Paul Cain (minister)
Encyclopedia
Paul Cain is a Pentecostal Christian minister involved with both neo-charismatic churches and the Charismatic Movement
. As a young man he was one of the Voice of Healing revivalists of the 50s. Cain currently resides in California and ministers monthly at a local church in Santa Maria-California.
. His mother Anna had been seriously ill with cancer
, tuberculosis
, and other difficulties, and was not expected to live. Her case was so severe that she was the subject of special medical attention. To the astonishment of doctors both Cain and his mother survived the birth; his mother was subsequently healed. Cain attributes this to an angelic visitation his mother had at that time, and to the fervent prayers of his family. It was during this visitation that Cain was given the name "Paul" and his mother became sure of his calling to preach.
Paul Cain began to minister publicly around age 18, making him the youngest of the ministers in a religious movement that is now known as the Voice of Healing Revival of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Cain's ministry at this time used a very large tent, like most other ministers' of the time (such as Billy Graham
, Oral Roberts
and Jack Coe
). His meetings were often punctuated by calling out several people from the audience and giving very detailed information about their lives. Chuck Smith
founder of Calvary Chapel
was Cain's campaign manager and was influenced by his unique prophetic and healing ministry. Cain's abilities took him around the world and brought him a measure of notoriety and financial success. Cain, however, eventually became disgusted with what he saw as the corruption of a once-pure movement into a circus of hype and greed. In the late 1950s, he claimed that he was "challenged by the Lord" concerning such excesses of various leaders in that movement, and suddenly disappeared from public view. Beginning in 1987 he was associated with the Kansas City Prophets, and shortly afterwards with the ministry of John Wimber
. He began to travel around the world, proclaiming the gospel and calling the church back to purity and holiness. He ministered to many national and international leaders (During the Clinton administration Paul Cain went to Iraq
to meet with Saddam Hussein
) - both political leaders (including presidents and senators) and spiritual leaders including key church and denominational leaders.
In April 2007, he re-emerged into the public eye and resumed speaking at meetings throughout the U.S and abroad, though his rehabilitation was questioned by the three ministers (Rick Joyner
, Jack Deere
, and Mike Bickle) who had long-held, close ministerial relationships with Cain and had publicly disciplined him three years earlier, stating that they lacked confidence in his rehabilitation and do not consider him restored. The initial rehabilitation team made an open declaration in October 2004: After the initial restoration team admitted that they had "failed," they expressed the hope that another team would be able to help Paul Cain through a restoration process. In the wake of this, David Andrade of RTV International ministries formed a new team. This began in 2005; by September 2007 Andrade was able to claim:
Some of those providing collaboration during the restoration and emergence process include, Steve Dittmar, John Sanford, Cal Pierce, Rick Taylor, Kari Browning, Jerry Bowers, David and Donna Diaz, Randy Demain, David Andrade & Olivia Cook TP.
Charismatic movement
The term charismatic movement is used in varying senses to describe 20th century developments in various Christian denominations. It describes an ongoing international, cross-denominational/non-denominational Christian movement in which individual, historically mainstream congregations adopt...
. As a young man he was one of the Voice of Healing revivalists of the 50s. Cain currently resides in California and ministers monthly at a local church in Santa Maria-California.
History
Paul Cain was born in 1929 in Garland, TexasGarland, Texas
-Climate:* The average warmest month is July.* The highest recorded temperature was in 2000.* On average, the coolest month is January.* The lowest recorded temperature was in 1989.* The maximum average precipitation occurs in May....
. His mother Anna had been seriously ill with cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
, and other difficulties, and was not expected to live. Her case was so severe that she was the subject of special medical attention. To the astonishment of doctors both Cain and his mother survived the birth; his mother was subsequently healed. Cain attributes this to an angelic visitation his mother had at that time, and to the fervent prayers of his family. It was during this visitation that Cain was given the name "Paul" and his mother became sure of his calling to preach.
Paul Cain began to minister publicly around age 18, making him the youngest of the ministers in a religious movement that is now known as the Voice of Healing Revival of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Cain's ministry at this time used a very large tent, like most other ministers' of the time (such as Billy Graham
Billy Graham
William Franklin "Billy" Graham, Jr. is an American evangelical Christian evangelist. As of April 25, 2010, when he met with Barack Obama, Graham has spent personal time with twelve United States Presidents dating back to Harry S. Truman, and is number seven on Gallup's list of admired people for...
