300 to lose jobs when Hinn moves

The Orlando Sentinel, July 7, 1999
By Mark I. Pinsky

Only 80 of the 387 employees at Benny Hinn's World Outreach Center will be offered new jobs when the controversial televangelist moves his headquarters to Dallas this fall.

Last month, Hinn told The Orlando Sentinel that "most" of the ministry's employees would be offered the opportunity to move to Texas, and that 50 people on the World Outreach Church staff would stay as long as the congregation remained opened in Orlando.

However, the statement released by the ministry said only 20 current employees will remain on the staff of Benny Hinn Ministries in Orlando. Forty local employees will be offered positions at the ministry's new headquarters in Dallas, which is scheduled to open in October.

Another 20 employees will be relocated to the ministry's World Wide Media Center in Southern California.

"The remaining employees will be afforded the opportunity to apply for available positions within the ministry at its various locations," according to the statement.

David Brokaw, spokesman for Hinn and the church, later said, "It is Pastor Hinn's sincere desire to have everybody relocate with the church headquarters in Dallas. However, given the complexities of the move, we also realize that some people will not be able to make this transition."

Hinn, 46, is one of the best-known evangelists and faith healers on television, appearing on stations affiliated with the Trinity Broadcasting Network. The ministry raises an estimated $50 million to $100 million a year.

"God has blessed us with a very special group of people that work at our ministry and we are grateful for their hard work and devotion," Hinn said in the statement released over the July 4th weekend.

"We are hoping that as many of our people as possible reapply for employment."

Hinn said his ministry ismoving to Texas because there is no room to grow in Central Florida. His crusades take him around the world, and he said that the proximity of his new headquarters to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport would save the ministry time and money. Many of the ministry's strongest backers are in Texas, officials said.