Benny Hinn

Early life, immigration, and Canadian beginnings

Benny Hinn was born in Jaffa in 1952 to a family with Greek, Palestinian, and Armenian ancestry and was raised within the Eastern Orthodox tradition. In his autobiographical writings, he has made claims about his childhood that have been disputed, including falsely stating his father was the mayor of Jaffa and that he had a stutter. His family emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1968, where he attended Georges Vanier Secondary School but did not graduate. In 1972, while living in Canada, he claimed to become a born-again Christian. His religious development was profoundly shaped by a trip to Pittsburgh in December 1973 to attend a miracle service conducted by evangelist Kathryn Kuhlman. Hinn often cites Kuhlman as a major influence, though he never met her personally. In 1974, he was invited to speak about his spiritual experience at Trinity Pentecostal Church in Oshawa, Ontario, and it was there he claimed to have been cured of his stuttering, an event he describes as foundational for his future ministry.

Establishment and expansion of the ministry

After moving to the United States, Benny Hinn founded the Orlando Christian Center in 1983. He began claiming that God was using him as a conduit for healings, and these church-based healing services quickly grew in scale. They evolved into the "Miracle Crusades," held in large stadiums and auditoriums across the United States and internationally. The first of these crusades to be nationally televised was held in Flint, Michigan, in 1989. The following year, in 1990, Hinn launched his flagship television program, This Is Your Day, which initially aired on the Trinity Broadcasting Network and later expanded to several other Christian television networks. In 1999, Hinn stepped down as pastor of the Orlando Christian Center and relocated his ministry's administrative headquarters to Grapevine, Texas. His ministry maintains a global schedule, with a major event being the Healing the Nation Crusade at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi, Kenya, in February 2024, which was attended by Kenyan President William Ruto and, according to Hinn's ministry, over 500,000 people over two days.

Hinn's ministry has also developed connections with other charismatic organizations. He has been a regular guest speaker at Jesus Image, an Orlando-based ministry founded by his son-in-law Michael Koulianos, with appearances listed in the church's archive dating back to December 2019. The ministry claims a wide-ranging missions program, stating it supports 60 mission organizations and several orphanages worldwide, and that it houses and feeds over 100,000 children each year, with 45,000 children supported on a daily basis through donor funds. The ministry has also made specific disaster relief donations, including $100,000 for Hurricane Katrina victims in 2005 and $250,000 for tsunami relief in 2007.

Theological teachings and healing practices

Benny Hinn's teachings are situated within the charismatic Christian tradition and have been historically associated with the Word of Faith movement. He describes the anointing as the power of the Holy Spirit and incorporates specific physical gestures into his services, such as blowing on attendees, touching them, or flicking his suit jacket toward the audience. A central and recurring feature is the practice commonly described as being "slain in the Spirit," where participants fall backward following prayer or physical contact on stage. Faith healing is a fundamental and defining part of his public crusades, where he has claimed people are healed of conditions including blindness, cancer, and various other illnesses. Notable individuals, such as former heavyweight boxing champion Evander Holyfield, have credited Hinn with their healing. Holyfield stated that after Hinn touched him, he felt a warm sensation in his chest related to a diagnosed heart condition, and he believes God worked through Hinn to heal him.

These practices and claims have been met with sustained skepticism and investigation. Skeptical investigator Joe Nickell, who attended a crusade, attributed participants' physical reactions to expectation and suggestion rather than supernatural causes. A detailed 2003 investigation by the Los Angeles Times examined several claimed healings, including that of a legally blind boy whose apparent improvement was presented during one of Hinn's services. The boy later told the newspaper that his vision had not actually improved, casting doubt on the verification process for such miracles. Another critical examination came from the 2001 HBO documentary A Question of Miracles, whose director stated they could not verify any of the healings they investigated from Hinn's events.

Financial controversies and US Senate investigation

Benny Hinn Ministries has faced persistent criticism over its financial transparency and practices. In March 2005, the watchdog group Ministry Watch issued a "Donor Alert" against the ministry, citing a lack of financial transparency among other concerns. The ministry is not a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, an organization that sets standards for financial accountability among Christian non-profits. The scrutiny intensified in 2007 when United States Senator Chuck Grassley, as chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, announced an investigation into the financial practices of Hinn's ministry and five other televangelist organizations. Grassley's committee sent a letter requesting the ministry divulge detailed financial information to determine if Hinn had made personal profit from donor contributions.

