Rhema Bible Church

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Rhema Bible Church and School was founded by Kenneth W. Hagin, son of Kenneth E. Hagin, and is located in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, in the United States' Bible belt. The "Word of Faith" message is a central teaching, along with other charismatic doctrine. In conjunction with its training center, also located on its Broken Arrow Campus, Rhema Churches and Bible training centers have spread internationally. Rhema also publishes the "Word of Faith" magazine.

The word Rhema is Greek and means "the spoken word". Lending support to the central theme that confessing Scripture with faith in God has power to change circumstances for good. The ministry cites Luke 1:37 for this teaching, where the Greek word "rhema" is found[1].

Some critics have considered Rhema a cult of personality, built on Kenneth Hagin Sr.'s visions of God, and numerous miraculous stories. However, Hagin Sr. has consistently preached that his ministry is specifically founded on the scripture found in Mark 11:23. Some of the more controversial aspects of the ministry include:

a healing school (where the sick come to learn what the Bible says about obtaining healing). Rhema has many documented cases of individuals who have been cured and is willing to release that documentation when the individual allows.
the faith message (often referred to as "name it and claim it", or "confess it and possess it" by critics). This messages teaches that if you ask God for anything He has promised, He will give it, as long as you believe He will. Hagin Sr. relates this concept by comparing it to the evangelical belief that salvation comes when a person confesses with their mouth the Lord Jesus and believes in their heart... you will be saved (Romans 10:9). Also taught is the notion that giving offerings out of a heart of worship and acting in faith allows God to multiply blessings to you, based upon the scripture in Malachi which teaches this concept^{[citation needed]}. Rhema also teaches that one can only pray in true faith for what is in God's Will, otherwise it is just hope.

One of the arguments Hagin Sr. gives is a syllogism involving what is commonly know as the Lord's Prayer, whereby Jesus teaches how to pray. In it, the Lord's Prayer directs to pray for things to be on Earth as it is in Heaven. Hagin Sr. poses the question: Is it God's Will for there to be poverty, death and disease in Heaven? Obviously not, therefore it must be God's Will for there not to be poverty, disease or death on Earth. It was not in God's perfect plan or desire for man that these things be on the Earth; sin opened the door for them to enter. Hagin concludes that praying in this manner is appropriate and has published a book on this very subject.

Healing testimonies. Testimonies of followers concerning faith healing.

A Tulsa area tradition is the Rhema Bible Church Christmas Light Tour, the largest Christmas light display in a four state region. Starts the Wednesday before Thanksgiving through January 1, annually.