TV Secret Millionaire finds God

Chek Whyte built and attends Trent Vineyard in Nottingham

The recession has brought Nottinghamshire businessman Chek Whyte to the brink of financial ruin.

But through adversity the man who featured in the TV series The Secret Millionaire claims to have found God.

"I think He saved my sanity," he said. "Over the last six months I've really got close to God through all the turmoil I've gone through."

Now he believes he has a duty to use his business acumen to help charities make the most of their donations.

The self-made millionaire made his money from the construction industry and appeared on the Channel 4 TV series, The Secret Millionaire, in 2007 giving money to deserving causes in Salford, Greater Manchester.

By September 2009, however, he was declared bankrupt and was believed to owe up to £30m.

First church experience

Chek Whyte grew up in Ilkeston but lived in foster homes until he was in his mid-teens. He was expelled from school at 15, by which time he was living in a flat and had started his first job.

In his teens he was a religious sceptic.

"The only time I went to church was on Christmas Eve and a girl said to me 'you can take me home after you've taken me to church'. That was the only time I'd been in a church and I'd be 18 or 19 then."

He was an established businessman the next time he went and that was because he could make a few pounds. He signed a contract to build a church for Trent Vineyard.

I've done a lot of bad in the past but you've got to get past that now. You have to correct what's happened in your past Businessman Chek Whyte

Twelve months after completion he was still going there because he liked the people and the music although he claims he was still a religious sceptic.

Touched by the Holy Spirit

It was on a church outing to Winchester around 2004 that Mr Whyte claims to have been touched by the Holy Spirit.

He described having a vision of being a child with his brothers and sisters.

"All of a sudden there was a feeling that came through my toes," he said.

"It felt like it lasted 15/20 minutes and that all the demons came out of my body and through the top of my head.

"It was like being on acid (Mr Whyte admits taking drugs in his youth). It was a weird, awesome feeling. I could feel my soul being cleansed."

At the time he thought it was a good feeling but little more. It was another three years before he says he met God.

Mr Whyte was invited on another church outing, this time to Dublin. After a day of religious talk he felt the need to respond to the call to meet God.

"I actually felt like I went into an afterlife where the afterlife itself was absolutely fantastic," he said.

"I got this warm feeling, I started to cry and really felt I'd met God. That was almost a year ago so it's been a five year programme."

The good and the bad

Such is the power of his faith, in October 2009, he took the decision to commit himself to God and was baptised.

"I've done a lot of bad in the past but you've got to get past that now because it's time to do good and it's going to take time. You have to correct what's happened in your past."

He firmly believes he can combine being a businessman with his new found faith.

Worshippers inside the Trent Vineyard church built by Chek Whyte

"If you could create a great workplace around Christianity and making profit... it would be great."

Honesty and reliability are Chek Whyte's new watchwords. He believes he can help charities and churches by saving them money.

"In today's market all the churches, charities and homeless centres have to be very astute. People haven't got the money to give any more."

He plans to offer advice on how to get the most from the offerings people give.

"Today is the start of the trip. It'll be an enjoyable battle. When I see people smile, that's priceless."