Kathryn Kuhlman
Kathryn Kuhlman was born in 1907 in Concordia, Missouri, USA. In her early years as a young girl, she was known for her “independence, self-reliance and a desire to do things her way.” These were characteristics that Kathryn would have to learn to take to the cross, so that she should become totally dependent and reliant upon God. Her father was Baptist and mother was Methodist and an excellent Bible teacher; So Kathryn received some of the finest Bible teaching at home.
Around 1924, Kathryn became acquainted with the healing ministry of Dr. Charles S. Price in Oregon where she also learned of the baptism of the Holy Spirit. In 1935, she established an evangelistic ministry in Denver Colorado auditorium that held 2000 people. She had no denominational affiliation. From 1938 to 1946, Kathryn went through a time of trial, heart-searching and surrendering to the will of God. When she emerged out of her wilderness’, she moved to Franklin, and from Franklin to Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, which became the base of her post World War-II ministry.
Kathryn had a burden for souls. Speaking to group in Washington, D.C. She said, “I can only tell you that with my conversion, there came this terrific burden for souls. When you think of Kathryn Kuhlman, think only of someone who loves your soul, not someone who is trying to build something – only for the kingdom of God, that’s all – souls, souls, souls! Remember! I gave my life for the sole vision of lost souls. And with my conversion, there came this terrific burden for lost souls.”
Miracles
The first notable miracle occurred in her meeting in 1947, a woman had been healed of a tumor. A few days later a war veteran who had been declared legally blind form an industrial accident had his eyesight restored. In her meetings, Kathryn placed less emphasis on faith and more emphasis on the Holy Spirit. She developed such a close relationship with the Holy Spirit, that one minister said: “It was like they were talking backwards and forth to each other, and you couldn’t tell where Kathryn started and the Holy Spirit left off. It was a oneness.”
Overseas Missions Stations
Kathryn Kuhlman said: “God didn’t call me to build buildings, set up big offices and have a huge staff.” Kathryn did not feel called to build buildings for her own ministry. Instead the Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation occupied four small rooms in Pittsburg. In fact her facilities were unbeliebably small in comparison to other Christian organisations that did not have the large outreach that the Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation had. Even her staff that manned the offices was considered to be a skeleton staff, but they were dedicated trusted people. Yet David Wilkerson said: “… the Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation had a worldwide pulpit.”
Twenty two mission stations had been erected overseas and each was presented debt-free to the native people as a gift from the Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation.
1. Corn Island, Nicaragua, Central America
2. Boaco, Nicaragua, Central America
3. Waspam, Nicaragua, Central America
4. Choluteca, Honduras, Central America
5. San Isidro, Costa Rica
6. Esteli, Nicaragua, Central America
7. Thakurpukur, India
8. Macau
9. Hong Kong Roof-Top School
10. Cotonou, Dahomey, West Africa
11. Mar del Plata, Argentina, South America
12. Santa Lucia, Nicaragua, Central America
13. Taipei, Formosa
14. Pretoria, South Africa
15. Johannesburg, South Africa
16. Rustenburg, South Africa
17. East London, South Africa
18. Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
19. Surabaja, Indonesia
20. Viet Nam Chapel (Tin Lanh Military Chapel)
21. Ranger Clinic, Saigon, Viet Nam
22. Bible School Reconstruction, Managua, Nicaragua
23. Kathryn Kuhlman Memorial Church, Nairobi, East Africa
24. Kathryn Kuhlman Memorial Church, El Salvador, Central America
Equipment, hot lunches, education and spiritual instruction were provided for Chinese children attending the Hon Kong roof-top school (picture above).
She also financially supported staff and a paraplegic ward in Saigon, Vietnam. After her Homegoing, the last two were erected, with the Memorial Church in El Salvador paid for by gifts from her Canadian friends.
Kathryn Kuhlman Foundation donated hospital supplies and equipment to the Cong Hoa Military Hospital.
Time Magazine said: “She is, in fact, a veritable one-woman shrine of Lourdes.” Kathryn said: “I just carry a water bucket for the Lord.” She said: “What I have is something that any Christian could have if he would pay the price of full surrender and yieldedness. I am absolutely dependent on the mercy of Lord Jesus Christ. I am dependent on the power of the Holy Spirit in exactly the same way that Jesus was when he was here in the flesh and walked this earth.”
The power of God began to fall
A diverse multitude of people came from afar to experience the awesome presence of God. They arrived at the Shrine Auditorium in chartered buses from Portland, Oregon and Las Vegas. Delegations came from all over the world.
The power of God began to fall. Soon the aisles were crowded with those claiming they have been healed.
Kathryn was invited to minister in many cities. Las Vegas was one of those cities. The Las Vegas City Auditorium with its seating capacity of 8000 was filled and several thousand were left outside. Bus-loads of people came from Reno, Phoenix, Los Angeles and elsewhere. Chartered planes flew people in from Hawaii, Auckland, St. Louis, Minneapolis, Seattle and Denver.
“When I made a full and complete surrender of everything to Jesus, the Holy Spirit took the empty vessel, and that’s all that He asks.” “When I yielded to Him, body, soul and spirit, when I gave him everything, all there was of me, I knew then, beloved what the scripture means: ‘If an man will follow me, let him take his cross.’ ” The cross is symbol of dying to self.
Radio and Television
Kathryn continued to reach people where they were, whether it was through her miracle services, radio programs or through television. Hundreds of thousands of lives were touched by the power and presence of God through her ministry. Fifty stations carried her thirty-minute broadcasts, five days a week, covering most of the nation; in Canada; and overseas broadcasts reaching much of Europe. The last ten years of her life, her weekly half-hour television programs (produced at CBS in Los Angeles) were shown throughout the United States and Canada. Many of her radio sermons and television programs from the “I Believe in Miracles” series are available today from the Foundation’s office.
Kathryn hungered for the deeper things of God and thereby was led by the Holy Spirit to learn the deeper truths of the cross.
Kathryn Kuhlman died on February 20, 1976, as a faithful “handmaiden of the Lord”.
Acknowledgements: References
Acknowledgements: Reference.