Yes, Jesus can heal AIDS - Benny Hinn
By Carolyne Nakazibwe
WEEKLY OBSERVER, May 24, 2007
http://www.ugandaobserver.com/new/features/poso/poso200705251.php
It is Friday May 18, 12.30p.m., and the gates at Mandela National Stadium Namboole are crowded by thousands pressing to get into the stadium. By 2p.m., the queues are stretching several metres along Bweyogerere - Kinawattaka road.
At the tiny entrances that allow only one person at a time through each rotating door, ushers are frantically jumping up and down onto the electronic plates that power the doors, to allow the now sweaty crowd in faster.
A cross section of worshippers who attended the Benny Hinn crusade at Namboole Stadium.
Benny Hinn preaching in front of the choir.
A mother clutching a toddler in one hand and carrying a newborn baby in the other stands away from the shoving crowd, contemplating how to access the 40,000-seater stadium.
Everyone seems okay with the risk of even being crushed to death in the melee, as long as they get to see renowned international gospel minister Benny Hinn.
The pastor brought business in Kampala to a standstill last weekend with a two-day crusade estimated to have pulled more than 150,000 people.
I finally make it onto the stadium grass at 2.56p.m., and the stands are already full for the crusade slated to start at 4.00p.m. An organiser appeals to the crowd to make room for the thousands still pressing to get in at the gates.
The close to 4,000-strong choir made up of different volunteer church choirs around the country is resplendent in blue and white and when they sing, it is hard to believe they were not imported with the sound system.
On the grass and plastic chairs reserved for card holders and the sick, a mentally ill man is occasionally running through the crowds, chewing ferociously on a wad of mairungi.
In another corner, a sick girl in blue is lying quietly on a makeshift bed on the grass and several people in wheelchairs wait patiently in the sun.
In the stands, the excited crowd starts their own entertainment, chanting “Hallelujah!” amidst thunderous clapping and alternated waving common with European football matches.
At 6.00p.m., Miracle Centre Cathedral Rubaga’s Pastor Robert Kayanja walks in with Kampala Pentecostal Church’s Pastor Gary Skinner and a host of other church ministers, including Anglican Church ministers.
They take the special seats on the dais, where praise and worship songs are now reverberating.
Hinn’s silver and grey chopper flies over the stadium to land at the back. After charged jumping and dancing to a rendition of Pastor George Okudi’s Wipolo, the choir tones it down to How Great Thou Art and as the crowd loses itself into the timeless classic, Pastor Benny Hinn walks to the podium at exactly 7p.m. and bows, wearing his trademark white suit.
It takes but a second for the stadium to recognise him, before the hymn is drowned out by deafening shouts and applause. The crusade – the first of his meetings to be telecast live around the world – has started.
The pastor, known for his healing ministry, asks for the Uganda National Anthem, before praying for the country and dedicating it to God.
“Jesus, this is your Uganda!” he declared. “It is a miracle that we are here. I have wanted to come to your country for a long time, but God has His timing.”
Some have criticised Hinn for his programme This Is Your Day on Lighthouse Television, claiming that he pushes the people he prays for and that the testimonies that characterise the 30-minute programme are stage-managed.
In the 4-hour service, however, Ugandans were treated to the dynamic preacher’s teachings punctuated with song, emphasising God’s healing power. He said Jesus heals all manner of diseases, including AIDS, as believers applauded.
At the end of the service, thousands of people who had come out of curiosity streamed to the front to proclaim salvation. As he prayed and commanded a healing, Hinn asked people with healed infirmities to line up on either side of the pulpit for testimony.
An 8-year-old boy paralysed at 3 by an injection gone wrong walked again after five years, as his ecstatic auntie jumped and knelt alternately on the pulpit.
The pale girl I had seen lying on a bed earlier walked onto the pulpit with her brother, saying her pain was gone. She had come with lungs that had liquid in them, which had rendered her bedridden for eight months.
A woman in her 30s who was deaf and dumb from birth came next, making unintelligible noises and crying as she absorbed her first sound: the deafening shouts from the amazed crowd. Another youthful man from Bweyogerere showed off a limb crushed and disfigured in an accident that had left him on crutches, as he ran around the pulpit in excitement.
What brought the crusade to an abrupt end, however, was 28-year-old Moses crippled from birth, who travelled from Lira to the crusade.
