Benny Hinn's 'Special Message' on the National Enquirer 

Word-for-Word Transcript

Compiled by Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

www.christianresearchservice.com

August 20, 2010

The August 2, 2010 edition of the NATIONAL ENQUIRER published a two-page article on an alleged "Torrid Affair" between Benny Hinn and Paula White. The article included two photos of what appears to be Hinn and White holding hands while in Rome, Italy.

Although Hinn and White issued written statements denouncing the article, the statements were removed from their websites. But both statements may be reviewed in their entirety at Apprising Ministries.

The following is a partial word-for-word transcript of Benny Hinn's "Special Message" to his partners concerning the August 2, 2010 article in the NATIONAL ENQUIRER. Hinn's message was delivered during the July 30, 2010 crusade in Oakland, California, and may be viewed in its entirety at http://www.bennyhinn.org/media/2010-8-13.asx .

Should the video disappear from Benny Hinn's website, please refer to the following YouTube videos: 

A few days ago there was some news reports about me. I can tell you as a man of God, before God Himself, it was misleading and false. I stand here with a pure conscience and a pure heart to tell you this, 'cause I know me. I know my life. My family knows my life. My close friends knows my life.

 

You know, people of God, you gotta understand something: The devil hates me, and he wants to destroy the work of God. He's tried that before.

 

When the NATIONAL ENQUIRER wrote that story, it was a pure lie. They did not even call me to ask me questions. They simply came up with their own story. That's wicked. It's totally wicked! You gotta understand that.

 

But here's the sad truth: some preachers believed it, because some preachers hate me too. Not these [Benny Hinn refers to the preachers on stage]. These love me. Thank you.

 

My dear friend, Paul and Jan Crouch, are my dear friends. And Jan

called me, she said, "Benny, don't even think about it. Just keep serving Jesus." Paul said the same thing, "Just keep serving Jesus."

 

But sadly, you know, I have to, I have to address it because otherwise people believe this stuff. Just sad. I wanna tell you the facts, and then you need to pray for me. Be glad you are not me.

 

If I knew before I started the ministry that I'd be attacked like this, I would have said, "No, Lord. Thank You." 'Cause this is not the first time they do that to me!

 

But I will tell you this. You all know this, and please remain standing 'cause we gonna pray. In February [2010] my wife [Suzanne] filed for divorce, and I was shocked. And people, they said, "How, how could he be shocked?" Because I would often ask her, very openly, 'cause we had challenges as a couple.

 

Look, you know, to be in this kind of work and ministry is very tough on a family, very tough. And we had challenges, we had troubles for a long time. And, I would ask her often, I'd say, "Would you, would you ever divorce me?" She said, "Never, because I fear God too much." She said, "My covenant is with God, not you." And I guess she could no longer handle it. One day she did it, to my shock.

 

It, it, it's, it's painful to talk about that, because you blame yourself as a husband. We all blame ourselves for the failures in marriage. My children have gone through tremendous pain as a result. We are still praying that the Lord would bring peace and tranquility and healing.

 

But please understand there's many things I cannot talk about, that make it very difficult to even discuss this part. It's a very difficult situation; very difficult; very difficult; more than you know, that we've lived with quietly. We've had to be very quiet to protect the ministry, the work of the Lord.

 

But sadly, when you are a public person, everything you do becomes public! You can't even have a private life.

 

But you must understand something: I have been living alone for years. You know how painful it is to go home to an empty house? Very difficult. I don't care how strong you are. I don't care if the anointing of God is mighty on you, nobody wants to be alone. I don't care who you are. I am a human being, just like you.

 

It's very, very difficult to talk about this, but I have to, otherwise people make up their own stories. I'm sorry to say my wife and I could no longer exist in the same house. Painfully I say that to you. Yes, we are friends and yes we talk, of course, come on, please. We're gonna stay friends for life, 'cause I love her and she loves me. We, we do love each other. But there's many difficulties that exist that we cannot talk about here. 'Cause it's not for the world to know anyways.

 

It's my own personal PAIN! It's between the Lord and I. Suzanne loves the Lord. She'll be in heaven. She's been a wonderful wife, truly. Please understand, she is still the mother of my children, and I do love her and thank God for her. I'm gonna always love her 'til the day I die I'm gonna love her. That's a fact. But there's things we cannot talk about.

 

But she and I kept a clean life. That's a fact. She and I kept a very pure life before God. We kept our marriage vows, and there was nothing immoral, ever, on her part or my part. And I want you to know that to this minute I am clean and, and so is she!

 

A few weeks ago, May the 25th to be exact, Paula White, who's a preacher, came to tape on This Is Your Day!--it was actually the 24th of May--taped for some programs, like anybody else that comes to tape. She's a preacher like anybody else. I've had women on my programs and men. And we've known each other. Her husband and her attended our church for nine years. When nobody knew Paula White, she was one of my church members. So, we got to talk. She went through a painful divorce. I went through a painful divorce. We found common ground to talk about stuff we could help each other in. And a friendship did develop. But hear this: No immorality whatsoever.

 

These people out there are making it sound like we had an affair. That's a lie! That's a total lie! Just the second you say, "affair," you think, "sex!" There's no truth to that whatsoever. None. 

