By Josh Shepherd

Theology video producer Mike Winger (left) has prevailed against a takedown request by Benny Hinn Ministries, on a lengthy video that Winger produced exposing Hinn’s deceptive ministry practices. (TRR graphic)

Despite multiple requests by disgraced faith healer Benny Hinn, YouTube is refusing to remove a documentary exposing Hinn’s alleged deceptive practices.

On April 15, the copyright team at YouTube emailed video producer Mike Winger that his recent documentary, which included video clips of Hinn, would remain on the platform. The message noted that Hinn’s ministry had asked YouTube to take down the video, citing “copyright infringement.” But YouTube had denied the request twice, including after an appeal. 

The notice from YouTube stated: “We believe your content is protected by fair use, fair dealing, or a similar exception to copyright protection. We are writing to let you know we do NOT plan to remove your video(s) at this time.” 

Winger, a Calvary Chapel-trained pastor, told The Roys Report (TRR) he is “shocked and very happy” that YouTube backed up his fair use of Hinn video clips in Winger’s four-hour documentary. 

“Initially, I wasn’t intending for it to be that long,” said Winger, who produces theology videos through his nonprofit ministry, Bible Thinker. “But as I dug into Benny Hinn, it was so bad and he is so messed up, I had to do four hours on it.”

Winger added: “Hinn is abusing biblical teaching in order to manipulate people to give money to his ministry, while making promises in the name of God that God doesn’t make.”

The lengthy video, posted April 1 on Winger’s channel, covers Hinn’s alleged false healing, false doctrine, failed prophecies, false repentance, and deceptive fundraising tactics. At press time, the video has 735,000 views.

TRR reached out to Benny Hinn Ministries for comment about the takedown request but did not receive a response. 

Initially, Winger’s video was flagged by YouTube for using a few segments of content from Jesus Image, a charismatic ministry linked to Hinn. Jesus Image Church in Orlando, Florida, is pastored by Michael Koulianos, son-in-law of Hinn, who has often invited Hinn to preach. 

In a statement to TRR, a representative from Jesus Image noted YouTube automatically generated that copyright claim. “Once it was brought to our attention, we dropped the claim,” the email stated.

Winger confirmed this sequence of events. 

Jesus Image offered “no further comments” on the content of Winger’s video. 

However, in his April 7 sermon — only six days after Winger’s lengthy video was posted — Koulianos condemned YouTube critics for not following Matthew 18. On April 7, 2024, Pastor Michael Koulianos preaches at Jesus Image Church in Orlando, Florida. (Video screengrab)

Matthew 18 is a passage, encouraging believers first to talk to someone one-on-one about a personal offense, then to bring the matter to others if the person won’t listen, and eventually to the whole church. The passage does not address how to confront false teachers.

“Jesus said, ‘If there’s no effort — if that doesn’t work, then bring it to the church,’” preached Koulianos.” By the way, that doesn’t mean YouTube,” Koulianos added.

Elsewhere in the sermon, Koulianos spoke of being “tasered on social media” by critics. “It is such a blessing to not give your eyes and ears to social media,” he said, adding that ignoring such information “would cause your heart to warm.” 

TRR asked Jesus Image about Koulianos’ sermon remarks but did not receive a response. 

Learning from past takedowns

In the past, Winger has been unsuccessful in defending against a takedown request on a video — specifically, one exposing Joel Osteen’s ministry. 

Winger posted a video commentary to YouTube titled “Analyzing a Typical Joel Osteen Sermon” on Nov. 3, 2021. Following a takedown request from Lakewood Church, that video was removed a few months later. 

In a subsequent video titled “Joel Wins,” which summarized the incident, Winger spoke about how he consulted with two copyright lawyers. The knowledge he gained on fair-use policies helped as he produced the Hinn video two years later. 

“I tried to be very careful and strategic in how I used the video clips of Hinn and how often I would interrupt it,” said Winger. “Then, hopefully the automated system wouldn’t flag this video.”

As part of a notification process, YouTube forwarded to Winger the original takedown request and written appeal that Benny Hinn Ministries submitted to the video platform. 

In that correspondence, the creative manager at Benny Hinn Ministries with the title “Creative Manager” submitted the appeal. (Winger redacted the person’s name in the forwarded email.) 

The staffer, who’s the creative manager at Benny Hinn Ministries, wrote, “The video in question from the YouTube user Mike Winger is over four hours long with our content being used throughout the entirety of the video. Below I have provided time codes from the video in question, that correlate to when that video uses our content.” 

Commenting on the sequence of events in a later video, Winger highlighted a particular time code stamp flagged by the ministry staffer. 

It was listed “as if I used their content for six straight minutes, when I didn’t,” he said. “I used it interspersed during that six-minute section.” 

Winger later concluded the staffer was not acting in “good faith,” noting: “When you do this all the time, you’re familiar with fair use law. You should know right offhand that I’m not violating anything. It’s that clear.” 

Commentators praise documentary on Hinn

Several evangelical commentators online have praised Winger’s work on the video and echoed his call for Hinn to repent. 

Charismatic-Messianic Bible teacher Michael Brown addressed the four-hour documentary on his national radio program which was livestreamed on April 2.

A day later, popular evangelical YouTuber Ruslan KD released a 20-minute video summing up the four-hour documentary.

“This video is just brutal (and) we got to call a spade a spade,” said Ruslan. “Benny Hinn is a false prophet. Avoid him at all costs.”

And commentator Kris Williams of All Things Theology called Winger’s video a “master class” in analysis.

“The ultimate reality is we need to avoid people like Benny Hinn,” said Williams. “They preach a false gospel, they have years of heresies, and they continue repackaging them for a new audience.” 

Meanwhile, Charisma Magazine has continued to promote Hinn’s latest book release. 

Winger has not backed down and told TRR that he has engaged an attorney who will respond to Benny Hinn Ministries “if they escalate this in any way.” He also said he would defend the video in court if the ministry files suit against him.

“If they decide to push this in court and go the distance, then I’m going to go the distance with it,” said Winger. “Because every day that I’m dealing with it, I’ll just be thinking, This is just what he would do to someone else.” 

He added: “It irks me to no end that not enough people are standing up for the sheep who are being abused.”

Watch the full documentary on Benny Hinn:   https://julieroys.com/benny-hinn-requests-youtube-refuses-remove-documentary-exposing-alleged-deception/?mc_cid=a1da3aeeb6

Freelance journalist Josh Shepherd writes on faith, culture, and public policy for several media outlets. He and his family live in the Washington, D.C. area.

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