Kenneth E. Hagin: Difference between revisions

{{short description|American preacher (1917–2003)}}

{{Distinguish|John Hagee}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=August 2022}}

| name = Kenneth E. Hagin

| image = Brother E Hagin.jpg

| caption = Hagin at a conference in Toronto, Ontario

| birth_date = {{Birth date |1917|08|20|mf=yes}}

| birth_place = [[McKinney, Texas|McKinney]], Texas, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age |2003|9|19 |1917|8|20 |mf=yes}}

| death_place = [[Tulsa, Oklahoma]], U.S.<ref name= "tw_death">[http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?no=subj&articleid=030923_Ob_a10_hagin&archive=yes "Hagin"], ''[[Tulsa World]]'', September 23, 2003.</ref>

| occupation = Pentecostal pastor

| known_for = Apostle of the "[[Word of Faith]]" movement

| spouse = Oretha Rooker

| children = <!-- # of children (e.g., 3); only list names of independently notable or particularly relevant children. Published reliable source(s) must be cited in the main text to verify # and, if notable, names of children. -->

'''Kenneth Erwin Hagin''' (August 20, 1917 – September 19, 2003) was an American [[minister of religion|preacher]].<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |url= http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/the-hagins-ministry/article_c33d30bc-b520-5311-8e65-ba95544daf02.html|title= The Hagins' ministry| first = Bill | last = Sherman |work=Tulsa World|access-date= 2017-08-04}}</ref> He is often considered the father of the [[Word of Faith]] movement.<ref>{{cite book | last = Brown | first = Candy Gunther | title = Charismatic Healing | year = 2011 | publisher = Oxford University Press | isbn = 978-0-19-539341-5 |page = 152}}</ref>

Kenneth E. Hagin was born August 20, 1917, in [[McKinney, Texas]], the son of Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin.{{Citation needed|date=August 2017}} According to Hagin's testimony, he was born with a [[Congenital heart defect|deformed heart]] and what was believed to be an incurable [[blood disease]]. He was not expected to live and at age 15he became paralyzed and bedridden.<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=291&Itemid=224|title=Kenneth Hagin Ministries|access-date=May 14, 2016}}</ref> In April 1933 he converted to Christianity. During a dramatic [[religious conversion|conversion]] [[religious experience|experience]], he reported dying, due to the deformed heart, three times in 10 minutes, each time seeing the horrors of [[hell]] and then returning to life.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url= http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=8&Itemid=137|title=Founder's Memorial |website=Kenneth Hagin Ministries|language=en-US|access-date= 2017-08-04}}</ref> He remained paralyzed after his conversion.<ref name=":1" />

On August 8, 1934, he says he was raised from his deathbed by a revelation of "faith in God's Word" after reading Mark 11:23–24.<ref name= ":0" /> He was also healed of his paralysis and never struggled with walking. His dramatic healing is detailed in Roberts Liardon's book ''God's Generals''.

{{Bibleverse || Mark|11:23–24|KJV}} defined his ministry and was his most frequently quoted verse:<ref name=":1" />{{blockquote |For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, be thou removed and be thou cast into the sea, and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass, he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.}}

In 1936, he founded his first non-denominational church.<ref name=":1" /> He preached his first sermon as the pastor of a small, community Baptist church in Roland, Texas.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news|url= http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2003/septemberweb-only/9-22-11.0.html|title=Weblog: Kenneth Hagin, 'Word of Faith' Preacher, Dies at 86 |work=Christianity Today |access-date= 2017-08-04}}</ref> In 1937, he became an Assemblies of God minister.<ref name=":2" /> During the next twelve years he pastored five [[Assemblies of God]] churches in Texas: in the cities of [[Tom Bean, Texas|Tom Bean]], [[Farmersville, Texas|Farmersville]] (twice), [[Talco, Texas|Talco]], [[Greggton, Texas|Greggton]], and [[Van, Texas|Van]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url= http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=9:..&showall=1|title=History of the Ministry|website=Kenneth Hagin Ministries|language=en-US|access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref> Van, Texas was the last church he pastored before starting to travel.

On November 25, 1938, he married Oretha Rooker.<ref name= ":0" /> They had two children. Their first child Kenneth Wayne Hagin, known as Kenneth Hagin Jr., was born on September 3, 1939.<ref name=":3" /> A daughter, Patricia (Hagin) Harrison, was born 19 months later on March 27, 1941.<ref name=":3" /> His son Kenneth Wayne Hagin is currently the pastor of Rhema Bible Church and President of Kenneth Hagin Ministries.<ref>{{Cite web|url= http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&layout=blog&id=100&Itemid=135|title=The Founder and Leaders of Rhema Christian Faith Ministry |website= Kenneth Hagin Ministries|language= en-US|access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref>

* "q Praise" – a weekly television program on the [[Trinity Broadcasting Network]]

* Rhema Correspondence Bible School

* Rhema Prayer and Healing Center, located on the Rhema campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma

