Evangelist Benny Hinn, Citing Financial Teacher Todd Coontz, Asks Supporters to Donate $1,000 in 'Higher Seed-Level Giving'
By Nicola Menzie , Christian Post Reporter
June 16, 2014|2:32 pm
(Photo: Benny Hinn Ministries)
Evangelist and faith healer Benny Hinn is seen in this undated file photo provided by his ministry.
Hinn, whose followers number more than 1.7 million on Facebook and Twitter, credited Coontz as inspiration for the higher seed-level giving principle in a newsletter emailed to supporters over the weekend.
"I've believed in seed-faith giving for decades, and I've seen it work time after time, but where do you get this $1,000 teaching?" Hinn says he asked Coontz during a conference in Dallas. "He showed me from the Bible how Solomon offered a thousand animals to God. He told me there's something very special about the number 1,000 and the miracles he has seen when people cross that line in giving."
After trying out Coontz's "$1,000 teaching," Hinn claims he received from God "quick" results that were "nothing short of miraculous, and totally life-changing!"
"Because of what I heard, and responding to his challenge, I stepped into a new dimension of favor and increase," adds Hinn. "And that's the purpose of this email!"
Hinn goes on to cite Luke 6:38 and 2 Corinthians 9:6, verses popular among prosperity preachers, about receiving or "reaping" in proportion to one's giving, or "sowing," stating, "Give God more to work with. Expect more. Greater faith releases the anointing!"
Prosperity preachers commonly claim that God rewards financially those who donate money, oftentimes to their own ministries or churches, and that the more one gives, the bigger the reward.
In his request for supporters to "move up to a higher level," the Israel-born televangelist explains why the figure 1,000 holds significance in the Bible: "In fact, the word thousand is recorded in the King James Version of the Bible 521 times, so it is obviously a number that is important to the kingdom of God."
Hinn concludes his appeal by encouraging supporters to "sow a generous gift of $1,000 or whatever God places on your heart today."
Although Hinn reports having several outreach ministries, such as orphanages in places like Asia and Mexico, and relies on donations to finance his national and international "miracle crusades" and evangelistic meetings, the minister remains controversial among some in the Christian community for teaching a prosperity message. Hinn, who reportedly has a net worth of $42 million, also has been criticized and investigated by numerous news organizations for his purported faith healings.
Coontz is described as a businessman, entrepreneur, television host, financial teacher, philanthropist and best-selling author. He also is a televangelist who promotes on his RockWealth International Ministries website at least four different options for "seed" giving. The giving options range from a "Hope Seed" of $30 a month to feed the hungry, to the "Triple Favor Seed" with a price tag of $1,000.
(Photo: http://rockwealth.org)
Todd
Coontz's website offers donors the opportunity to plant various
"seeds," including to feed the hungry or get a "triple favor."
Coontz and Hinn frequently work together, with the financial guru and minister tweeting on Monday that he had just arrived at Los Angeles International Airport to do a taping with the charismatic preacher. Coontz also shared a photo over the weekend of himself and Hinn, whom he identified as an "Uncommon Healer & Teacher of Jesus Christ!"
(Photo: Twitter/Dr. Todd Coontz)
Evangelist Benny Hinn and financial expert Todd Coontz appear in this photo shared on Twitter on June 15, 2014, by Coontz.
Next up for Hinn on what he calls his worldwide miracle healing crusade is an event on June 19 in Tunapuna, Trinidad, described on the evangelist's website as a "fire impartation conference."
