Saturday 20 February 2010

Benny Hinn’s wife files for divorce

FIRST SEE: BENNY HINN FALSE PROPHET

http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Benny_Hinn.htm

BENNY HINN OR BENNY SIN???

http://watchmanafrica.blogspot.com/2008/11/can-you-imagine-pastor-robert-kayanja.html


BENNY HINN DIVORCE: WIFE SUSANNE HINN FILES FOR DIVORCE FROM TELEVENGELIST

GILLIAN FLACCUS | 02/18/10 09:22 PM

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/18/benny-hinn-divorce-wife-s_n_468296.html

ORANGE, Calif. — The wife of televangelist Benny Hinn has filed for divorce from the high-profile pastor, whose reputation as an advocate of prosperity gospel has attracted millions of followers and criticism from lawmakers and watchdog groups over his lavish lifestyle.

Suzanne Hinn filed the papers in Orange County Superior Court on Feb. 1, citing irreconcilable differences, after more than 30 years of marriage. The papers note the two separated on Jan. 26 and that Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

"Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice," Benny Hinn Ministries said Thursday in a statement. "Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavored to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice."

Hinn is one of the best known advocates of the prosperity gospel, which teaches that Christians who are right with God will be rewarded with wealth and health in this lifetime.

His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting juggernaut, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day. He travels the globe in his ministry's plane, named Dove One, holding events he calls "Miracle Crusades" that include spiritual healings.

Hinn has never fully publicly disclosed how he spends the money he raises, but his vast ministry is believed to be a multimillion-dollar operation. There was no mention of finances in the court filing, which listed three recent Southern California addresses for the family.

Over the years, Hinn has been the target of intense criticism from fellow Christians and watchdog groups who call his teachings false and accuse him of raising money only to enrich himself.

He is one of six televangelists under investigation by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits. Hinn has said on his Web site that external auditors ensure his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 percent of the money he collected was spent on ministry.

Benny Hinn Ministries is based in Grapevine, Texas, and operates a church and television studio in Aliso Viejo in California's Orange County, according to its Web site.
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Sorrell Trope, the attorney with the law firm representing Suzanne Hinn, did not return a call for comment. A woman at his office said the firm does not comment on divorce filings without the client's approval.

J. Lee Grady, contributing editor of Charisma, a news magazine on the Pentecostal community, said Hinn's divorce is the latest in a string of high-profile ministry divorces and moral failures among the Pentecostal leaders, beginning with Ted Haggard's fall from grace in 2006.

Haggard, who is married and has five children, admitted to receiving a massage from a male prostitute and buying drugs from him, but denied allegations he paid the man for sex.

Grady said in an e-mail Thursday that Hinn's followers will want an explanation for the divorce because of the high profile the couple had.

"It will be devastating to the people who have supported Benny Hinn's evangelistic work around the world," Grady said.

"Obviously because their ministry has been very public, they will need to issue a statement to their supporters to explain how this happened," he said.


Associated Press Religion Writer Rachel Zoll in New York contributed to this report.


Benny Hinn’s wife files for divorce


http://www.monitor.co.ug/News/National/-/688334/865076/-/wikt0b/-/index.html

By Rachel Kabeja & Agencies
Posted Saturday, February 20 2010 at 00:00

Kampala

Suzanne Hinn, wife to renowned preacher, evangelist and healer Benny Hinn has filed for divorce.

The LA Times newspaper reports that Suzanne filed for divorce in the Orange Superior County court in California on February 1.
“The divorce came in as a result of irreconcilable differences in their marriage.”

According to other websites, the two separated on January 20 and Hinn has been living in Dana Point, a wealthy coastal community in southern Orange County.

The couple has been married since August 4, 1979 and have four children, three girls and one boy.

His reaction
In reaction to the news, Benny Hinn Ministries said in a statement; “Pastor Benny Hinn and his immediate family were shocked and saddened to learn of this news without any previous notice. Although Pastor Hinn has faithfully endeavoured to bring healing to their relationship, those efforts failed and were met with the petition for divorce that was filed without notice.”

Benny Hinn is probably the world’s most famous preacher. His TV broadcasts on the Trinity Broadcast Network, a Pentecostal broadcasting powerhouse, and other TV networks are seen by millions of people around the world nearly every day.

He travels around the globe in a personal jet dubbed Dove One, holding miracle and healing crusades.

He has been to Uganda twice with his most recent visit being on the invitation of Pastor Robert Kayanja of Rubaga Miracle Centre last year as he (Kayanja) marked 25 years in ministry.
This is not the first time that Benny Hinn has been mired in controversy. He is among the six world famous preachers under investigation in the US by Sen. Charles Grassley, the Iowa Republican on the Senate Banking Committee, over whether he complied with IRS rules for nonprofits.

However, Hinn said on his website that external auditors ensured his compliance with IRS regulations and that in 2008, 88 per cent of the money he collected was spent on ministry.

Suzanne, Hinn’s wife has pretty much been under the shadow of her husband and not that much is known about her.

When asked about the news, Ugandans had different reactions to it.
Ben Mwine, Power FM’s boss found the news rather unfortunate.

“Calling for divorce after you have been stuck with someone for all those years, is very unfortunate. It is really sad especially since the background reason for the divorce is not known. The most common reasons women file for divorce is infidelity, I know not of any other reason. Could that be the reason she filed for divorce too?”

Devil’s work?
Charles Kyalema, a marketing executive, as well couldn’t believe the news. “I think God is uncovering what we have been doing in the dark, what else do you think is happening? Or maybe, the devil is trying to see that he rips the church apart. Look at what is happening in our local churches, pastors involved in scandal after scandal. It is the devil’s desire that the church splits up,” he said.

While the above found the news shocking, others didn’t.
Mr Steven Kibuuka, a journalist said; “I am not surprised, those preachers live such stressful lives, they have to keep up appearances making people think that they are holy. This cannot go on forever.”

Who is Benny Hinn
Toufik Benedictus “Benny” Hinn was born on December 3, 1952.

Soon after the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, Hinn’s family emigrated to Toronto, Ontario, Canada, where he attended but later prematurely left the Georges Vanier Secondary School.

Upon moving to the United States, Hinn travelled to Orlando, Florida, where he founded the Orlando Christian Center in 1983.

His thirty-minute TV program This Is Your Day, is among the world’s most-watched Christian programs, seen on various Christian television networks