Benny Hinn Hates Church
Last night, seated in the back of a black SUV and driving home from the 2010 Chicago Auto Show, I looked in amazement at a message posted on Facebook. It seems these days I resort to news via social media than anywhere else. Either way, I was a bit disappointed with my hacked iPhone and its lethargic 2g internet speeds. I was squeezing, shaking and speaking poetic words to my phone in an attempt to load an La Times blog. I noticed after searching Safari the story had been updated within the hour, THIS was a hot one. Plus I knew there had to be some validity to it if the Los Angeles Times had scooped the story up. I had a feeling this sort of news was going to happen but for some reason I didn’t want to admit I first heard it on Facebook.
Many of you may not know, but your boy picked up a job with Benny Hinn Ministries after working for nearly 3 years in corporate and celebrity public relations in Los Angeles. While PR was an incredible learning experience, it was during this time when I found my personal accomplishments at a high and my soul at an all time low. Drugs, sex and lies were blinding every decision, I needed a way out. To my ridiculously, shocking surprise, I received a phone call from Benny Hinn, asking if I wanted to meet and hang out.
It didn’t take long to see he was a tastemaker and influencer in his own way. After a few times of hanging out it became apparent he wanted me on his staff. While I wasn’t too keen at joining forces with Christians and dumping the Hollywood lifestyle, I knew I had to make a choice. I began to see vividly the choices I was making were destroying not only my life, but others around me. I was 26 years old and I needed to make a good decision on this one. I didn’t want to (expletive) this up.
Someone asked me recently why I made a decision like that and left a life of Hollywood to escape to a Christian lifestyle? Was it that I couldn’t hack it? Was I not talented enough or didn’t have the work ethic? Do you consider yourself a failure?
Each of us need to be asked these questions. We need to always check where and what we are doing in order to ensure we are heading in the right direction. We should be successful in what we do but we also need to understand the environment. Environment will determine much more than what a job may entail. The cast and crew around you will determine the life in which you will live. Your lifestyle happens by design or default and you get to choose.
Benny Hinn gave me an opportunity no one else gave me at that time. There is no way on earth any Christian environment would have hired me. I still drank more than I should, cussed more than I should and did a bit more bird watching than I should. What I did tell myself and Benny was that I wouldn’t do drugs. This was the only area where I personally knew I had to change. The other stuff, I was just hoping would dissipate.
I was terrified at first to travel the globe and work for the one of the most famous preachers in the world. What if I slipped up and lost my job? What if I couldn’t hack it? I had not only changed jobs but had moved to the unsexy Orange County. This was a huge blow to my personal accomplishments. I no longer had that LA zip code, no longer walked to the front of the line or scored premier passes. No longer was I getting comped clothes for clients or free backstage passes. This move took every ounce of personal respect I thought I had and pissed it out the window. I was starting from scratch…
Fast forward 4 years…
After working with Benny Hinn and his team I still have not touched any drugs {except for caffeine} for nearly 4 years. I am married to 1 superhero Australian wifey and we have the time of our lives. We have a better relationship than any of my friends. There is no way you could have told me this when I first made a decision to come on board with Benny Hinn and their team. I – have – an – Australian – wife – fellaz. We met for the first time while traveling with Benny Hinn, so you know who gets the credit on that one.
We are about to have our first child. We live in Chicago and are entrenched with young adults who very easily could have become just like me. We hang out and talk to them just like Benny Hinn did with me. We invite them over to our house and have dinner just like Benny Hinn did with me. We make them feel like our family just like Benny Hinn did with me. We ask them to tell us about what is happening in their life, just like Benny Hinn did with me. We watch movies together and laugh at each other just like Benny Hinn did with me.
I have resorted to this fact: we all have weaknesses and it is up to us how we view someone else in their weakness.
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25 Comments
Harriet Pennington
02.20.2010
Anthony,
I miss you so much Brent and I were just talking about you tonight. Taylor has met a guy and we really like him. He grew up in a christian home his dad is a music minister and he loves the Lord. I read your post just now and I am so glad I had the opportunity to travel and get to know you the two years before you got married. You have touch us and we love you. I know you will be a great father and I am sure Chanatell will be a great mother. Give your child a Christian heritage and I know God will bless you. I hope to see you this year sometime. Love you, Harriet
Phillip Anthony
02.20.2010
The raw honesty coupled with your candidness in your personal life make this one of the best reads all year! Touching, compassionate, well said.
Darlene DeHaan
02.20.2010
Anthony ~ What an insightful, well-written tribute expressing your affection & appreciation for BHM and sharing your personal testimony! Thank you for those encouraging words re Pastor Benny. He does have a HUGE heart ~ So many of us have witnessed and experienced it…you have too but you were able to express it so elequently…so AMEN and THANK YOU!!! (I hope he gets to read it ~ it surely would bless him ~ should I make a copy and give it to him Monday? dunno)Congrats on the new little Thompson!!!
