Costi Hinn is not mincing words about viral preacher Kathryn Krick. The pastor and outspoken critic of prosperity theology has publicly branded the Five-Fold Church leader a "false teacher"-and he insists that questioning her dramatic deliverance ministry is not blaspheming the Holy Spirit.
Appearing on Allie Beth Stuckey's Relatable podcast, Hinn weighed in on the controversy surrounding Krick, whose videos of alleged healings, exorcisms and supernatural encounters have attracted enormous attention online. Stuckey described Krick as a woman who claims to have been ordained an apostle and can supposedly cast out demons merely by entering someone's presence-even during an appearance at Barnes & Noble.
But Hinn, the nephew of famous televangelist Benny Hinn, was having none of it.
"It's not the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit to use discernment and to say that person's a false teacher," Hinn declared. He also argued that casting out demons-or appearing to do so in a bookstore-is not necessarily evidence that the Holy Spirit is at work.
Hinn pointed to Matthew 7:22-23, where Jesus warns that some people will claim to have prophesied, performed miracles and cast out demons in his name, only to hear him say, "I never knew you." For Hinn, spectacular spiritual claims must therefore be judged by Scripture rather than accepted simply because they appear supernatural.
The criticism carries particular weight because Hinn grew up working within his uncle Benny Hinn's controversial healing ministry. He later rejected prosperity theology and became one of its most outspoken critics. He now serves as teaching pastor at Shepherd's House Bible Church in Chandler, Arizona, and leads the online ministry For the Gospel.
Krick, meanwhile, has built a formidable online following. The Los Angeles-based leader of Five-Fold Church-commonly known as 5F Church-reportedly has more than two million followers across her social-media platforms. She has published three books, offers courses on deliverance ministry and uses the title "Apostle Kathryn Krick."
That title is another major sticking point for Hinn. He argued that contemporary ministry leaders should not claim the office of apostle, placing him in direct theological conflict with the identity at the heart of Krick's ministry.
The online storm surrounding Krick has intensified as other prominent Christians have issued warnings of their own. Stuckey previously devoted an episode to what she called Krick's "dangerous ministry," while Promise Keepers CEO Shane Winnings-who worked with Krick in 2021-released a lengthy video explaining why he also considers her a false teacher.
Krick has additionally faced scrutiny over her continued defense of Tanzanian spiritual leader GeorDavie, whom she calls her "spiritual father." An investigative outlet recently published allegations from anonymous women accusing GeorDavie of sexual abuse. Those allegations remain accusations, but Krick's association with him has added another combustible layer to the debate surrounding her leadership and discernment.
Krick's supporters may view the attacks as persecution of a ministry displaying supernatural power. Her critics, however, say the controversy demonstrates why charismatic claims must be examined carefully rather than protected from scrutiny by warnings about "touching God's anointed."
With viral deliverance videos, disputed apostolic titles and major Christian personalities now choosing sides, this is no longer a quiet theological disagreement. It has become one of the most explosive discernment battles in the Christian social-media world-and Costi Hinn has made it unmistakably clear where he stands.