As the barefooted boy walked gingerly with the American preacher, the crowd went into a frenzy. When given a microphone to explain to the crowd what he had felt, Moses just said, “I want to be saved, man!”
An emotional Hinn said, “Do you know what I feel when a boy who has never walked ever, walks and asks to get saved? He is asking for the greatest miracle; salvation.”
Hinn asked Kayanja to enrol Moses in his Bible School and pledged to meet all expenses involved. Urging Ugandan pastors to preach the message of the cross in their churches, Hinn bid the crowd goodnight at 10.35p.m. and retired to the Kampala Serena Hotel where he stayed until the Saturday crusade, as thousands walked home.
carol@ugandaobserver.com
Will heaven be this way?
By Malita Wamala
WEEKLY OBSERVER
May 24, 2007
http://www.ugandaobserver.com/new/easy/family/fam200705254.php
As I jostled and shoved to get into Pastor Benny Hinn’s crusade at Mandela International Stadium Namboole last weekend, I wondered whether the fight to get through heaven’s gates will be anything like this! And as we squeezed through, I heard several other people wonder aloud about the same thing.
It made me even a tad terrified imagining that day, with an entrance so small and the devil’s gates so beckoningly wide! I decided to press on and get into that stadium, for a moment forgetting that this was just Namboole, far from eternity.
It is this same thought of heaven that drove me to Namboole in the first place. I had entertained thoughts of: “Why the hustle? I don’t want to die in that stampede when God can touch me anywhere, through anyone!”
But the Holy Spirit ministered to me about the need for aggression in the things of God. I started imagining, what if God sent Benny Hinn to Uganda for this special one person, only for God’s angels to get busy at Namboole ready to deliver this person’s parcel and find that s/he hadn’t come at all! Our Lord is a God of locations, do not be deceived.
I decided there and then that should that special person be me, I wanted to be in the right place at the right time.
By the way, when the Bible talks about the way to heaven being so narrow and the way to hell being wide and inviting, it is in the figurative sense. I don’t think we are going to have to squeeze through any paths and metal detectors the way we did at Namboole, rather the Bible is talking about the spiritual realm of things.
Walking the road of salvation and righteousness is not an easy thing; it is a bumpy ride.
It involves sacrifice, trials and tribulation as well as deliberate tests from God that can throw you off course and onto the broad way to hell. The way to hell is quite inviting because it allows you to compromise all the way. The easy life.
For example, you can religiously engrave it in your head that abortion is bad and ungodly, but at the same time fornicate without batting an eyelid and even justify it!
You can indulge in all the worldly pleasures and dig the Bible for two words that may justify what you are doing. That is how I understand these two roads. Few people will jump off the broad road to join the narrow path and walk it to the end. That is where the spiritual jostling comes in.
You abandon fornication and decide to abstain the rest of your single life, but when push comes to shove in the flesh matters, you jump back onto the broad road by fornicating “just one last time.”
Many of us keep switching roads this way throughout and it is only by God’s grace that the final day – the rupture – finds you on the narrow path and not cruising down the broad one!
malita@ugandaobserver.com
CRUSADE IN UGANDA DRAWS INTERNATIONAL AUDIENCE
http://www.bennyhinn.org/articles/articledesc.cfm?id=263
Nationally distributed newspapers proclaimed, “The lame walked, the blind had their eyes opened, the deaf heard, and the sick recovered at the first-ever Pastor Benny Hinn crusade in Uganda!”
Broadcast live to the world for the first time through streaming Internet and the GOD TV satellite network, the groundbreaking crusade, addressed by the nation’s First Lady, saw mighty miracles throughout the overflowing audience at the Nelson Mandela National Stadium. The impact continues to reverberate across Uganda, the African continent, and around the globe!
Uganda, located in the geographical heartland of Africa, is bordered by Kenya, Sudan, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, and Tanzania. The southern part of the country includes a substantial portion of Lake Victoria, within which it shares borders with Kenya and Tanzania.
With a population of over 28 million, the nation boasts an emerging market with an abundant supply of natural resources. The capital, Kampala, populated by approximately a million people, is far and away the largest city in Uganda.
