The drama surrounding one of the most influential names in charismatic Christianity just took another stunning turn.
Just days after removing his son from church leadership, Kenneth W. Hagin publicly revealed that former co-pastor Craig W. Hagin had allegedly been living what he described as a "double life" - a revelation the elder Hagin called both "shocking and devastating."
Addressing the congregation alongside his wife Lynette on Sunday, the Rhema founder said the family only recently became aware of documented evidence that painted a very different picture of the son and ministry leader they thought they knew.
According to Hagin, the evidence surfaced shortly after he and Lynette returned from overseas ministry travel earlier this month. After reviewing the information, church leadership moved swiftly, resulting in Craig Hagin's dismissal from his position.
"What we saw was both shocking and devastating," Kenneth Hagin told church members, emphasizing that the pain was felt not only as ministry leaders but also as parents.
The bombshell statement follows a turbulent few weeks for Craig Hagin. Last month, he and his wife Mia were arrested in connection with animal cruelty allegations. While charges against Mia were later dropped, Craig still reportedly faces two felony animal cruelty counts.
Perhaps even more startling was Kenneth Hagin's admission that concerns about his son's conduct had surfaced before. He explained that Craig and Mia had previously sought counseling regarding personal issues and that Craig had assured family members the problems had been resolved.
But according to the elder Hagin, later concerns continued to emerge, particularly amid difficulties in Craig's marriage. When confronted directly, Craig allegedly denied the accusations, leading his parents to believe him.
"We believed our son," Kenneth Hagin said, before adding that they now realize they had been deceived.
The veteran minister claimed the newly obtained evidence revealed that Craig had concealed significant aspects of his life from not only his wife and family but also church leadership, ministry staff, and supporters who trusted him.
As if the story wasn't dramatic enough, Craig Hagin's name has also surfaced in the ongoing controversy involving Jackson Lahmeyer, the Oklahoma pastor whose congressional ambitions recently collapsed following revelations of inappropriate text messages with a former campaign staffer.
Text messages obtained by media outlets reportedly included references to a late-night trip involving Lahmeyer and others, with Craig Hagin allegedly mentioned as part of the traveling group. The controversy ultimately cost Lahmeyer a high-profile political endorsement and helped derail his congressional campaign.
Despite the painful revelations, Kenneth Hagin made it clear that his love for his son remains unchanged.
"We are Craig's parents. We love him. We will always love him," he told the congregation.
At the same time, the church leader stressed that transparency was necessary to preserve the integrity of the ministry and begin the process of healing.
For many observers, the unfolding saga marks one of the most significant leadership crises ever to hit Rhema Bible Church, a ministry that has played a major role in shaping Word of Faith teaching around the world.
As legal issues continue and new questions emerge, church members and ministry watchers alike are waiting to see what comes next in a story that has quickly become one of the biggest faith-world controversies of the year.
