Paul Cain (minister)

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Paul Cain meeting Saddam Hussein

Paul Cain (1929-) is a Christian minister in the Charismatic movement.

Beginning in 1987 he was associated with the Kansas City Prophets. Paul Cain's meetings were often punctuated by his calling out several people from the audience and giving very detailed information about their lives. On many occasions these prophetic words were marked by dramatic supernatural healings from God.

Paul Cain was born in 1929 in Garland, Texas. His mother Anna had been seriously ill with cancer, tuberculosis, and other difficulties, and was not expected to live. Her case was so severe that she was the subject of special medical attention. To the astonishment of doctors both Cain and his mother survived the birth; his mother was subsequently healed. Cain attributes this to an angelic visitation his mother had at that time, and to the fervent prayers of his family. It was during this visitation that Cain was given the name "Paul" and his mother became sure of his calling to preach.

Paul Cain began to minister publicly around age 18, making him the youngest of the ministers in a religious movement that is now known as the Voice of Healing Revival of the late 1940s and early 1950s. Cain's ministry at this time consisted of a very large tent, like most other ministers' of the time (such as Billy Graham, Oral Roberts and Jack Coe). Chuck Smith founder of Calvary Chapel was Cain's campaign manager and was influenced by his unique prophetic and healing ministry. Cain's giftings took him around the world and brought him a measure of notoriety and financial success. Cain, however, eventually became disgusted with what he saw as the corruption of a once-pure movement into a circus of hype and greed. In the late '50's, he claimed that he was "challenged by the Lord" concerning such excesses of various leaders in that movement, and suddenly disappeared from public view.

By the time Cain resurfaced the landscape had dramatically changed. Most of the other healing revivalists had disappeared from the scene. Some older ministers such as William Branham (who Paul Cain referred to as the "greatest prophet who ever lived in this century") and A.A. Allen had died or had moved into retirement like Oral Roberts. He began to travel around the world, proclaiming the gospel and calling the church back to purity and holiness. He ministered to many national and international leaders (During the Clinton administration Paul Cain was sent to Iraq to meet with Saddam Hussein.) - both political leaders (including presidents and senators) and spiritual leaders including key church and denominational leaders.

In 2004, Cain temporarily stepped down from ministry amidst a firestorm of controversy and accusations of moral failure. In "A Letter of Confession" posted on his website and excerpted in Charisma Magazine, Cain admitted, "I have struggled in two particular areas, homosexuality and alcoholism, for an extended period of time." He has recently re-emerged into the public eye and continues to speak at meetings throughout the U.S and abroad.

In May of 2008, Cain spoke at a Lakeland, Florida "revival" meeting hosted by Todd Bentley. He declared that the meeting, which was held in a stadium, fulfilled a vision he had and that Todd Bentley was of the "new breed" and was the "spirit of Elijah". The meetings are being touted as a healing revival. Ironically, in the days following the meeting, he suffered a stroke and was admitted to the hospital and is recovering.

Cain currently resides in California.