It is not Kathryn Kuhlman. Its Jesus through the Blessed Holy Spirit!'
Miss Kuhlman got into the ministry around 1926 and that year was very significant for another famed female evangelist Mrs. Aimee Semple McPherson. Mrs. Mcpherson was the subject of many a rumour as she was accused of allegedly faking her own kidnap so that she can allegedly have an adulterous affair with Kenneth Ormiston a former employee who also mysteriously got missing while Mrs. Aimee was at large. Her story of being kidnapped was ridiculed in the press and she was made out for a
common criminal. The ensuing trial failed in court and she was discharged and acquitted but she was never to sway the US again as she did from 1921 till then. The stage was getting set for the emergence of another great lady evangelist and Miss Kuhlman whispered enthusiatically to her friends at the outset 'I will be the next Aimee!' In Denver Colorado where Mrs. Aimee achieved so much fame Miss Kuhlman too started achieving some sort of 'positive' notoriety (pardon the oxymoron) Kuhlman's tabernacle was the largest in the city and hers was dubbed one of America's fastest growing church. Then she fell into adultery. She married a man who cruelly abandoned his wife with two little boys. The aftermath was that Kathryn Kuhlman lost her booming ministry. She slipped away into obscurity and the story might have ended her for her there as it has for many.
However, Miss Kuhlman laid it all down at the feet of Jesus confessing later that she was sure that she would never amount to anything in God's Vineyard but she gave it all to Jesus and 'died'!
In September, 1944 Aimee Semple McPherson died. 60,000 mourners filed passed her casket weeping profusely. The woman who led harlots and destitute to Christ and led many more to the baptism of the Holy Spirit...the miracle woman was gone! Alas! If they could but look into two short years from that funeral to Franklin, they'd have wept less for in 1947 April, Miss Kuhlman was launched by God's mercy into the most heralded healing ministry of recent times. For 30 years she led millions into the powerful presence of God with healings and salvations unquantifiable.
But at just 68 years of age in 1976, the miracle woman Miss Kathryn Kuhlman had died and again controversies greeted her funeral. Hundreds of people had been saving up their money in faith that by attending her healing meetings, they'd be healed. Now, she is GONE!
This takes us to my second story. Some 3 years before Miss Kuhlman died, Benny Hinn had been imparted with something unusual in her meeting at the First Presbyterian Church in Pitttsburgh. You will know the depth of Hinn's experiences if you've read Good Morning Holy Spirit. Benny Hinn was almost immediately launched into a healing and evangelistic ministry of his own and Miss Kuhlman through her Canadian representative Mrs. Maudie. Philips had heard about Benny Hinn and had read a few newspaper cuttings about her spiritual son. She wanted to meet Benny Hinn in Pittsburgh after her healing service and excitedly, Benny Hinn flew down there. Unfortunately, the meeting was canceled as Miss Kuhlman was rushed to surgery. She died without setting her eyes on Benny Hinn.
Exactly one year afterwards in February 1977, her foundation wanted to hold a memorial service. Benny was made the speaker. Pastor Benny Hinn at the time was just 24 years and two months old but as he spoke in Carnegie Music Hall in downtown Pittsburgh, same venue where Miss Kuhlman had held healing services for 25 years weekly, the power of God hit that place and Benny Hinn started giving words of knowledge and all that came to the altar was already healed. Some got out of wheel-chairs and many got healed of serious maladies! What a memorial service! The people whispered 'It's just like Miss Kuhlman was still here!' But she was not! God took her home but God took not the Holy Spirit.
I must confess that the world indeed still misses the unique ministry that God gave Miss Kuhlman but she said repeatedly it wasn't because of her ability. It is all the Holy Spirit and He is still here! Who has her mantle today? Some say 'O Billy Burke and Benny Hinn!' Maybe they are right. But Miss Kuhlman saw her work as introducing the Church to the person and ministry of the Holy Spirit and she affirmed 'Anyone can have what I have today if they'll pay the price. It is not Kathryn Kuhlman. It is Jesus through the Blessed Holy Spirit!'