 

The Vatican did invite me a few days ago. They made me a Patron of the Arts in the Vatican two weeks ago. And that's a fact! A Patron of the Arts means you support the Vatican so they can maintain all the work of Michelangelo. I'm one of the guys now that supports what they do. And that is a fact. I was there, and we were taken around by a man named Wilhelm Kramer. And they asked me, literally they said, "Do you know people that can help us financially?" I said, "Alright." 

 

Now here's where I made my mistake: I let her [Paula White] come

with me to Rome, so she can donate money. That was stupid on my part. And for that I do ask forgiveness. But that was an innocent mistake, nothing to do with stupid stuff. 

 

And then they [NATIONAL ENQUIRER] have a picture of a bed, implying sex. That is terrible they've done that! So, I said, "You know, I'm not ready for this stuff." So, I pulled back and I said, "Paula, I'm sorry, we can't even be friends right now." I said, "The ministry is too important for me. I'm gonna wait. I'm gonna wait 'til God says, 'Go!'"

 

And frankly, I got news for you, I don't know what my future holds. It's in the hands of the Lord. So, right now, I'm here to tell all of you, I'm gonna focus just on Jesus. That's all. 

 

There is no, listen, there is no friendship at all. There is no relationship. It's over, because it's too costly, at this time of my life, to have friends. How sad. I can't even have friends. I can have guys, but then they may call me something else. Only God knows. Forgive me for being so blunt. Are you getting the message? [audience says, "Yes"] Yeah. Sad. It's true, though. But, whatever His will is it shall be done.

 

So, now, I did have an error in judgement. I said that. I'm also human, but I'm clean, totally. God knows it. I know it. My family knows it. And I'm not afraid to tell you all I am clean before God, in every way.

 

Now, I'm gonna go on serving Jesus with all my being, and whatever the future holds, that's His business. You just pray for me that I'll make the right decision. Amen?

We've, we've let you into our hearts and into our lives a little bit, you know. It's not that easy to do. Trust me. But listen, some of you are going through similar things. But there are many of you that need to see healing come to your home, or maybe you're divorced. Maybe you've gone through some pain.

 

I know, you know the Bible is very straight on this, very clear on the message. God hates it! But it's still, sadly, we see so many families broken up. If you're going through struggles God will take care of it.

 

You know, you know what has really helped me? Focusing on the Lord. It's the only thing you can do. Yeah, we, I have personal needs, of course I do, c'mon. Do you know, do, do, do you know how painful--for three years or more--to, to come home to an empty house has been? It's tormenting. And, finally you say, "Lord, it's yours. You give me the strength and give me the, the, the power to last." And look, He's done it. I am still focused on the Lord's work. Nothing is changed. I really am. I'm doing alright. 

 

But I'm gonna tell you something, it's because of His mercy; His strength. Now, some of you need that in your life. If you do, get down here. Let's pray together. C'mon. C'mon. C'mon. C'mon. Don't be, don't be ashamed. Don't be embarrassed. 

I'm gonna give you one word. It's one simple word, then I'm gonna send you home. This is where my mistake was, 'cause we all make mistakes, as couples. I was so busy in the ministry. I was so caught with the ministry. I forgot about my family. That's probably what broke the whole thing up.

 

[Referring to his children still on stage, Benny Hinn states,] And they've said to me, they've said, "Hey daddy, you've never been here." So I've made mistakes because I wasn't the perfect husband and the perfect dad, because I was always gone, traveling the world. Now looking back, if I had to do it over again, I would have done it different. 'Cause if you neglect your family you'll suffer pain. You gotta focus on your family.

 

So, I was wrong when I would teach, and I did teach this--and the kids would be hurt by this--when I'd say, "The call of God comes before the family." You know what? It's wrong. I'm here to admit I was wrong, because the call of God first should touch the family. If you have no family, you can't go on anyways.

 

So I said to the kids, "Well, you know, God's called me, and I have to go preach the gospel, and you just have to put up with it." Finally, I began to see the pain in their hearts. 'Cause they've, they, they felt

like second class. The ministry comes first with dad. You know, everything is about the call of God with dad. We're kind of, we're unimportant. And I said, now I'm saying to them publicly, I said this to them privately: I said, "You know what? I was wrong, kids." If I'm willing to admit that--too bad we can't rewind the tape and go back and fix it--it's too late now. It's too late.

 

[Pointing at his followers, Benny Hinn states] But, don't you make that mistake. Invest your time in each other, with your family, your wife, your husband.

 

Are you, are you getting this? [a few audience members shout, "Yes!"] Now I'm telling you what the mistake I did. So I was busy serving Jesus, traveling the world. That was the mistake. But you know what, what's so good about the Lord? He'll fix it still. Because He takes our mess, and He'll still fix it. 

You've heard my heart today on the program. I'm glad you are watching. Ronn Haus is with me. Bishop Clarence McClendon is on the set, and Henry. But I want to say something to you, precious partners, before we talk. You know, one thing I've always said to the Lord, "I want to finish strong. I wanna finish pure, because the ministry is tough."

 

And I honestly wanna be honest with all of you. The healing ministry especially is very tough. That's why most healing evangelists did not finish right. Because the pressure is so intense. And I know, know people hear me say that and they wonder, "What do you mean by the pressure?" On, it's a long story. One day in heaven I think we'll see the whole thing.

 

[End of transcript]