Craig Hagin Shares His Grandfather Kenneth E. ‘Papa’ Hagin’s Legacy of Spirit-Filled Faith With a Story That Prophesied a Pandemic Caused by a Virus

Craig Hagin has a powerful heritage in the faith. He’s the son of Kenneth W. and Lynette Hagin and the grandson of Kenneth E. “Papa” Hagin, known as a pioneer of the Word of Faith movement. Today, he continues to share his grandfather’s message of believing God for everything He promises.

I’ve known the Hagin family for decades, and Charisma has covered the many ways they’ve served the body of through the years, including Rhema Bible Church, Rhema Bible Training College and Kenneth Hagin Ministries. But their ministry has also had a major impact on my life—and life in the Spirit.

I got reacquainted with Craig, whom I’ve known since he was about 10 years old, at Clay Clark’s “ReAwaken America” events being held across the country. In fact, Craig’s church hosted the very first event (then called the “Health and Freedom Conference”) at its campus in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma. I invited him onto my Strang Report podcast, where he gave some insights into why his grandfather’s legacy is still changing lives today.

Craig shared a recent discovery he made while listening to a recording of his grandfather’s message, “The Believer’s Authority,” which he says is still relevant for today. His grandfather was referring to a flu epidemic back in the 1940s or 1950s. But Craig says to his surprise, his grandfather didn’t use the word “flu.” He said, “virus.”

“I’ve had people say to me, ‘Brother Hagin, aren’t you afraid that you will get that virus?'” Craig’s grandfather said in his message.

“No. I’m not afraid that I would get that virus. Preacher standing next to me—born-again, Spirit-filled preacher—said, ‘I don’t know why, but I’m just afraid I will,'” Papa Hagin recounted.

“The next day, he came down with it,” Hagin said. “I never did have it—because I wasn’t afraid of it. You see, the devil knows when you’re afraid.”

Craig says his grandfather went on to talk about ministers preaching fear from the pulpit—which is what many have done during the pandemic. He’s still amazed at how even as early as the 1940s or 1950s, his grandfather spoke such a specific word that’s so applicable today.

But of course, Papa Hagin’s legacy extends far beyond COVID-19. Craig points to the F-A-I-T-H shield, the symbol of the Hagin/Rhema ministry. “One thing my grandfather talked about is speaking to our authority and standing in faith,” he say

“Mark 11:23-24 talks about speaking to your mountain,” Craig says. “It doesn’t say to pray to your mountain; it says to speak to your mountain. And over in Ephesians Chapter 1, verse 3, it says, ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ.”

So we have already been blessed with every spiritual blessing—it already belongs to us,” he says. “And when it comes to healing, ‘by His stripes, we were healed.’ When it comes to finances, He’s provided—it says, ‘Whatever we ask in His name, He will give it to us.’

“And so a lot of times, we need to speak to our authority,” Craig adds.

Craig had much more to say about his grandfather’s legacy of faith and how so much of what he said still speaks to us today. I encourage you to tune in to this episode of the Strang Report here, and subscribe to the Strang Report on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast platform for more stories like this one that will inspire you in the power of the Holy Spirit.

Craig and I also spent some time talking about how the world has changed since his grandfather’s time and how so many of our long-held Judeo-Christian values are being challenged and even condemned. If you’d like to learn more about this topic, I hope you’ll check out my latest book, God and Cancel Culture, which released Sept. 7. Order your signed copy at stevestrangbooks.com. {eoa}

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