The ministry of televangelist Benny Hinn has been ordered to pay a mail order company $3 million dollars in unpaid bills, plus interest and lawyers’ fees.
The company, Mail America Communications, began sending periodic mailers to donors of Hinn’s World Healing Center Church in 2006, according to a New York District Court ruling. For nearly 15 years, Hinn’s church defaulted on payments, the ruling states.
By 2012, Hinn’s church owed over $5.6 million to Mail America Communications, according to Mail America’s lawsuit. Hinn’s church then offered the company a promissory note.
Then the church defaulted two more times, failing to meet two relaxed payment plans, the suit says. When Hinn’s church defaulted for a third time, the company took the church to court to collect the alleged remaining debt—over $3.1 million.
World Healing Center Church initially claimed in court that Mail America Communications actually owed the church $49,364. The church also has tried to get Mail America’s lawsuit dismissed.
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On April 7, 2021, a New York district court ruled against Hinn’s church.
“Nothing in Defendant’s opposition papers demonstrates more than ‘some metaphysical doubt as to the material facts,’” the court opinion stated.
Hinn runs one of America’s most profitable faith healing ministries, which his nephew, Costi Hinn, has described as a “money making mafia.”
Benny Hinn’s ministry takes in an estimated $100 million a year. Though Hinn claims donations go toward ministry, Hinn reportedly owns two multi-million-dollar mansions, a small fleet of Mercedes Benzes, and employs a personal chef.
From 2005—2011, Hinn and several other televangelists were the target of an investigation spearheaded by Senator Charles Grassley. The investigation concluded without any sanctions against Hinn or the other televangelists.
Hinn’s ministries and his church continue to be rated “F” by MinistryWatch, a donor watchdog group. MinistryWatch notes that Hinn’s ministries do not publish their financial information and the church operates numerous subsidiaries with separate sets of accounting.
Hinn’s ministry says it doesn’t make its finances public because people might use the numbers to discredit him, his website says.
“Corporate and ministry financial reports can be manipulated by unscrupulous people with unsavory agendas,” Hinn’s site reads. “We do not publicize itemized annual financials.
Just two weeks after losing the lawsuit with Mail America, Hinn announced a fundraising effort to build a new studio and promised donors heavenly rewards for giving.
“I know you, too, want to be rewarded by heaven itself for doing your best to reach the multitudes through this amazing technological breakthrough,” Hinn wrote in an email.
In the email, Hinn asks for a “seed-gift” of $50 or more. He describes other leaders giving to the campaign and claims that God will bless people who give Hinn money.
“That’s not my promise; that’s His promise,” Hinn wrote.
Previously, Hinn has publicly admitted that he preached a false prosperity Gospel.
In 2019, Hinn said his own preaching made him “sick to his stomach.”
“The Gospel is not for sale, the blessings of God are not for sale, miracles are not for sale, and prosperity is not for sale,” said Hinn in 2019.
Days after making this statement, Hinn continued to request $1,000 donations from his followers. He still does so today.
Jackson Elliott is a Christian journalist trained at Northwestern University. He has worked at The Daily Signal, The Inlander, and The Christian Post, covering topics ranging from D.C. politics to prison ministry. His interests include the Bible, philosophy, theology, Russian literature, and Irish music.
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16 thoughts on “Benny Hinn Loses $3 Million Lawsuit to Mail Order Company”
It’s nice to see the old fraud is getting his comeuppance.
What would legitimize Mr. Hinn is to forfeit his lavish lifestyle and refund the money he now admits he raised under false pretenses. In the business world would be jailed for fraud. These predators flourish in the evangelical community because they are exploiters of others for status and wealth and the evangelical community is the most naive market in the world outside of the third world poor who have been exploited since the beginning of the human race.
The only thing that would make Hinn legit is to proclaim the Gospel, and I don’t mean the word “gospel”, I mean the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ for a lost world – according to the scriptures. You will NOT see it expounded on by ANY of the big name WoF “preachers”. They do not confess it, because they don’t understand it in any saving sense themselves. Their god is for the tickling of the flesh and appealing to mans greed, and a most fearful day awaits them when they meet the True God at the Great White Throne Judgment.
Publish broadly.
How are people still so desperate or gullible to still give and give millions. I’ve watched these grifters since the eightys. How can people be this pathetic. Sad.
Gary, it is indeed a mystery. I guess the old saying will always be true, especially with Christians, “I have a bridge to sell you”
Matthew 7:22 presently. Jesus weeps.
A false prophet preaching a false Christ. None of Hinn’s followers believe in a “saving” Christ and therefore all are condemned. You don’t go to heaven on good intentions.
Benny is their Christ. Let him save them.
I read a book a long time ago, now out of print, entitled as something like I’LL WRITE YOU PERSONALLY. It examined the development of Oral Robert’s ministry. All the post-WWII early evangelists and big national ministries made the trek to Billy Graham’s ministry headquarters to learn how to apply modern mass media and mailing strategies. Billy Graham is the father of applying the business model to ministry. The book starts with a woman receiving a computer generated letter from Oral Roberts, and is so blessed to hear back “directly” from him. Of course, she hadn’t heard from Roberts personally, and his promise to write her was a lie–or some may say a metaphor–or maybe useful fiction. The book suggests that these kinds of ministries which are so dependent on continual fund raising build and build and build. When the economy dips, they justify stretching their integrity to keep the ministries going. And then there are all those people working for the evangelists who depend on them for their jobs, and all the family members making a living directly or indirectly from the ministry. All the Graham kids in ministry retain the “Graham” name, like the Roberts, Zacharias, and so many others have. They become a brand. The means of ministry become more and more important than the end. You’ve got to protect the brand.