Showcase to major sporting and entertainment events, Kampala’s Mandela National Stadium was transformed May 18–19, 2007, into a capacity-filled sanctuary of praise, worship, Gospel preaching, and mighty miracles.
Uganda’s First Lady Addresses Crowd
In addition to conducting a television interview with the gracious President Lt. Gen. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni and his wife, Janet, Pastor Benny Hinn welcomed the First Lady to one of the services. She was warmly and enthusiastically honored by the people throughout the stadium.
As she came to the platform at the beginning of the service, the crowd cheered with excitement. She greeted the people on behalf of her husband, the President, as well as welcoming Pastor Benny to Uganda.
She spoke briefly from her heart, sharing her own personal faith in Jesus Christ. Before leaving the platform she said, “Pastor Benny, you are welcome in Uganda. Please come back again and again!”
Historic Live Broadcast
History was made as Benny Hinn Ministries experienced one of its most exciting breakthroughs in spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ! For the first time, a Holy Spirit Miracle Crusade was broadcast live to a worldwide audience through GOD TV and the Internet!
Viewers in the most remote areas of the world saw as the crusade choir of nearly 4,000 voices joined together to sing majestic harmonies. On more than one occasion Pastor Benny expressed his appreciation for their contribution to the crusade and said, “I’d love to take you with me! You’re wonderful!”
During the first service, Pastor Benny preached an inspirational message demonstrating from Scripture how Jesus healed all, wherever He went. He cited several passages where Jesus ministered to the sick and afflicted, taking time to heal all.
“He’s a healing Jesus!” Pastor Benny declared to the cheering capacity crowd, “It’s His nature to heal!”
During the second service, Pastor Benny brought a powerful message that focused on the work of the cross. He used Old Testament examples of how the children of Israel repented and brought healing and deliverance to their lives as they brought the cross back into their lives. In Egypt, for example, the children of Israel were instructed to anoint their doorposts with blood, and God promised, “When I see the blood I will pass over you.”
Miracles Abound
Multiplied thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children responded to Pastor Benny’s invitation to pray and receive Jesus Christ as Savior!
Multitudes responded as God began moving mightily among the audience, healing people throughout the stadium. Miracles from the two services included these:
• A lady who had been carried to the stadium on a mat by family members began to walk, leaving her mat behind. She walked across the platform with Pastor Benny, smiling and rejoicing at her ability to walk again. Her family watched in amazement.
• A woman from Kenya who fractured her legs in a mountain-climbing accident was healed.
• A young man whose leg had been crushed in a severe accident was previously unable to walk. As a healing anointing descended during the Friday evening service, the young man received strength in his leg and all the pain was gone. As Pastor Benny inquired about the young man’s injuries, the young man pulled his pant leg up to reveal a sizeable scar where the leg had been crushed. As he walked and stomped his foot, he repeated that he had no pain!
• An elderly man, relegated to a wheelchair for seven years as a result of prostate cancer and bedridden for one and half years, walked without problems to the cheers of the audience!
• A woman who had been unable to hear or speak came forward. With upraised hands and through tears of joy she responded to Pastor Benny. As the crowd rejoiced and the music played, she cupped her hands over her ear—she was able to hear! Her smiling face and tear-filled eyes reflected the joy she felt in her heart at what God had done for her.
• Another lady with a deaf ear began to hear. She wept as she repeated one phrase and then another after Pastor Benny.
• A young boy, paralyzed for eight years since the age of three, walked after he was healed!
• Many people came on crutches, with various difficulties, including arthritis and injured limbs. As they discarded their crutches and walked or ran across the platform, the crowd responded in resounding applause and praise to the Lord.
• A mother came to the platform holding a baby in her arms. She was visibly moved as she clutched her baby. Her baby had been born with meningitis and had been fed through a feeding tube since birth. However, during the first service the baby was completely healed, and since that time had been breastfeeding normally.
• A young woman came to the platform to testify of her healing from uterine cancer. She had flown from Toronto, Canada, because she was desperate for a miracle. She said all the pain was gone and she knew she had received her miracle!
• One woman who had suffered with a tumor on her side came to the platform to testify that her tumor had vanished.
The Moving Story of Moses
There were so many miracles during both services that most were unable to approach the stage to share what God had done.
One of the most amazing stories that was shared with everyone was the story of Moses. At the close of the first service, the young man named came to the platform. Pastor Benny noticed that Moses was wearing no shoes. He quickly learned that Moses had been crippled since birth.