James
02.21.2010
That is A++. Real,real and really Real ministry…How we need to know this, learn it and apply. That speaks volumes to me..!!!
Then it hits you, EL Senor Jesus did exactly what you’re doing..you is His mirror
RyanB
02.21.2010
AT…. dude, that’s awesome. You turned your strength that the world provided into a tool to change Christianity….. making it REAL! Bro, it’s more than refreshing. You’re in the right place at the right time. Keep knockin’ it down.
holaratcha
02.21.2010
awwwwwww, your just the sweetest harrieeet! thx for the kind words n reading. so good to hear taylor has a nice guy that you guys both like. please let us know if you ever come thru chicago, would love to see you and big brent. you were always so kind to me, i’ll never forget that.
holaratcha
02.21.2010
thanks darlene.
Christian Hage
02.22.2010
It seems that when God wanted to get a hold of you he sent his very best… Huge things coming your way bro.. I can’t wait to see it… and hopefully get to be a part in someway. Your a legend!
Tony Jordan
02.22.2010
Anthony –
…minus PR, LA and Pastor Benny, that sounds a lot like a young man I knew (ME)…
…You’re a great man…and we’re just getting started, baby!
Ray Figueroa
02.22.2010
Thanks for sharing a little bit of you life with us.
Theo B
02.23.2010
Nice piece kid.
Dr. Rich
02.23.2010
alas– a fresh new perspective—rarely are ALL sides of a story told—and you have provided courageous perspective at a time when the world sits ready to pounce—while painting the rest of us who call ourselves ‘Christians’ with the same brush. Always speak truth Anthony—and see what the Lord does with that—bet you will CONTINUE to be amazed—and always be the one who went back and said thank you—and the one who at the least said this…all I know is that I once was blind—but now I see. Press on my friend. Dr. Rich
David P.
02.23.2010
Thank you for posting such an open and honest true story of the last 4 to 5 years of your life. We were there Anthony in most of those times but such wonderful writing all for the glory of God. We are so happy for you both and can relate to not only the goodness of P. B. H. but also to the goodness of God who took us all from the “pit” and showed us His awesome favor. Love ya dp
holaratcha
02.23.2010
big thx to you dr. rich for taking interest in chantelle and i at Free Chapel OC … it was another memorable time for a newly married couple. you work harder than anyone i know. cheers to you
CHARLIE
02.23.2010
GREAT WITNESS YOUNGN – ALWAYS ENJOYED YOUR PRESENCE AT EVENTS AND HATED TO SEE YOU LEAVE THE MINISTRY, BUT SO HAPPY YOU ARE CONTINUING TO WORK IN HIS VINEYARD!
David
02.24.2010
AT.. nice my man. As one who too has been greatly influenced personally by PBH I now have so much to give to those in my world. Nothin but love..x
Judy Zotos
03.11.2010
You Got It Anthony! We are not any better than anyone else. It is Gods Grace and His Grace alone. God Bless you I am proud of you.
JZ
Bilhay israel
06.09.2010
Holaa amigoo..
muy buena tu pagina te felicito yque sigas siendo de bendicion para las personas..
Me gusto mucho tu testimonio te felicito por superer todas esa etapas en tu vida..
Saludos
tu amigoo de venezuela..
Rosetta Evans
07.14.2010
I love this story .i always knew you where my favorite on staff for some reason.I am so glad Benny saw past the outward to the heart ,.I am also glad you found the love of your life and that your lives are influencing others.Will alway respect and love you young man with a heart as big as the sky.
Rosetta Evans
@ Wireless
07.30.2010
I enjoyed this ARTICLE Anthony! I pray ONE DAY the door will OPEN for that ONE person to STEER me the DIRECTION I need to GO and NEVER look back!
patrick
03.15.2011
I think this may be the dumbest article i have ever read. Does Benny hook you up with smack like he did to his other former employees…former because they are dead.
ThompsonWrites
03.17.2011
Unfortunately no smack has changed hands. Thanks for stopping by.
sheeba
03.24.2011
Thanks for the messg, sometimes these stories really help us to stick to benny hinn
adam
07.25.2011
great story…i think the point that Benny Hinn may have wanted you to get (at least I hope!) is that GOD’S attitude of acceptance was what Benny Hinn was demonstrating…please get the point that your story is about who GOD is to you…a God who accepts you, not what Benny Hinn has shown you. Too much talk about Benny Hinn for me!!!
ThompsonWrites
07.26.2011
Thx for response adam.
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