Benny Hinn’s wife files for divorce

NEEDS PRAYERS: Pastors Benny Hinn (R) with Kayanja at one of the crusades in Uganda. FILE PHOTO

What you need to know:

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.

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

It’s estimated that Benny Hinn has spoken to one billion people through his crusades.

By far the most controversial aspect of Hinn’s ministry is his claim to have the “anointing”, the special power given to him by God to heal the sick.

Hinn made a number of unfulfilled prophecies for the 90s, such as God destroying America’s homosexual community in 1995, the death of Fidel Castro, the election of the first female president of the USA, the East Coast of the United States being devastated by earthquakes.

Hinn also appeared on the Trinity Broadcasting Network in October 1999 to claim that God had given him a vision that thousands of dead people would be resurrected after watching the network—laying out a scenario of people placing their dead loved ones’ hands on TV screens tuned into the station.

In December 2006, BHM sent out a mailing asking for donations towards a new Gulfstream G4SP jet valued at an estimated $36 million and costing over $600,000/year to maintain and operate.