Benny Hinn

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Tofik Benedictus "Benny" Hinn (born December 3, 1952) is a televangelist, best known for his regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities.

Contents 1 History 2 Ministry and theology 3 Criticism 4 Bibliography of Hinn's writings 5 See also 6 External links 7 References

[edit] History

Benny Hinn was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, to a Greek father and an Armenian mother^{[citation needed]}.

He was raised within the Greek Orthodox Church, and attended Georges Vanier Secondary School in Toronto, Canada, where he was known as Teufik Hinn.

He states that his father was the mayor of Jaffa; and that as a child, he was socially isolated and handicapped by a severe stammer, but was nonetheless a first-class student.^[1]These claims, however, have been disputed by some of his critics.^[2]

He has written that on December 21, 1973, he traveled by charter bus from Toronto to Pittsburgh to attend a "miracle service" conducted by evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. Although he never met her personally, he often attended her “healing services” and has often cited her as an influence in his life.^[1]

He founded the Orlando Christian Center in 1983. During its heyday the church averaged over 10,000 in attendance^{[citation needed]}. In 1999, he handed the church (by the time renamed to the World Outreach Center) to Clint Brown and moved to Grapevine, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, while maintaining the legal entity “World Outreach Center Benny Hinn Ministries”^{[citation needed]}.

He is married to Suzanne Harthern and lives in Dana Point, California.

[edit] Ministry and theology

Benny Hinn is well known for his flamboyant, highly theatrical and often controversial style of ministry^[2], at which members of the congregation and the choir are frequently "slain in the Spirit" en masse, and purported healings of medical conditions, whether Lou Gehrig's disease, AIDS, arthritis^[3] or cancer^[3], are televised from the stage.^{[citation needed]}

He hosts a thirty-minute show, This Is Your Day, on various Christian television networks, including Trinity Broadcasting Network, Daystar Television Network, Revelation TV, The Christian Channel, Vision TV, INSP Networks, and The God Channel. He also organizes regular "Miracle Crusades" – revival meeting/faith healing summits that are usually held in large stadiums in major cities.

His teaching is similar in many respects to the Word of Faith doctrine, with a particular emphasis on healing.

[edit] Criticism

Although his ministry is popular with Charismatics, many Christians are uncomfortable with certain aspects of his teaching and his lavish lifestyle. He lives in an ocean-front mansion valued at an estimated $8.5 million in an exclusive gated community in Dana Point, California, travels by private aircraft, and stays in hotel rooms costing upwards of $3,000 per night.^[4] In December 2006, he sent out a mailing asking for donations towards a new Gulfstream G4SP jet valued at an estimated $36 million.^[5] However a point seldom mentioned and subsequently largely unknown is that Benny Hinn spends over 700 hours per year in the air (aproximately 1 month of the year) and some have questioned if his workload would be possible to sustain through commercial travel.^{[citation needed]}

In March 2005, Ministry Watch, an independent evangelical organization which reviews Christian ministries for financial transparency and efficiency and advises potential donors accordingly, issued a Donor Alert stating that "the reported exorbitant spending of the Hinn family reveals that BHM has far more money than it needs to carry out its ministry" and advising Christians to "prayerfully consider withholding contributions to Benny Hinn" while praying for his restoration and repentance.^[6]

Benny Hinn Ministries is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.

[edit] Bibliography of Hinn's writings

• Benny Hinn,. Kathryn Kuhlman: Her Spiritual Legacy and Its Impact on My Life. W Pub Group. ISBN 0-7852-7888-5. 
• Benny Hinn,. Good Morning, Holy Spirit. Nelson Books. ISBN 0-7852-7176-7. 
• Benny Hinn,. He Touched Me an Autobiography. Nelson Books. ISBN 0-7852-7887-7. 
• Benny Hinn,. The Anointing. Nelson Books. ISBN 0-7852-7168-6. 
• Benny Hinn,. Welcome, Holy Spirit How You Can Experience The Dynamic Work Of The Holy Spirit In Your Life.. Nelson Books. ISBN 0-7852-7169-4. 
• Benny Hinn,. This Is Your Day for a Miracle. Orlando, FL: Creation House. ISBN 0-88419-391-8. 
• Benny Hinn,. The Biblical Road to Blessing. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 0-7852-7517-7. 
• Benny Hinn,. Miracle Of Healing. Nashville, Tenn: J. Countryman. ISBN 0-8499-5399-5. 
• Benny Hinn,. The Blood. Lake Mary, FL: Charisma House. ISBN 0-88419-763-8. 
• Benny Hinn,. Going deeper with the Holy Spirit. Benny Hinn Ministries. ISBN 1-59024-039-1. 
• Benny Hinn,. Lord, I Need a Miracle. Nashville, Tenn: Thomas Nelson Inc. ISBN 0-8407-6251-8. 

[edit] See also

• Kathryn Kuhlman
• Televangelism
• Word of Faith
• Personal Freedom Outreach
• Trinity Foundation
• John Bevere

[edit] External links

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• Benny Hinn Ministries

• Apologetics Research Resources on Religious Cults, Sects, Religions, Doctrines, etc.: a critique of Hinn's ministry
• Benny Hinn - General Teachings/Activities
• Do You Believe in Miracles? (CBC News)
• Charismatic Confusion and Benny Hinn (Fundamental Evangelistic Association)
• Prophecy or presumption?
• Who Has Really “Touched” Benny Hinn?
• News tracker: Benny Hinn
• A review by Hank Hanegraaff for the Christian Research Institute of Lord, I Need a Miracle
• A collection of articles examining Hinn's doctrines.

[edit] References