BENNY HINN BIOGRAPHY, FAMILY, MINISTRY & LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
BACKGROUND
Toufik Benedictus “Benny” Hinn was born on December 3, 1952, in the port city of Jaffa (part of modern Tel Aviv), Isreal, to an immigrant family from Greece to Palestine. He was raised within the Eastern Orthodox tradition.
He moved with his family to Canada not long after the six-day war in 1998 where he attended the Georges Vanier Secondary School. Though he did not graduate from school. His life takes a dramatic change in 1972 when he surrenders his heart and life to Jesus as a teenager when a schoolmate prayed with him. Not long afterward, he was called to minister the gospel.
As a teenage boy in Toronto, Hinn converted from Greek Orthodox to Pentecostalism, eventually joining a singing troupe of young evangelicals.
His family became concerned about his intense devotion to the newfound religion that was turning him into a religious fanatic, according to a 2004 CBC report on Hinn.
Benny Hinn was taught and mentored by Dr. Winston I. Nunes of Broadview Faith Temple in Toronto.
According to his writings, it was read that on December 21, 1973, he traveled by charter bus from Toronto to Pittsburgh to attend a “miracle service” conducted by evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman.
He often attended her “healing services and has often cited her as an influence in his life although he never met her personally.
FAMILY
Benny Hinn married Suzanne Harthen on August 4, 1979. They are blessed with four children. His spouse filed divorce papers in California’s Orange County Superior Court on February 1, 2010, quoting “irreconcilable differences”. Both Hinn and fellow televangelist Paula White denied an allegation in the National Enquirer that the two were engaged in an affair in July 2010.
By February 2011, Hinn was sued by the Christian publishing house Strang Communications which claimed that a relationship with WHite actually occurred and that Hinn had violated the morality clause of his contract with the company.
In May 2013, Benny Hinn announced that he and his wife had begun reconciliation on Christmas eve of 2011, disclosing that the split had been caused by his spouse’s addiction to prescription drugs and antidepressants and saying his busy schedule and lack of time for his wife and children.
In October 2012, Hinn announced that he and his spouse, Suzanne, would remarry. They remarried on March 3, 2013, at the Holy Land Experience theme Park, in a traditional ceremony lasting over two hours and attended by approximately 1,000 well-wishers, including many visiting Christian leaders.
Pastor Jack Hayford referred to the remarriage as “a miracle of God’s grace”.
MINISTRY
In April 1074, young Benny received a vision of people falling into a roaring inferno and heard the words:
“If you do not preach, every soul who falls will be your responsibility!”
One could say his stuttering speech had been responsible for his holding back. But on December 7, 1974, four days after his 22nd birthday, Benny Hinn stood behind the pulpit to preach and the miraculous happened – his stuttering problem suddenly healed. He became fearless in fulfilling the Great commission afterward.
Benny Hinn is the author of many Christian books. His 30min TV program “This Is Your Day” is among the most-watched Christian programs, seen on various Christian television networks, including Trinity Broadcasting Network, Daystar Television Network, Revelation TV, Grace TV, Vision TV, INSP Network, and The God Channel.
He holds regular “Miracle Crusades” – revival meetings/faith healing events organized in Sports stadiums in major cities throughout the world. Millions of people attend his Holy Spirit Miracle Crusades every year. Hinn claims to have spoken to One billion congregations through his crusades, including a memorable crusade with an attendance of 7.3million people (in three services) in India, recorded as the largest healing service in history.;
Evander Holyfield, who was diagnosed with a non-compliant left ventricle, has credited his healing to Benny Hinn, saying that God worked through Hinn, he was healed as he had “a warm feeling” go through his chest as Hinn touched him.
Benny Hinn’s teachings are Evangelical and Charismatic, admitting the validity of spiritual gifts and Word of Faith in origin, with a focus on financial prosperity.
Some doctrines and practices that Benny Hinn teaches would be thought unusual in mainstream Christianity. The charismatic Christian Community (who, according to a 2007 study by The Barns Group makes up 46% of United States protestants and 36% of United States Catholics), is very diverse and Hinn’s ideas are not universally accepted.
MISSION
Benny Hinn ministries claim to support 60 mission organizations across the globe and many orphanages around the world and also claim to house and feed over 100,000 children a year and support 45,000 children daily by his donation.
He donated $100,000 for relief supplies for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005, and $250,000 to the Tsunami relief effort in 2007.
BOOKS BY HIM
Some of the books written by Benny Hinn are as follows:
- Kathryn Kuhlman: Her Spiritual Legacy And Its Impact on My Life
- Good Morning, Holy Spirit
- He Touched Me, An Autobiography
- The Anointing
- Welcome Holy Spirit
- This Is Your Day For A Miracle
- The Biblical Road To Blessing
- Miracle Healing
- The Blood
- Going Deeper With The Holy Spirit
- Lord I Need A Miracle
- Total Recovery, Supernatural Restoration And Release
- Prayer That Gets Results
- Blood In The Sand
- Lamb Of God
NET WORTH
Benny Hinn has been estimated to have a net worth of $70 million as of this post.
LESSONS FROM HIS LIFE
Benny Hinn has a flourishing ministry and God has been manifesting His power in each crusade or meeting through His servant. One major lesson from Benny Hinn’s life is the marriage aspect. The marriage nearly crumbled if not for the divine help.
We must learn that there is a place for ministry and there is a place for marriage. And for married ministers, your marriage comes first even before your ministries and you must pay attention to it. Don’t be too busy not to have time for your spouse and children, make time for them and let them know that they mean so much to you.
God will not create the time for you to love your wife or husband, you must be intentional in creating it. May God heal the brokenhearted and uphold crumbling marriages. Stay blessed. Shalom!
