You’ve likely noticed here lately at Apprising Ministries that I’ve been spending quite a bit of time covering the pitiful position of far too many mainstream evangelical leaders when it comes to promoting, and even partnering with, Word Faith prosperity preachers like “trinitarian-modalist” T.D. Jakes.

Along that line, the other day I covered Liberty University Partnering with Word Faith Flake Benny Hinn? I also pointed out that Tom Ascol, senior pastor of Grace Baptist Church and executive director of Founders Ministries, also thought so as well based on his post Liberty University Partners with Benny Hinn.

This peculiar story began as Hinn would announce the following on his website more than hinting this was a very real possibility (click to enlarge):

(source)

You should know that this page I captured for you and placed above has since vanished into the meta. It’s important to note also that the Word Faith “healer” Hinn also provided a video promoting this supposed partnership with Liberty University, which also seems to be missing from Hinn’s website.

In a moment, you’re going to find out why. First, appearing with Benny Hinn in these exclusive video clips from that video are Dan Reber, Director of Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies and Dr. Ronald Godwin, Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs/Provost for Liberty University. ((https://www.liberty.edu/aboutliberty/?PID=11850, accessed 4/17/14.))

Like I said before, by holding up one of Liberty’s diplomas, it would seem pretty clear below that Hinn was attempting to try and telling us that those who complete the course would indeed receive a diploma from Liberty University itself:

[mejsvideo src=”https://www.apprising.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/HinnLU.mp4″ width=640 height=360]

Also notice the following screen capture from the then downloadable brochure from Hinn’s website did say in no uncertain terms that the diploma would indeed be from Liberty University:

(source)

This brochure has also apparently been removed from the website as well. All of which brings us now to LU scales back provost’s responsibilities following video, a report Tuesday from NewsAdvance.com where we’re told:

Liberty University has scaled back the responsibilities overseen by Provost Ron Godwin following a video in which he appeared to endorse a partnership between the university and Texas-based faith healer Benny Hinn.

Godwin, 76, no longer will serve as the university’s vice president for academic affairs, according to a statement on LU’s website, though he will continue as provost.

In the statement, Liberty University President and Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said Godwin’s refined role would ensure the error does not repeat itself.

“The University will continue to rely on Dr. Godwin’s breadth of academic and administrative experience,” Falwell said in the release, which appeared on www.liberty.edu on Friday but was not sent to media outlets. “He will spend the next few years grooming his successors and guiding the team responsible for Liberty University’s pending ten year accreditation reaffirmation report.”

The update on Godwin’s role was written as an addendum to a statement issued by LU on April 3, which notified the public that Liberty University did not have a partnership with Benny Hinn Ministries, as Benny Hinn had advertised.

According to Hinn, his partnership with Liberty University would allow students of the World Healing Fellowship & Liberty University Institute of Biblical Studies to receive a diploma from the university, and be eligible for college credits.

On April 4, the university issued a cease-and-desist order, requiring Benny Hinn to remove from its website all unauthorized uses of the university’s trademark and intellectual property.

The confusion as to whether or not such a partnership existed — which led to short-lived but national attention — occurred in part because of Godwin’s appearance with Dan Reber on Benny Hinn’s television show, “This is Your Day.” (source)

So, with LU issuing the cease and desist order to remove the materials, now we know why they have since vanished. While I don’t find much good to say about LU in general, they should be commended for this anyway.

You can read the Liberty University statement in its entirety, along with further commentary from Ron Godwin, by clicking here.

Further reading

• SBC’S THOM RAINER LISTS THE 20 MOST INFLUENTIAL EVANGELICALS
• THE UNREGENERATE KNOW NOTHING OF THIS STRUGGLE
• JESUS ALREADY DEFINED MARRIAGE FOR HIS CREATION