front row.. with tears flowing.
“This is tears of joy,” he said, beaming. “Tears of joy for my mother. I respect my mother so much, from the life that she used to live and to see her today in the life that she lives. I’m so proud of her,” Dwyane Wade told The Associated Press. “Everybody thinks I’m the miraculous story in the family. I think she is. I think what I’ve done means I’ve been very blessed, but she’s been more than blessed. She’s been anointed.”
Wade’s sister Tragil agreed.. “My mother is a miracle to me and to our family. To see from where she came to where she’s at now. I can’t even describe it. It’s like, if you didn’t believe in God, this right here would make the belief strong.”
During the service Pastor Jolinda Wade preached..
“Today is the crossover. We’re in here today because of God’s goodness and God chose to use the heart of my son to do this for us ... and he trusts the heart of his mama. Ain’t that something?’’
No matter what you may think of religion or say how easy it is to buy a church when you have Dwayne Wade’s bank account, it is his heartfelt sentiment to buy the church that makes this a great story.
“My mother is not the kind of person who will come to me and ask me for this kind of favor,” Dwayne Wade said. “She’s so thankful for even the little things I’ve done for her, but it’s the dream of every man, every boy, to be able to give their mother everything they want. So that was my dream and this is her dream. To me, that makes this perfect.”
☼ What's Your Opinion? ☼
One Mom to Another- Tue, May 20, 2008 - 12:28 pmLuke 7:47 (The Message)
Simon answered, “I suppose the one who was forgiven the most.”
“That’s right,” said Jesus. Then turning to the woman, but speaking to Simon, he said, “Do you see this woman? I came to your home; you provided no water for my feet, but she rained tears on my feet and dried them with her hair. You gave me no greeting, but from the time I arrived she hasn’t quit kissing my feet. You provided nothing for freshening up, but she has soothed my feet with perfume. Impressive, isn’t it? She was forgiven many, many sins, and so she is very, very grateful. If the forgiveness is minimal, the gratitude is minimal.”
2 Chronicles 7:14 (The Message)
God appeared to Solomon that very night and said, “I accept your prayer; yes, I have chosen this place as a temple for sacrifice, a house of worship. If I ever shut off the supply of rain from the skies or order the locusts to eat the crops or send a plague on my people, and my people, my God-defined people, respond by humbling themselves, praying, seeking my presence, and turning their backs on their wicked lives, I’ll be there ready for you: I’ll listen from heaven, forgive their sins, and restore their land to health. From now on I’m alert day and night to the prayers offered at this place. Believe me, I’ve chosen and sanctified this Temple that you have built: My Name is stamped on it forever; my eyes are on it and my heart in it always. As for you, if you live in my presence as your father David lived, pure in heart and action, living the life I’ve set out for you, attentively obedient to my guidance and judgments, then I’ll back your kingly rule over Israel—make it a sure thing on a sure foundation. The same covenant guarantee I gave to David your father I’m giving to you, namely, ‘You can count on always having a descendant on Israel’s throne.’
Dear Mr. D-Wade, My Mom shared your story with me today, I wanted to share these 2 scriptures with you, I am a mother of 5 children, the oldest 31 and the youngest 15 and Blessed to have 7 Grandchildren, But the Best Blessing is that “GOD is a GOD of second chances.” These 2 scriptures Guide my walk with Christ and I thank God for Jesus and I serve him with gladness. Since I came back to Christ and totally surrendered my life 4 of my 5 children have accepted him, his word says in
Joel 2:25
And I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten, the cankerworm, and the caterpillar, and the palmerworm, my great army which I sent among you.... May GOD continue to Bless you and your family and the “ Temple of Praise “
Malachi 3:10
Bring ye all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be meat in mine house, and prove me now herewith, saith the LORD of hosts, if I will not open you the windows of heaven, and pour you out a blessing, that there shall not be room enough to receive it.
A Mom in CT.