, Oral Roberts
Oral Roberts
Granville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
and Jack Coe
Jack Coe
Jack Coe was one of the first faith healers with a touring tent ministry after the Second World War in the United States. Coe was ordained in the Assemblies of God in 1944, and began to preach while still serving in World War II. In the following twelve years, travelled the U.S. organizing tent...
). His meetings were often punctuated by calling out several people from the audience and giving very detailed information about their lives. Chuck Smith
Chuck Smith (pastor)
Charles Ward “Chuck” Smith, , is the senior pastor of Calvary Chapel Costa Mesa and the founder of the Calvary Chapel movement...
founder of Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel
Calvary Chapel is an evangelical association of Christian churches with over one thousand congregations worldwide. Calvary Chapel also maintains a number of radio stations around the world and operates many local Calvary Chapel Bible College programs. It presents itself as a "fellowship of...
was Cain's campaign manager and was influenced by his unique prophetic and healing ministry. Cain's abilities took him around the world and brought him a measure of notoriety and financial success. Cain, however, eventually became disgusted with what he saw as the corruption of a once-pure movement into a circus of hype and greed. In the late 1950s, he claimed that he was "challenged by the Lord" concerning such excesses of various leaders in that movement, and suddenly disappeared from public view. Beginning in 1987 he was associated with the Kansas City Prophets, and shortly afterwards with the ministry of John Wimber
John Wimber
John Richard Wimber was a musician, charismatic pastor and one of the founding leaders of the Vineyard Movement, a neocharismatic Evangelical Christian denomination which began in the USA and has now spread to many countries world-wide.-Life and ministry:John Richard Wimber was the son of Basil...
Resurfaced
By the time Cain resurfaced the landscape had dramatically changed. Most of the other healing revivalists had disappeared from the scene. Some older ministers such as William Branham (who Paul Cain referred to as the "greatest prophet who ever lived in this century") and A.A. Allen had died or had moved into retirement like Oral RobertsOral Roberts
Granville "Oral" Roberts was an American Pentecostal televangelist and a Christian charismatic. He founded the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association and Oral Roberts University....
. He began to travel around the world, proclaiming the gospel and calling the church back to purity and holiness. He ministered to many national and international leaders (During the Clinton administration Paul Cain went to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
to meet with Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein Abd al-Majid al-Tikriti was the fifth President of Iraq, serving in this capacity from 16 July 1979 until 9 April 2003...
) - both political leaders (including presidents and senators) and spiritual leaders including key church and denominational leaders.
Criticism
In 2005, Cain stepped down from ministry. In "A Letter of Confession" posted on his website and excerpted in Charisma Magazine, Cain admitted, "I have struggled in two particular areas, homosexuality and alcoholism, for an extended period of time," both considered serious sin by Christian Scripture as interpreted by the vast majority of Christian communions and denominations.In April 2007, he re-emerged into the public eye and resumed speaking at meetings throughout the U.S and abroad, though his rehabilitation was questioned by the three ministers (Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner
Rick Joyner heads MorningStar Ministries , which he cofounded with his wife Julie Joyner in 1985...
, Jack Deere
Jack Deere
Jack Deere is a charismatic pastor and theologian from the USA.He was an associate professor of Old Testament at Dallas Seminary, a bastion of cessationism, the doctrine that the charismatic gifts of the Spirit, such as tongues, prophecy and healing, ended at the close of the 1st century...
, and Mike Bickle) who had long-held, close ministerial relationships with Cain and had publicly disciplined him three years earlier, stating that they lacked confidence in his rehabilitation and do not consider him restored. The initial rehabilitation team made an open declaration in October 2004: After the initial restoration team admitted that they had "failed," they expressed the hope that another team would be able to help Paul Cain through a restoration process. In the wake of this, David Andrade of RTV International ministries formed a new team. This began in 2005; by September 2007 Andrade was able to claim:
"After careful evaluation and in consideration pertaining to his continual progress in all areas of spiritual and personal life; the administrating staff and Board of Life Recovery Centers of America with the Board of RTV International Ministries and the restoration team, unanimously affirm that there is no further need to continue the restoration process; And furthermore, release Paul W. Cain from restrictive oversight and restricted ministry. Paul William Cain is hereby free to pursue ministry and released to make personal decisions."
Some of those providing collaboration during the restoration and emergence process include, Steve Dittmar, John Sanford, Cal Pierce, Rick Taylor, Kari Browning, Jerry Bowers, David and Donna Diaz, Randy Demain, David Andrade & Olivia Cook TP.