It’s a little bit like buying a big house and property that you can’t actually afford with your salary. You end up being house-owned. You can’t afford to hire a gardener, so every weekend you are cutting your grass. You can’t go anywhere because the house takes all your earnings. You end up working another job to keep the house. Instead of being a vehicle of freedom, the house becomes a master. These ministries that are built around one person and get massive are like this. It’s in the background behind the Zacharias scandal and many others. Keeping the company going eclipses the mission. The Evangelist is working 70 hours a week to keep the thing going. Why not a jet? Why not a big vacation house? Why not a big salary, he or she works more hours than an executive? Like politicians owned by fund-raising, these Evangelists become owned by raising money.
Some are able to remain humble, live simply, share responsibility, attract good counsel, and avoid excessive leveraging for institutional growth, It’s quite a dance. Media does increase the ability to craft messages and to play fast with the truth, from close-ups that imply large crowds, to cropping that make a video tell a different story, etc. Optics over truth is so tempting. People send money to ministers they don’t know to fund work they have no idea is being done, often robbing the local church–the place where they go when they are hurting, the place they go to be taught and encouraged, the place they go for help in distress, the place they worship weekly. Give generously to your local church first and do due diligence before giving to big para-church and big time ministries.
That is how the advesary works – the deeper you get into it, the harder it is to get out. That’s why we always need to be cautious, in all our business. Lest we end up with a heavy load of repentance to do.
https://thecripplegate.com/god-detests-the-worship-of-the-wicked/#more-225314
Billy Graham is the perfect person to model. He capped everyone’s salaries when he felt it was far over what the normal person would make. Even though he wrote many books that made millions of dollars it all went to the Billy Graham evangelistic association. Run by a board of men Who I think we’re all volunteers.
And you look at what Billy Graham left, a very modest home in North Carolina.
Capping salaries is a standard procedure with mission boards.
“Hinn’s ministry says it doesn’t make its finances public because people might use the numbers to discredit him, his website says.”
Tru dat – as Lil KC would say.
Hinn’s ministry does publish its numbers so they won’t be used by the enemy. Isn’t that Governor Cuomo’s excuse too?
This is called “Stiffing someone you’re doing business with.”
To the tune of $3 to 5 million.
Making long prayers for justification?
Back on Internet Monk, one of the regular guest posters used to work at a radio station. He said policy was to extend credit to a crackhead before they would a Christian(TM), they’d gotten burned so much. Cash In Advance for all Christian(TM)s who wanted to buy air time.
I used to watch Benny Hinn in the early 90’s as a young believer, I supported him, followed him, defended him, and yes even donated (although not a lot) to his ministry. I became aware, on my own, that I no longer believed in the Word of Faith or Prosperity gospel teachings. I was tired of being let down, financially broke due to excessive giving out of “faith”. On top of that, I have a physical disability that affects my joints from the neck down. Day, after day, after day, I would watch “This is Your Day” Hinn’s daily show where prays for the sick. This is Your Day, is a catchy title, that LIES, and gives an empty promise of healing all the while asking you to sow a seed for your miracle, financial, need, deliverance, etc…Hinn tells you to lay your hands on the screen as a “point of contact” and “act of faith”. I did so every day, almost expecting to be knocked down by God’s power while He heals my twisted arms I was born with. Hoping all the while This would ACTUALLY be my day. Of course, it never happened, and the most I ever felt was the stupid static electricity from the TV screen, that shocked me several times. There’s an interesting twist to this story though, because I didn’t want to “write him off” as a total heretic, when I stopped listening to him, I just shrugged, and said “Hey, if he wants to continue preaching this stuff, who am I to judge? I disagree but I’ll just go on with my life” I even continued getting emails from him, although rarely opened them because I knew what they had in them, just another pleading to give money and sow a seed… UNTIL…I read God, Greed, and the Prosperiry Gospel, by none other than Costi Hinn, his nephew. I got to the middle of it and saw the laundry list of luxuries that his uncle enjoys on the backs of grandmas, grandpas, single mothers, the poor, the disabled, struggling business owners etc…and bawled my eyes out TWICE…had to ask God to forgive me several times for the seething wrathful words coming out of my mouth. Costi, does in his book describe his anger, but goes on to outline truth, extend, forgiveness, and try and graciously but firmly sound the alarm on the false doctrines of his uncle and others. He also does talk about how we who are coming out of deception need to guard our hearts from self-righteous judgements. It’s a little tough to get through no matter if you’re still a supporter of the prosperity gospel, or you are a long time staunch critic. I suggest the read. Be blessed…um…the right way. lolol
Benny Hinn is a born again fraud. Abuses Christian values to live like a drug baron. With his dick up his arse, Benny Hinn travels America pocketing money via his spineless preaching.