Due to public outcry, and I'm certain hefty lost revenues, Benny Hinn has defended himself on his website by providing answers to TOP 20 QUESTIONS CONCERNING FINANCIAL STEWARDSHIP. Here is question 11 and Benny Hinn's answer:
11. Does the ministry make public its annual financials or publish an audited financial report? If so, how is this information made available? If not, why not?
As mentioned previously, on www.BennyHinn.org we openly publish both general financial information... and specialized miracle crusade and missionary outreach reports which detail what the ministry is doing around the world with the gifts invested by our partners.
However, mindful of the fact that both corporate and ministry financial reports can be manipulated by unscrupulous people with unsavory agendas, and in accordance with the regulations set forth by our Board of Directors, we do not publicize itemized annual financials or produce and distribute annual financial reports to the general public.
According to their lie chart (I mean "pie" chart), which can be viewed here, Benny Hinn Ministries breaks down their 2006 finances like this:
- 52% for Media Ministry
- 35% for International Missions and Crusades
- 8% for Ministry Administrative Support
- 5% for Ministry Development
In sharp contrast, here's the Budgeted Expense Report for the First Baptist Church [FBC] of Diboll, Texas...
FBC breaks down their finances to the point of showing that the Nursery Director received $127.50 and $60 went to Pineywoods Encampment. Now that's financial accountability, because each of those items can be specifically questioned and accounted for.
In contrast, Benny Hinn states that he doesn't want to itemize his finances because both corporate and ministry financial reports can be manipulated by unscrupulous people with unsavory agendas. Would it matter Mr. Hinn? If your ministry is spending the Lord's money wisely then there shouldn't be a problem. What expenditures are you worried about that might be "manipulated"? From the investigation done by NBC Nightline, showing that you paid $10,000 to stay in The Presidential Suite of a hotel for one night, I can see why you are reluctant to itemize your ministries' expenses.
Hinn is deceitful. He claims that 52% of contributions to his ministry went for "media ministry" in 2006. Folks that alone amounts to over $50,000,000!!! Hinn took in over $100,000,000 last year. Benny Hinn refuses to tell us where that money is going. The money could have been spent on ANYTHING, under the umbrella of "media ministry." Where does Hinn's ten-thousand-dollar-a-night hotel rooms fit into the lie chart?
"But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not." —2nd Peter 2:1-3