Hinn initially stated in December 2007 that he would not respond to the inquiry until 2008. The ministry did eventually cooperate, and Senator Grassley later noted that Hinn had engaged in open dialogue and provided responses to every question, even offering additional information. The investigation concluded in 2011 with no penalties or legal findings of wrongdoing. However, the committee's final report raised significant questions about the personal use of church-owned luxury goods and a noted lack of independent financial oversight, as the ministries' boards were often populated with family and friends of the televangelist. Hinn's group reported to the committee that it was in compliance with tax regulations and had implemented changes to its compensation and governance procedures.

Canadian media exposés and specific allegations

Canadian media have produced some of the most detailed critical examinations of Hinn's ministry operations. In November 2004, CBC Television's The Fifth Estate broadcast an investigation titled "Do You Believe in Miracles?" The program used hidden cameras and witness accounts to allege misappropriation of funds, fabrication of facts, and the staged selection of crusade attendees who would proclaim miracle healings. A key finding was that individuals with severe, visible disabilities were systematically prevented from reaching the stage. The documentary showed staff intercepting a mother carrying her daughter, Grace, who had muscular dystrophy, as she attempted to enter the healing line. Staff asked if Grace had already been healed and directed them back to their seats when told she had not.

The same investigation documented evangelist Justin Peters, a man with cerebral palsy who had studied Hinn's ministry, attempting to join the line for healing during a Toronto service. Peters was quickly intercepted as he came out of the wheelchair section and was told to take a seat. These segments aimed to demonstrate that the ministry controlled which testimonies were presented publicly. Earlier media scrutiny included an HBO documentary aired in April 2001 called A Question of Miracles, which examined healing claims by Hinn and Reinhard Bonnke. Director Antony Thomas later told CNN they could not verify any of the seven healing cases they investigated from Hinn's crusades over a year, and he stated in a New York Times interview that he believed Hinn's ministry did more damage to Christianity than committed atheists.

Internal family criticism and renunciation of prosperity gospel

Some of the most pointed criticism of Benny Hinn's teachings and lifestyle has come from within his own family. In 2017, his nephew, Costi Hinn, came forward with a detailed testimony about his time working within the ministry and his reasons for leaving. Costi Hinn described the expensive cars, lavish houses, and luxury travel enjoyed by family members. He criticized the prosperity gospel teachings of his uncle, writing that healings only seemed to occur in the controlled atmosphere of crusades where music set a specific mood, and that many of their prophecies contradicted the Bible. Costi Hinn later authored a book titled God, Greed, and the (Prosperity) Gospel, in which he labels the prosperity gospel as damning, abusive, and exploitative of the poor and vulnerable, calling it arguably the most hateful false teaching affecting the modern church.

In September 2019, Pastor Costi Hinn, a nephew of Benny Hinn, stated that Benny Hinn no longer believed in prosperity theology and had decided to stop teaching it. Benny Hinn's teachings have been charismatic and were historically associated with the Word of Faith movement. Costi Hinn had previously criticized the prosperity gospel as exploitative and false teaching. This announcement suggests a potential theological shift, though it originated from a former insider and critic of the ministry.

Personal life, marriages, and legal matters

Benny Hinn married Suzanne Harthern on 4 August 1979, and the couple had four children. Suzanne filed for divorce in Orange County, California, on 1 February 2010, citing irreconcilable differences. In July 2010, Hinn was photographed holding hands with fellow televangelist Paula White while leaving a hotel in Rome. Both denied allegations published in the National Enquirer of an affair. This incident led to legal action in February 2011 when the Christian publishing house Strang Communications sued Hinn, claiming a relationship with White did occur and that it violated the morality clause of his contract with the company.

