Kenneth Hagin: Pioneer of the Word of Faith Movement

 

Kenneth Hagin was an American preacher who pioneered the Word of Faith movement. He served in Christian ministry for nearly 70 years and was widely regarded as the father of the modern faith movement. His teachings and books are filled with vivid stories that illustrate God’s power and truth working in his life and the lives of others.

Early Life and Healing

Kenneth Erwin Hagin was born on August 20, 1917, in McKinney, Texas, to Lillie Viola Drake Hagin and Jess Hagin. He was born with a deformed heart and an incurable blood disease. Due to his condition, doctors did not expect him to live.

At age 15, he became paralyzed and bedridden. In April 1933, he experienced a profound conversion and surrendered his life to Christ.

During this time, Hagin later testified that he had a near-death experience, where he saw the horrors of hell multiple times before returning to life.

Despite his conversion, he remained paralyzed. However, on August 8, 1934, after reading Mark 11:23–24, he received a revelation about faith in God’s Word and was miraculously healed. From that moment on, he never struggled with walking again. His healing is documented in Roberts Liardon’s book God’s Generals.

His most frequently quoted Bible passage was Mark 11:23-24, which states:

"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."

Early Ministry and Ordination

In 1936, Hagin founded his first non-denominational church. He preached his first sermon as the pastor of a small Baptist church in Roland, Texas.

In 1937, he joined the Assemblies of God and was officially licensed in 1939 before being ordained in 1941.

For the next twelve years, he pastored five Assemblies of God churches across Texas.

On November 25, 1938, he married Oretha Rooker, and they had two children: Kenneth Hagin Jr. and Patricia Harrison. His son, Kenneth Hagin Jr., is currently the pastor of Rhema Bible Church and the president of Kenneth Hagin Ministries.

Transition to Independent Ministry

In 1949, after a dramatic vision in which Jesus appeared to him, Hagin left his pastoral role to begin an itinerant ministry as a Bible teacher and evangelist.

Although he was influenced by the Voice of Healing Revival (1947–1958)—a movement led by Oral Roberts, Gordon Lindsay, and T.L. Osborn—Hagin focused more on teaching faith and divine healing rather than large-scale healing crusades.

On January 23, 1963, he founded the Kenneth Hagin Evangelistic Association (now Kenneth Hagin Ministries) in Garland, Texas.

In 1966, the ministry moved to Tulsa, Oklahoma, taking over a space previously used by T.L. Osborn. That same year, Hagin began selling his sermons on reel-to-reel tape and launched his first radio teaching program on KSKY in Dallas.

In 1967, he began the "Faith Seminar of the Air" radio broadcast, which continued for decades.

Expansion of Kenneth Hagin Ministries

Since its incorporation, Kenneth Hagin Ministries has expanded to include numerous media outreaches and ministries, such as:

• Faith Library Publications – Over 65 million book copies in circulation.
• The Word of Faith – A free monthly magazine with approximately 600,000 subscribers.
• Nationwide and international crusades.
• Rhema Correspondence Bible School.
• Rhema Prayer and Healing Center – A healing ministry located on the Rhema campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

Rhema Bible Training College

At a camp meeting in 1973, Hagin announced the creation of a Bible training center. In 1974, he founded Rhema Bible Training College (RBTC) in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma.

RBTC has since expanded worldwide, with training centers in over 14 countries and more than 1,500 churches planted globally.

In 1979, he established the Prayer and Healing Center, offering free healing services twice a day on the Rhema campus.

On May 20, 1994, he received an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from Faith Theological Seminary in Tampa, Florida.

Final Years and Legacy

On September 13, 2003, Hagin went to bed feeling well. The next morning, while sitting at the breakfast table, he smiled at his wife, Oretha, sighed, and his head fell to his chest. He passed away on Friday, September 19, 2003, at the age of 86.

After his passing, Kenneth Hagin Jr. continued to lead the ministry. Rhema has since trained over 80,000 graduates who now minister in 52 countries worldwide.

Global Impact of Rhema Bible Training College

Today, Rhema Bible Training College has training centers in multiple nations, including:

• United States
• Austria
• Brazil
• Colombia
• Germany
• India
• Indonesia
• Italy
• Mexico
• Peru
• Romania
• Greece
• Singapore
• South Africa
• The South Pacific
• Thailand
• Nigeria
• Zambia
• Egypt
• The Philippines

Kenneth Hagin’s ministry pioneered the Word of Faith movement, emphasizing faith in God’s Word, divine healing, and the authority of the believer. His teachings continue to impact millions globally through his books, sermons, and the graduates of Rhema Bible Training College.

Even after his passing, his legacy remains strong, as his ministry continues to influence churches, ministries, and believers worldwide.