Dwyane Wade once gifted his mother an entire church
As one of the most famous NBA players in history, Dwyane Wade is a household name, but there’s more to him than his successful basketball career. Wade has a heart to give and his kindness has not gone unnoticed.
To begin with, Wade’s professional career spanned 16 years (2003 to 2019). The shooter spent most of those years with the Miami Heat. During that time, the three-time NBA champion earned numerous accolades, including becoming the 2010 All-Star MVP and the 2006 NBA Finals MVP.
Wade was honored as one of the league’s greatest players by being part of the NBA’s 75th Anniversary Team, as British reports. In 2021, he bought a minority stake in the Utah Jazz, Salt Lake City’s NBA team. With all this financial success, Wade found time to honor his mother in a special way.
Dwyane Wade’s difficult childhood involved his mother’s drug addiction
Wade had a difficult upbringing, defining his childhood as “testing”, according to the Chicago Defender. His mother Jolinda Wade’s drug addiction issues led him to depend on his older sister, Tragil Wade, for guidance. In fact, he credits his success to his sister, who stood by him through his most vulnerable times.
Prior to her recovery, Jolinda had many run-ins with the law, spending time in jail from time to time. She even became a fugitive after skipping a work release program, which she later completed as a way to pay her debt to society.
After years of trying to get her life back on track, Jolinda made a resolve to steer clear of her drug life. With the support of her family, she entered a drug treatment program and became sober. In 2004, she began formal ministry training with a friend, LaDell Jones. As a result, she earned the title of pastor and has now become Pastor Jolinda Wade, as reported by the Chicago Defender.
Three years later, Jolinda and Jones rented a small room where they delivered sermons to the 47 church members who joined. Finally, the rented space was too small. So they began looking for a larger space to accommodate the growing congregation.
Dwyane Wade gave his mother a church after she got clean and became a pastor
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Despite the difficulties he experienced with his mother, Dwyane’s love for her never wavered. In order to show his affection and support Jolinda’s dreams, he bought her a church. On Sunday, May 18, 2008, the Temple of Praise, Jolinda’s own church, officially opened its doors.
Among those attending the opening ceremony were the mothers of Shaquille O’Neal and Magic Johnson. Jolinda couldn’t hide her joy as she recognized that it was the happiest moment of her life. “Today is one of the greatest moments of my life,” she said.
On the front bench sat Dwyane, who couldn’t help but be moved to see his mother so upset. “I respect my mother so much, for the life she led and to see her today in the life she leads. I am so proud of her,” he told the Associated press.
Dwyane doesn’t hold back on his generosity when it comes to gifts
Dwyane has a reputation for buying gifts for family and friends. In 2020, the 40-year-old bought Pastor Jolinda a car worth $60,000 for his 66th birthday. He has also blessed her with a house and many other gifts since he started winning big as an NBA player.
In the same energy, Dwyane enjoys showering his family with gifts, and they love to return the favor. For his 39th birthday, his wife Gabrielle Union bought him a white Mercedes Benz 560SL which is worth a fortune. The Bring it on The star also gifted him a 1974 Ford Bronco for Father’s Day in 2020, an automobile he claims to have always wanted to own since moving to Los Angeles, according to Engine1.
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