Sisters Of The Kingdom Outreach Ministry, Newark,- Wed, May 21, 2008 - 10:48 amMy daughter just told me about this story today. She saw the article in Sports Illustrated and cut it out to give it to her 3 little nephews. She wanted them to see this article for 2 reasons. 1 Dwayne Wade is the middle nephews favorite player and 2 their story is similar to that of Dwayne Wade’s. She feels that it will give them hope. Thank you Dwayne Wade for sharing this with your fans. May God continue to bless you tremendously.
A Grandmother in Oh.
Dominique Shacklefod- Wed, May 21, 2008 - 6:21 pmThank you D-Wade for sharing this story with everyone. My mom has a similar problem. And hearing this story come from a superstar basketball player as yourself. It can only come with the help of God. Hearing your story gives me hope.
eroy3000@yahoo.com- Thu, May 22, 2008 - 3:21 pmSister Wade:
I just want to take this time to thank you for your inspiring story. This is none other than the blessing of God, whenever God restores what the enemy has tried to stamp out, it is truly a miracle.
I am so grateful that you could discern the voice of God from all the other voices that the enemy threw at you. I know how hard it is to overcome a background that others look down on.
I heard the voice of God in a jail cell and was saved while still in prison. God opened doors for me to not only go to college and graduate, with a degree in Theology and Education. He also saw me through graduate school to receive my Masters Of Divinity and gave me eight and a half years of pastoral ministry.
Always remember, the Bible says,” a prophet is without honor in his own town”. That is to say, there are some people who will always judge you by your past life and experiences. Do not let them hold you back. God has established you on a new path, you are always going to be tempted by the enemy. But always remember this, that conversion experience that you encountered, did not originate with the enemy, but with God.
I look forward to getting to see you and worship with you some day. I speak blessings on your life and ministry. I love to watch your son, I am a fan of the “ Miami Heat”; I hate that Shaq had to move on. But your son will raise again in his profession, I hope everything is going well with his recovery and rehabilitation, he has a good heart.
Jolinda, keep up the good work, God will always have your back, as long as you continue to do his will.
I leave you with a reminder of the parable of the ten lepers that Jesus healed. After only two return to thank HIM, the LORD asks, “did not I heal ten?”
There are many people, who path you crossed, when you were in your madness. You have a testimony that will not only save many, but will lift the burden of a lot who are still struggling to hear the voice of God.
Ev’ Christo”
Roy Willis
baller- Sat, May 31, 2008 - 6:29 pmgood job d wade
An Even Greater Baller- Wed, Jun 11, 2008 - 8:22 amChurch > Basketball
Basketball < Breakdancing
Church < Football
Breakdancing > Badminton
Badminton > Football
Dwane Wade should have bought her a flattened cardboard box because breakdancing is > than Badminton, Football and Church.
WOW- Wed, Jun 11, 2008 - 8:34 amWow, the post above is the dumbest thing that I have ever heard. What is your dumb ass trying to say?
RE: WOW- Wed, Jun 11, 2008 - 2:03 pmFool, read a book.
To the post 1 Up- Wed, Jun 11, 2008 - 2:08 pmFool, suck a dick!!!
Sunnie, Alex, and Tanner Templeton- Sat, Aug 16, 2008 - 7:58 amWOW.....When I saw the TV commercial where Duane Wade gave out basketballs to the inner city kids on TV, I told my two sons--"Look, Duane Wade has to be a Christian for doing a commercial like this"---This made a huge impression on my boys, who aspire to be BETTER than Duane Wade, now, not only in sports, but in giving back to the community! I can’t wait to print this article and pin it on their bullitin board to inspire them even more! My boys are in charge of a mission trip in next summer to put in basketball goals and provide balls to New Orleans 9th ward:) I wonder if Duane realizes that by opening up his heart and his life to the outside, he is changing soooooooooooo many young boys lives! We will be praying for his mother’s church!! Blessings to all of YOU! Alex and Tanner’s Mamma:)
simone- Sun, Sep 28, 2008 - 3:53 amgreat move!
We are all proud of you D-Wade.