In May 2012, Hinn announced that he and Suzanne had begun reconciling during the Christmas season of 2011. He attributed their prior separation to her addiction to prescription drugs and antidepressants, as well as his own busy schedule and lack of time for his family. They remarried on 3 March 2013 in a large, traditional ceremony at the Holy Land Experience theme park in Orlando, attended by approximately 1,000 people, including many Christian leaders. Pastor Jack Hayford referred to the remarriage as a miracle of God's grace. However, the reconciliation was not permanent. Suzanne filed for divorce once more in July 2024, this time in the Hillsborough County Court in Tampa, Florida. The divorce was finalized on 19 November 2025, legally ending their marriage after more than four decades of an often-tumultuous relationship.

Published works and recent ministry activities

Benny Hinn is the author of numerous bestselling Christian books, published primarily through major houses like Thomas Nelson and Creation House. His bibliography includes foundational works such as Good Morning, Holy Spirit (1990), The Anointing (1992), Lord, I Need a Miracle (1993), and his autobiography He Touched Me (1999). He has also written books focusing on specific themes like The Blood (1993) and Total Recovery: Supernatural Restoration and Release (2005). His writings consistently focus on the Holy Spirit, healing, blessing, and the charismatic experience.

As of 2026, Benny Hinn Ministries remains active in broadcasting, digital content, and live events. His television program, This Is Your Day, continues to air. Ministry promotions for 2026 declare it "The Year of Miracles" and feature teachings on topics such as the rapture and end times. The ministry schedules international events, including a pastors' conference in British Columbia, Canada, aimed at ministers from over ten nations. These activities indicate an ongoing, global operation focused on revival, teaching, and faith healing, maintaining the core elements that have defined Hinn's career for decades.

Questions about Benny Hinn

Is Benny Hinn Canadian?

Yes, Benny Hinn is a Canadian citizen. His family immigrated to Toronto, Canada, from Israel in 1968 when he was 15 years old. He attended Georges Vanier Secondary School in Toronto and began his religious life there, claiming to have been healed of a stutter at a Pentecostal church in Oshawa, Ontario, in 1974. While his ministry is now headquartered in the United States, his early formative years and initial entry into Christian ministry are directly connected to his time in Canada.

What is Benny Hinn known for?

Benny Hinn is an Israeli-born American-Canadian televangelist known for his charismatic ministry. He is famous for his large-scale faith healing events called Miracle Crusades, which are held in stadiums and broadcast internationally. He launched the television program This Is Your Day in 1990. His ministry has also been widely criticized for its faith healing claims and financial practices.

Has Benny Hinn been investigated?

Yes, Benny Hinn's ministry has been investigated. In 2007, the United States Senate Committee on Finance began an investigation into his ministry and five other televangelist organizations. The investigation examined financial practices and personal use of donations. It concluded in 2011 with no penalties but raised questions about oversight. His ministry has also been the subject of critical media investigations by HBO and CBC Television.

Is Benny Hinn still married?

No, Benny Hinn is not still married. He married Suzanne Harthern in 1979. She filed for divorce in 2010, but they reconciled and remarried in 2013. Suzanne filed for divorce again in July 2024, and the divorce was finalized on 19 November 2025.

What is Benny Hinn's net worth?

As of May 2024, Benny Hinn's net worth is estimated to be approximately $60 million. This financial standing is connected to his long career as a televangelist and author. Hinn founded the Orlando Christian Center in 1983 and later launched the internationally broadcast television program This Is Your Day in 1990. His ministry, which conducts large scale Miracle Crusades, has been subject to financial scrutiny, including a United States Senate Committee on Finance investigation beginning in 2007. The investigation concluded in 2011 with no penalties but raised questions about personal use of church owned assets.

Does Benny Hinn still believe in the prosperity gospel?

In September 2019, his nephew Costi Hinn stated that Benny Hinn no longer believed in prosperity theology and decided to stop teaching it. This marked a significant shift, as for much of his career Hinn's charismatic teachings were historically associated with the Word of Faith and prosperity gospel movements. Costi Hinn, a former insider, has critically described the prosperity gospel as damning, abusive, and exploitative of the poor. He detailed the lavish lifestyle within the ministry, including expensive cars and houses. Benny Hinn's ministry has faced broader criticism over its financial practices and faith healing claims throughout its history.

Sources: Wikipedia and current public reporting, checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-10-22.