At a camp meeting in 1973, Hagin announced the creation of a "bible training center." In 1974, Hagin opened RHEMA Bible Training College, in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, which now has training centers in fourteen different countries, planted over 1,500 congregations worldwide, and has 25,000 [[alumni]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite news|url= http://www.tulsaworld.com/archives/rev-kenneth-e-hagin-founder-of-international-ministries-dies/article_28e06541-2943-545c-ac3a-9b4bd3d673a7.html |title=Rev. Kenneth E. Hagin, founder of international ministries dies| agency = Associated Press|first= Kelly | last = Kurt |work=Tulsa World |access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref><ref>R.G. Robins (2010), ''Pentecostalism in America'', Praeger. {{ISBN |978-0-313-35295-9}} p. 25</ref>

In 1979, he founded the Prayer and Healing Center to provide a place for the sick to come and "have the opportunity to build their faith." Its Healing School continues to be held free of charge twice a day on the Rhema campus.<ref name=":3" />

On May 20, 1994, Hagin received an Honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree from Faith Theological Seminary in Tampa, Florida.<ref name=":3" />

Hagin went to bed on Saturday September 13 feeling well, according to a news release from his ministry. He sat at the breakfast tableon Sunday morning and smiled at his wife, Oretha, then sighed and his head fell to his chest. He died on Friday, September 19, 2003, at the age of 86.<ref name=":4" />

== On women pastors ==

Kenneth E. Hagin, in his book ''The Woman Question'', accepts and approves the ordination of women as pastors and preachers in the Church.

==Rhema Bible Training College== <!-- [[Rhema Bible Training Center]] redirects here -->

Hagin founded Rhema Bible Training College, previously Rhema Bible Training Center, in 1974. The college is accredited by Transworld Accrediting Commission International, This [[Bible college|Bible institute]]is located on {{convert|110|acre|km2}} in [[Broken Arrow, Oklahoma|Broken Arrow]], a suburb of [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]], [[Oklahoma]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rhema.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=577:additional-information&catid=73:international|title=Kenneth Hagin Ministries|access-date=May 14, 2016}}</ref> The curriculum is derived from a [[Charismatic movement|Charismatic]]/[[Pentecostal]] heritage. There are seven ministry concentrations specializing in [[Religious ministry (Christian)#Age-specific ministry|Children's Ministry]], [[Youth ministry (Evangelical)|Youth Ministry]], [[Evangelism]], [[Pastoral care|Pastoral Care]], [[Mission (Christian)|Missions]], [[Biblical Studies]], and Supportive [[Religious ministry (Christian)|Ministry]]. Rhema has established training centers in Austria, Brazil, Colombia, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Peru, Romania, Greece, Singapore, South Africa, the [[Oceania|South Pacific]], Thailand, Nigeria, Zambia, Egypt, and the Philippines.

After Hagin's death in 2003, his son, Kenneth W. Hagin, continued to run the institution. Rhema has trained over 80,000 graduates who reside and minister in 52 countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.rbtc.org/index.php/about-us|title=About Us - Bible College - Bible School {{!}} rbtc.org|last=dwillborn|website=rbtc.org|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-08-04}}</ref>

Locally, Rhema is known for its annual Christmas display, which in recent years has included more than 2 million lights synchronized to Christmas music.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.tulsaworld.com/entertainment/best-bets-sunday-dec/article_60b27729-6436-5662-a610-b7829ddfee17.html| title= Best Bets, Sunday, Dec. 30 | date= December 30, 2018 | publisher=Tulsa World| access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

Rhema was granted an exception to [[Title IX]] in 2016, Its 2020-2021 student handbook states that among students, "RBTC will not allow any type of physical or sexual activity/behavior other than what the Bible states is permitted for a husband and wife who are legally married. This includes, but is not limited to, homosexual activities, fornication, adultery, pornography, and so forth ...."<ref name="RBTC">{{cite web |url=https://www.rbtc.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/RBTC-128770-Student-Handbook-2020-2021_.pdf |title=RBTC Student Handbook 2020-2021 |author=<!--Not stated--> |website=RBTC |access-date=August 28, 2021 }}</ref>

* ''Why Tongues'' (1975)

* ''You Can Have What You Say'' (1979)

* ''The Holy Spirit And His Gifts (1991)''<ref>{{Cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MB08PQAACAAJ | title=The Holy Spirit and His Gifts| isbn=9780892760855| last1=Hagin| first1=Kenneth E.| year=1991| publisher=Faith Library Publications, Incorporated}}</ref>

* ''The Triumphant Church'' (1993)

* ''God's Medicine'' (1997)<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nIZqm-1gQgYC&q=%2522God%27s%2520medicine%2522%2520%2522Kenneth%2520Hagin%2522&pg=PA362|title=Christianity in Crisis: The 21st Century: The 21st Century|last=Hanegraaff|first=Hank|date=June 18, 2012|publisher=[[Thomas Nelson Inc]]|isbn=9781418576073|page=362|language=en}}</ref>

* ''The Midas Touch'' (1999)

* ''Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room'' (2007) <ref>Hagin, Kenneth. E. (2007). Tongues: Beyond the Upper Room. United States: Faith Library Publications.</ref>

* [http://www.rbtc.org/ Rhema Bible Training College]

[[Category:American Assemblies of God pastors]]

[[Category:Prosperity theologians]]