Many people consider Christian leader Kenneth E. Hagin to be the “father of the Word of Faith movement.” Hagin was born in 1917, and his life was characterized by illness, a profound conversion, and a decades-long ministry.

Millions of people have been greatly impacted by his teachings, yet his ministry and the Word of Faith organization have also been the subject of serious criticism and controversy. The life of Hagin, his contributions to the Word of Faith movement, and the debates around his teachings will all be covered in this article.

Early Life

Kenneth E. Hagin, the son of Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin, was born in McKinney, Texas, on August 20, 1917. He was born with what was thought to be an incurable blood condition and a malformed heart, Hagin said. At the age of 15, he became sick and paralyzed, and it was thought that he would not survive.

He became a Christian in April 1933. He claimed to have died three times in ten minutes as a result of the malformed heart during a dramatic conversion experience, each time witnessing the horrors of hell before reviving. His conversion did not release him from paralysis.

After reading Mark 11:23–24, he claims that on August 8, 1934, a revelation of “faith in God’s Word” lifted him from his deathbed. Additionally, his paralysis was cured, and he never had any trouble walking. The book God’s Generals by Roberts Liardon describes his miraculous recovery.

Ministry

He established his first non-denominational church in 1936. While serving as the pastor of a small, neighborhood Baptist church in Roland, Texas, he delivered his first sermon. He was appointed a pastor of the Assemblies of God in 1937. He served as the pastor of five Assemblies of God churches in Texas during the course of the following twelve years, including those in Tom Bean, Farmersville (twice), Talco, Greggton, and Van. Before beginning to travel, he served as pastor of the final church in Van, Texas.

His wife, Oretha Rooker, was born on November 25, 1938. They had two kids. On September 3, 1939, Kenneth Wayne Hagin, also known as Kenneth Hagin Jr., was born as their first child. Patricia (Hagin) Harrison, a daughter, was born on March 27, 1941, 19 months later. His son is now the president of Kenneth Hagin Ministries and the pastor of Rhema Bible Church.

After Jesus appeared to Hagin in 1949, he started a traveling ministry as an evangelist and Bible teacher. Between 1947 to 1958, he joined Oral Roberts, Gordon Lindsay, and T. L. Osborn in the Voice of Healing Revival in the United States.

The Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International, or FGBMFI, was founded in 1951 and Hagin was granted full membership.

Views

Hagin endorses the ordination of women as preachers and pastors in the Church in his book The Woman Question.

His views on interracial couples engulfed him and his son, Kenneth Hagin Jr., in controversy.

Rhema Bible Training College

In 1974, Hagin established Rhema Bible Training College, formerly known as Rhema Bible Training Center. The Bible institute is situated on 110 acres (0.45 km2) in Broken Arrow, a suburb of Tulsa, Oklahoma, and is certified by the Transworld Accrediting Commission International. The Charismatic/Pentecostal legacy is the source of the program. Children’s ministry, youth ministry, evangelism, pastoral care, missions, biblical studies, and supportive ministry are among the seven ministry concentrations. Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Greece, Singapore, South Africa, the South Pacific, Thailand, Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and the Philippines are among the countries where Rhema has set up training facilities.

Kenneth W. Hagin, Hagin’s son, carried on managing the organization after his father’s passing in 2003. More than 80,000 graduates of Rhema’s programs live and serve in 52 different countries.

Rhema’s annual Christmas display, which has featured over 2 million lights synced to Christmas music in recent years, is well-known in the area.

In 2016, Rhema received an exemption from Title IX. According to the student handbook for 2020–2021, “RBTC will not permit any kind of sexual or physical behavior or activity among students other than what the Bible states is permitted for a husband and wife who are legally married.” This covers, but is not restricted to, pornography, adultery, fornication, and gay activity.

Published Books

Some of his published books are:

• Bible Faith Study Course (1966)
• Right and Wrong Thinking for Christians (1966)
• What Faith Is (1966)
• The Real Faith (1970)
• I Believe in Visions (1972)
• The Human Spirit (1974)
• Why Tongues (1975)
• Demons and How to Deal with Them (1976)
• The Key to Scriptural Healing (1977)
• Ministering to the Oppressed (1977)
• The Interceding Christian (1978)
• Faith Food for Spring (1978)
• How You Can Be Led by the Spirit of God (1978)
• How to Write Your Own Ticket with God (1979)
• What to Do When Faith Seems Weak & Victory Lost (1979)
• Seven Things You Should Know About Divine Healing (1979)
• You Can Have What You Say (1979)
• El Shaddai (1980)
• Having Faith in Your Faith (1980)
• Why Do People Fall Under the Power? (1981)
• Casting Your Cares Upon the Lord (1981)
• The Name of Jesus (1981)
• Seven Steps for Judging Prophecy (1982)
• I Went to Hell (1982)
• Must Christians Suffer? (1982)
• Three Big Words (1983)
• Obedience in Finances (1983)
• The Believer’s Authority (1985)
• How God Taught Me About Prosperity (1985)
• The Glory of God (1987)
• Understanding How to Fight the Good Fight of Faith (1987)
• Prayer Secrets (1988)
• Knowing What Belongs to Us (1989)
• Exceedingly Growing Faith (1990)
• The Holy Spirit And His Gifts (1991)
• Classic Sermons: The Word of Faith 25th Anniversary 1968–1992 Commemorative Edition (1992)
• Following God’s Plan for Your Life (1993)
• The Triumphant Church (1993)
• Love: The Way to Victory (1994)
• God’s Medicine (1997)
• The Midas Touch (1999)
• Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room (2007)

Death

On Saturday, September 13, 2003, Hagin went to bed in good health, his ministry said in a news release. On Sunday morning, he sat at the breakfast table, grinned at his wife, Oretha, then let out a sigh and lowered his head to his chest. At the age of 86, he passed away on Friday, September 19, 2003.