Kirbyjon Caldwell
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1953 Houston, Texas, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Pastor, author |
| Years active | 1981–2020 |
| Known for | Leading Windsor Village United Methodist Church; spiritual counselor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama; author of The Gospel of Good Success and Entrepreneurial Faith |
Kirbyjon H. Caldwell formerly led Windsor Village United Methodist Church, a Houston, Texas-based megachurch with a congregation of 14,000 members located in Windsor Village. He also served as a spiritual counselor to Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama.
On March 17, 2020, Caldwell admitted guilt to federal wire fraud charges connected to a $3.5 million bond fraud scheme and received a sentence of six years in federal prison.
Early life
Caldwell was born in Houston in 1953. His father tailored clothing for notable figures such as James Brown and The Temptations, while his mother was employed as a high school guidance counselor. Raised in Houston's Kashmere Gardens area, he completed his education at Kashmere High School.
He obtained a B.A. degree in economics from Carleton College in 1975, followed by an M.B.A. from the Wharton School of Business in 1977. Initially, he worked briefly as an investment banker at First Boston in New York City before moving to Houston to join the bond firm Hibbard, O'Conner and Weeks.
Responding to a calling toward ministry, Caldwell earned a master's degree in divinity from the Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University in 1981 while serving as associate pastor at St. Mary's United Methodist Church in Houston. In May 1999, he was appointed to the board of directors of Continental Airlines.
Pastoral leadership
Under Caldwell’s guidance, Windsor Village United Methodist Church became deeply involved in community outreach, evolving into a vital local center. The church established several nonprofit programs including Patrice House, which provides shelter for abused children, alongside tutoring and mentorship programs aimed at youth development.
In 1993, the church acquired and refurbished a former Kmart store situated in an economically disadvantaged area of Houston, creating what is known as the Power Center. This multi-use facility houses worship areas, an educational institution, a medical clinic, satellite classrooms for community college courses, affordable office spaces, a Chase Bank branch (previously unavailable locally), a WIC nutrition program, and an AIDS outreach center. The Power Center’s mission focuses on job creation and financial literacy within the neighborhood, inspired by Isaiah 61:4: "They shall repair the ruined cities and restore what has long lain desolate."
The Gospel of Good Success
After being featured in a 1996 Wall Street Journal article, Caldwell co-wrote The Gospel of Good Success: A Road Map to Spiritual, Emotional, and Financial Wholeness (1999) with Mark Seal. The publication presents his philosophy on achieving economic empowerment and overall success.
Association with George W. Bush
Texas Governor George W. Bush first encountered Caldwell in 1996 after reading about him and subsequently spoke at the Power Center’s inauguration. They shared a vision regarding the potential collaboration between government entities and religious organizations to address social issues. Although Caldwell identifies as politically independent, he introduced Bush at the 2000 Republican National Convention.
Caldwell gave the benediction at Bush’s 2001 presidential inauguration, invoking "the name that is above all other names, Jesus the Christ," which sparked discussions concerning religious inclusiveness within governmental ceremonies. Caldwell asserts that he consistently prays in Jesus’ name without intending to proselytize.
Following the events of September 11th, Bush invited Caldwell to deliver remarks at the Washington National Cathedral memorial service and accompany him to Ground Zero. Bush credited Caldwell’s faith as a source of solace during that difficult time. In 2003, Bush commemorated the tenth anniversary of the Power Center with a visit. Caldwell also offered the benediction at Bush’s second inauguration; this time he acknowledged all faiths while continuing to pray in Jesus’ name. Additionally, he officiated Jenna Bush’s wedding in 2008.
Caldwell’s ministry significantly influenced Bush’s faith-based initiatives and contributed to the creation of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.
Relationship with Barack Obama
During the 2008 Democratic presidential primaries, Caldwell publicly supported Barack Obama, endorsing him in his contest against John McCain for the presidency. In August 2010, when surveys indicated that 18 percent of Americans mistakenly believed Obama was a Muslim, Caldwell clarified his long-standing acquaintance with Obama as a devout Christian who engages in daily prayer. He condemned the media's persistent scrutiny of Obama's faith as a "24-hour noise box" intent on misrepresenting the president.
Second book and recent work
In 2004, Caldwell released his second publication titled Entrepreneurial Faith: Launching Bold Initiatives to Expand God's Kingdom. After Hurricane Katrina, he spearheaded Operation Compassion, coordinating a food collection effort alongside other Houston churches to assist New Orleans evacuees sheltered at the George R. Brown Convention Center and the Astrodome.
Corinthian Pointe
Caldwell collaborated with the Pyramid Residential Community Corporation and Ryland Homes to develop Corinthian Pointe, a residential neighborhood in Houston constructed in the early 2000s. Situated near Reliant Park, this subdivision stands as Houston’s largest non-profit-developed housing project, with numerous homes offered below market value. The Jean Hines-Caldwell Elementary School within Corinthian Pointe honors Caldwell’s mother, Jean LaNell Hines-Caldwell.
Fraud charges
In March 2018, Caldwell and financial advisor Gregory Allen Smith faced allegations of defrauding investors out of $3.4 million by marketing obsolete historical Chinese pre-Communist government bonds as lucrative assets. These bonds possess only collectible significance since they were repudiated by China’s Communist regime. Rather than investing the funds, it is claimed they were diverted toward personal expenses including loans, credit cards, mortgages, and vehicle purchases. Both men confronted potential sentences of up to 20 years for wire fraud and 10 years for money laundering.
On March 17, 2020, Caldwell entered a guilty plea and received a six-year federal prison sentence. Having served over three years, he was released on September 6, 2024. The church confirmed that Caldwell made complete restitution to all affected investors—initiating repayments prior to indictment and finalizing them before sentencing—with many recipients obtaining amounts exceeding their original investments. Such proactive restitution is uncommon in fraud cases.
Personal life
Caldwell’s first spouse was Patrice Johnson, who served as chief of staff for Texas congressman Mickey Leland; both perished in a 1989 plane crash in Ethiopia alongside Leland. The Patrice House is named in her memory.
His current wife is Suzette Turner, sister of Miss America 1990 Debbye Turner. Together they have three children: Turner, Nia, and Alexander. Suzette leads the Kingdom Builders' Prayer Institute as its chair.