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Benedictus "Benny" Hinn (born 1953) is a Christian pastor of Armenian descent and an exponent of the "word of faith" movement. He was born in Jerusalem, and every year charters El Al Boeing 747s for group pilgrimages to his native city from the United States, where he is now a church director.
Hinn became famous in the United States during the 1990s as host of the show This Is Your Day, transmitted by the Trinity Broadcasting Network, a Christian television network. On the show, Hinn practiced faith healing, teaching the doctrine of divine healing, or, a Charismatic Christian doctrine that God provided total healing in the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. He currently travels the United States and the world, giving evangelistic healing crusades.
Hinn, who is willing to meet people in person and even sign autographs for them, has himself become a point of controversy within the Christian community. While many Christians have expressed belief that Hinn is truly an instrument of God, others believe that he is not, saying that a person can be cured only if God wants it. Apart from the issue of whether God uses ministers to heal the sick today, many critics, such as Hank Hanegraaff, have taken issue with Hinn's word of faith doctrines, claiming that he teaches heresy.
On December 31, 1989, Hinn at his church, the Orlando Christian Center (now known as World Outreach Center), made many prophesies.
Hinn has written several books, including an autobiography, and has recorded Christian CDs and tapes.
On November 9, 2004, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation ran an exposee on Benny Hinn, revealing what appears to be fraudulent activity on his part. Benny Hinn Ministries has not commented on the accusations as of November 12, 2004.
His recent visit to the city of Bangalore in India drew huge controversy after Benny Hinn's website proclaimed that he was coming to Bangalore for the biggest 'harvest of souls' ever, and after the derogatory publicity material about other religions was distributed.
Hinn has also run into trouble in the past, including during the time he spent in Trinidad and Tobago during which time he got in trouble for giving anti-Hindu sermons.
One of Hinn's most famous statements is "to Jesus belongs all the glory".
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