On his recent trip to Ghana, Pastor Benny Hinn sat down with Pastor Joshua Hayward Mills of First Love Church for an interview on the tests of ministry. In this candid conversation, Hinn revealed seven critical trials every minister must face—and how God uses them to shape leaders.
1. The Test of the Calling
Many enter ministry for fame or recognition. As Hinn warns, “There are those who are not called who think they are, but they’re not…They focus more on their name than His name. They worry about what people say about them.” True calling brings peace in the midst of attacks: “When you know you’re called, nothing matters. You don’t worry about what people say about you, or what they think about you.”
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2. The Test of Reputation
Hinn recalls early media praise in Canada, when he was called “the man of love,” only to face harsh criticism in the U.S. after other scandals. “They said they’d destroy me,” he recalls. “But if God called me, they can’t.” This test teaches ministers to rely on God’s affirmation rather than public opinion.
3. The Test of Weakness
As a child, Benny struggled with stuttering and shyness. “I’m not that smart to do all that has been done. Even though the I knew the Lord called me, it was like a wakeup moment. There’s no way I could have done any of this because when I was young, I used to stutter. I couldn’t even talk,” he recalled. ” And God chose the weak things.”
4. The Test of Betrayal and Endurance
Hinn discussed how praise can turn to opposition overnight. “Everything changed when those preachers did and said what they did,” Hinn admits. “Now I will say this. It’s always painful. It’s always because we’re human. We don’t lose our humanity. We don’t lose our feelings. But that the peace of God becomes more real than our hurts.”
5. The Test of Separation
Using the metaphor of clay, Benny explains spiritual preparation: “Clay has to be dug, separated, washed, soaked…Then they begin to investigate it for air bubbles…That’s what God does with us sometimes.” Ministers must be willing to leave worldly comforts behind to be fully shaped by God.
6. The Test of Refinement
This stage involves patience, waiting and spiritual softening. Hinn calls it “the soaking.” He explains, “You think God’s forgotten you, but He’s just softening the clay.” Every trial is part of the refining process, preparing ministers for honorable service.
7. The Test of Surrender
Finally comes personal surrender. For Hinn, one test involved saying goodbye to a girl named Michelle. “I said yes, Lord,” he recalls. The week after, he experienced a profound spiritual breakthrough: “God touched me in Kathryn Kuhlman’s service.” Obedience opens the door to God’s next assignment.
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Ultimately, Hinn concludes with a challenge for aspiring ministers: “Make sure you’re called. Otherwise, don’t touch it…The majority of people who survive in ministry are called when they’re children. God usually doesn’t wait to call people; He usually calls them when they’re young.”
Prepared by Charisma Media Staff.
