Benny Hinn

Toufik Benedictus Hinn was born December 3, 1952, in Jaffa (then Israel) to a Greek-Palestinian-Armenian family within the Eastern Orthodox tradition. After the 1967 Arab-Israeli War his family emigrated to Toronto, Canada, in 1968. Hinn underwent a religious conversion experience and became involved in charismatic Christianity, eventually moving to Orlando, Florida, where he established the Orlando Christian Center in 1983.

Hinn rose to international prominence through his 'Miracle Crusades' — large stadium events at which he claims the Holy Spirit empowers him to heal attendees of terminal diseases through touch or proximity. His ministry broadcast This Is Your Day globally, reaching an estimated 100 countries. His crusades attracted hundreds of thousands of attendees and generated enormous donation revenue. By the 2000s his organization was taking in hundreds of millions of dollars annually.

Investigative journalism repeatedly found the healings to be unverifiable. A joint investigation by the Los Angeles Times and NBC Dateline found that people with visible, severe physical conditions are systematically intercepted by Hinn's staff and directed away from the stage. The CBC's The Fifth Estate and Australia's 60 Minutes conducted similar investigations with similar findings. Of the thousands of claimed healings, independent medical documentation exists for essentially none. An 85-year-old woman died in 1987 after being injured at one of his crusades when another attendee struck on the forehead by Hinn fell backward into her, fracturing her hip; a lawsuit alleged ministry staff failed to render aid.

In 2007, Senator Chuck Grassley opened a US Senate Finance Committee inquiry into six televangelists including Hinn over financial accountability. The investigation closed in 2011 without formal findings but highlighted his $12 million California beach house, private jet use, and lack of board oversight over ministry finances. In April 2017, IRS agents raided his Grapevine, Texas offices pursuant to a search warrant related to a tax fraud investigation. Hinn's estimated personal net worth is $40–60 million.

“Physical contact during crusades cures cancer, AIDS, blindness, and paralysis”

Multiple investigative outlets found zero independently medically verified healings across decades. The Los Angeles Times, NBC Dateline, and CBC found that people with obvious disabilities are never permitted onstage. Of thousands of claimed healings, one borderline case has partial documentation.

“People who lack healing are failing because of insufficient faith”

This doctrine shifts responsibility for failed healing onto the sick patient, causing profound psychological harm to the seriously ill and their families while insulating Hinn from accountability.

“Miracle Crusades are funded by donations used purely for ministry”

A 2007 US Senate investigation raised serious questions about personal enrichment from ministry funds. IRS agents raided his offices in 2017 investigating tax evasion. Hinn's personal home was valued at $12 million and he regularly used ministry-owned private jets.