Benny Hinn dedicates Uganda to God
Friday, 18th May, 2007
http://www.newvision.co.ug/D/8/12/565901
By Raphael Okello, Joyce
Namutebi and Flavia Nakagwa
RENOWNED international evangelist, Pastor Benny Hinn yesterday arrived in the country to a massive crusade at Nelson Mandela Stadium, Namboole.
Hinn in the country at the invitation of the First Lady, Janet Museveni, arrived at Namboole at around 6:40pm in a chopper.
He entered the stadium at 7:00pm amid tight security.
His arrival in the stadium was not announced. He appeared suddenly and walked straight to the podium, the background of which had a 5,000-strong choir which was singing praises to the Lord.
When the thousands of believers who filled the stadium to capacity noticed his glorious presence, he garnered a deafening applause. Prolonged screaming, chants of praise and clapping reverberated in the stadium.
Hinn, dressed in a white Nehru jacket, joined in the praise. He prayed for the country before his sermon powered by a strong, loud and perfect sound system.
The pastor on the first day of his two-day crusade implored God to bless president Yoweri Museveni, his family and staff.
“Make this nation become your nation,” he cried out to God.
Earlier, there was a scuffle as Pastor Hinn entered the perimeter of the stadium.
His guards flown in from the US closed the gates blocking the entry of several ministers and dignatories. After some insistence and pleading they were allowed in.
Thousands of excited believers converged at the Stadium at dawn to avoid traffic jam and get a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to attend a Benny Hinn crusade. The queues were long and it would take an average of two hours for individuals to enter.
People brought in their sick to receive healing. Some people who had travelled from as far as Gulu, Arua and Mbarara districts had arrived at Namboole by midday.
The two-day event has also attracted a number of people from neighbouring countries including Kenya and Rwanda.
“I could not miss this chance because this is the time I think my child will get her healing,” Joyce Wangari from Nairobi said as she and her child struggled to enter.
Sources on the organising committee estimate that the two-day visit will cost over $1.5m (sh2.5b) including flight costs and logistics, reports Sebidde Kiryowa.
It is estimated that he flew in with television equipment from the USA worth $4.8m and hired at about $250,000.
To illuminate the place enough for the television cameras, the same lighting system that was used on the 2004 Oscar winning Hollywood film The Constant Gardener, which was shot in Nairobi’s Kibero slum, was brought. According to sources, the lighting equipment cost about $500,000.
Four separate sound systems were used at Namboole, one of which came from Nairobi at $500,000 while the rest were hired from Uganda.
Ange Noir proprietor Charlie Lubega’s sound system has been hired at $150,000 while two others have been hired at 50,000 each.
