Benny Hinn

Benny Hinn
Name	Benny Hinn
Birth date	September 3, 1952
Birth place	Jaffa, Israel
Nationality	Israeli-born Canadian-American
Occupation	Evangelist, author, television personality
Years active	1970s–present
Spouse	Suzanne Harthern (m. 1979; div. 2010), Gillian Hinn (m. 2013)

Benny Hinn is an Israeli-born Canadian-American televangelist known for televised faith healing services and large-scale revival meetings. He rose to prominence through the program This Is Your Day, international ``crusades'', and associations with prominent Evangelical and Charismatic figures. His ministry has intersected with institutions and personalities across North America, Europe, Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Early life and education

Born in Jaffa, Israel, he emigrated with his family to Toronto in Canada during childhood, where he attended local churches including Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada congregations. Influenced by visits to charismatic meetings in Ontario and exposure to literature from figures such as Oral Roberts, Aimee Semple McPherson, and Smith Wigglesworth, he developed an interest in revivalism. He studied at Bible colleges affiliated with Pentecostal networks and participated in youth ministries linked to denominations like Charismatic Movement congregations and networks associated with Renewal movements.

Ministry and televangelism

His early ministry involved itinerant evangelism across Canada and the United States, eventually launching the television program This Is Your Day, which aired on networks including Trinity Broadcasting Network, PTL Club-era affiliates, and regional religious broadcasters. He collaborated or appeared alongside figures such as Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart, Rod Parsley, and Creflo Dollar in various forums and conferences. His organization, conducted through corporate and nonprofit entities registered in jurisdictions including Florida and Texas, organized international conferences, partnered with local churches, and coordinated with mission agencies and relief organizations for event logistics.

Miracle Crusades and Healing Services

Hinn became widely known for "Miracle Crusades" and healing services drawing attendees to large venues such as stadiums and arenas used previously by performers like Elvis Presley and events like the Billy Graham crusades. Services incorporated liturgical elements influenced by Pentecostalism, music ministries similar to those led by Darlene Zschech or Hillsong-style bands, and testimony segments reminiscent of revival traditions associated with Charles Finney and John Wesley-derived movements. International tours included stops in countries with significant evangelical populations such as Brazil, Nigeria, India, and the United Kingdom, often partnering with local evangelical leaders and denominational networks.

Controversies and criticisms

His practices and financial operations attracted scrutiny from journalists, investigative programs, and officials in jurisdictions where he ministered. Media outlets and commentators compared his methods with historical debates involving figures like Kathryn Kuhlman and William Branham while examining claims of miraculous cures. Allegations and investigations by entities in Florida probed fiscal transparency, fundraising practices, and tax-exempt status similar to wider controversies involving televangelists such as Jim Bakker and Robert Tilton. Theological critics from scholars linked to institutions like Fuller Theological Seminary, Wheaton College, and Moody Bible Institute raised concerns paralleling critiques by John MacArthur and R.C. Sproul about prosperity theology, charismatic excesses, and pastoral accountability. Legal actions and civil suits in various countries touched on issues comparable to cases involving other ministries, prompting reforms in corporate governance and public statements addressing allegations.

Personal life and health

He married Suzanne Harthern in 1979; they had three children and divorced amid public attention in the early 2010s, a personal matter covered alongside press reports about ministry finances and leadership transitions seen in other evangelical organizations. He later married Gillian in 2013. Health events, including reported illnesses and hospitalizations, were publicized and discussed within evangelical networks and by media outlets that have covered public figures such as Tony Campolo and Joel Osteen when they faced health or family crises. His residence, travel for crusades, and use of private aircraft mirrored operational patterns of large international ministries and prompted comparisons to governance practices evaluated by watchdog groups.

Legacy and influence

His influence on contemporary charismatic worship, healing ministry models, and televangelism is evident in broadcast formats, event production techniques, and the proliferation of large-scale revival meetings across continents. Ministries and leaders in Africa, Latin America, and Asia cite similar emphases on testimonial culture, mass evangelism, and media outreach found in the legacies of Aimee Semple McPherson, Billy Graham, and Oral Roberts. Debates sparked by his ministry contributed to broader conversation within evangelicalism and Pentecostalism about accountability, theology of healing, and media ethics, joining dialogues involving institutions like Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and journalistic investigations by major outlets.

Category:1952 births Category:Living people Category:Televangelists Category:Canadian evangelists