Kathryn Kuhlman: The Evangelist Who Built a Global Ministry on Claims of Miraculous Healing
In short: Kathryn Kuhlman was a prominent American preacher whose faith-healing services drew thousands and sparked intense debate. While millions reported being cured at her meetings, medical investigations and legal battles cast a long shadow over her legacy. Today, she remains a foundational figure in the modern charismatic movement and beyond.
Born in 1907 in Concordia, Missouri, Kathryn Kuhlman began her ministry as a teenager, eventually rising to national prominence through her weekly television program, I Believe in Miracles. By 1970, she had relocated to Los Angeles, where her services attracted thousands of hopeful attendees. Kuhlman’s influence extended to the nascent Jesus movement and shaped the careers of later evangelists like Benny Hinn and Billy Burke, who adopted her techniques.
The core of Kuhlman's ministry—her faith-healing services—remains deeply contested. A 2016 retrospective estimated that two million people reported healings during her career. However, a 1970s medical study by physician William A. Nolen followed 23 individuals who claimed to be cured, ultimately concluding that no genuine medical cures had occurred. Critics and supporters continue to debate the validity of these events, with some scholars noting that while not everyone was healed, significant recoveries apparently occurred in conjunction with prayer.
Kuhlman’s life was also marked by personal and financial controversy. In 1938, she married Burroughs Waltrip, a divorced evangelist, a decision she later described as the greatest regret of her life due to the pain it caused his family. Later, in 1975, she faced a lawsuit from her personal administrator, Paul Bartholomew, involving allegations of diverted funds and hidden assets. Though settled before trial, the dispute highlighted tensions within her organization. Following her death from heart failure in 1976, her estate became a point of contention, as employees were disappointed by changes to her will regarding the distribution of her assets.
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