The 28-year-old man, accompanied by his sister, came from the city of Lira in the far northern part of Uganda. He had entered the stadium in a wheelchair, but God moved mightily, and he took his first steps during the service!
As Pastor Benny began to talk to the young man and learn more about him, Moses said, “I want to be saved.” The expression on his face underscored his desire to know the Lord.
Pastor Benny led Moses and people throughout the audience in the sinner’s prayer. Following the prayer, Pastor Benny talked to Moses more before calling the host pastor to join them. Pastor Benny told the local pastor that he wanted to provide the funds to buy Moses some shoes and new clothing. He also asked if there was a Bible school anywhere in the area where Moses could learn more of God’s Word. The host pastor promptly told Pastor Benny that their church had an active Bible school where Moses could attend. Pastor Benny reiterated that he would pay for Moses to attend the Bible school.
In the second service, Pastor Benny asked if Moses was present in the service. After a few moments, Moses and his sister came to the platform, where they were welcomed by Pastor Benny and the cheers of the crowd. Moses was smiling from ear to ear as he stepped onto the platform wearing brand-new clothes and shoes.
After a few remarks, Pastor Benny turned to the host pastor and inquired, “When does Moses start attending Bible school?”
The pastor responded, “On Monday morning!”
Once again the crowd applauded and cheered as Pastor Benny and Moses stood face to face and Moses’ sister wept tears of joy at what God had done during the crusade.
A Mighty Work Throughout Africa
“What a powerful crusade!” Pastor Benny reported after the crusade concluded. “God is doing a mighty work throughout Africa. We have held crusades in nearby countries in the past few years, and now we have been blessed to hold this one among the precious people of Uganda. This has been a historic time. The President and First Lady have been so gracious. Many people have been requesting me to air the crusades live, so it was exciting to broadcast the services, as they were happening, to the rest of the world through GOD TV and the Internet. People here, hungry and open to the Gospel, are faced with great challenges. I am asking my partners and ministry friends to pray for the wonderful people of this country and continent, that God will touch an entire generation in a way never seen before!”
Be a Vital Part of Our Historic Crusades!
God is doing an amazing work through each Holy Spirit Miracle Crusade! Upcoming international crusades, as with the just-completed one in Uganda, are increasingly expensive because of extensive travel and setup costs. Believe with Pastor Benny Hinn for a supernatural harvest of souls. Pray for great results. Consider being a vital part of these historic crusades through a sacrificial seed-gift today!
Are miracles, healings still possible today?
http://www.monitor.co.ug/sunday/body/body05278.php
Susan K. Muyiyi
A majority of people believe that the age of miracles ended in the Biblical days, and so no one else can claim to perform miracles through Jesus. However, during the time Jesus walked on earth, the people of the day didn’t believe in miracles either
The subject of healing and being “slain in the spirit”, falling down during prayer sessions has attracted controversy over the years. At the recent Benny Hinn crusade where the lame walked and deaf heard for the first time, a number of people doubted whether such miracles could happen.
JESUS IS THE WAY: Hinn performs miracles during a crusade attended by thousands of believers at Mandela National Stadium recently. Photo by Geoffrey Sseruyange
The “falling” of a pastor under the anointing raised eyebrows causing many to draw the wrong conclusions. “The miracles are stage managed,” the sceptics echoed. “Did you actually see the crippled walk from their wheel chairs, what kind of magic was that?” they wondered.
A majority of people believe that the age of miracles ended in the Biblical days, and so no one else can claim to perform miracles through Jesus. However, during the time Jesus walked on earth, the people of the day didn’t believe in miracles either. In the book of John chapter 9, Jesus healed a man who had been born blind in a manner that would raise eyebrows.
“He spat on the ground, and made clay of the spittle, and he anointed the eyes of the blind man with clay…” he told the man to wash his eyes in a certain pool and his eyes were opened. His neighbours were astonished and no amount of convincing on his part that he was the man who had been born blind would settle their doubts.
The healing of this blind man caused such a fracas that he was brought before the Pharisees (the religious leaders of the day) to explain. Some said of Jesus, “How can such a man that is a sinner do such miracles?” The Pharisees demanded that they consult his parents about the validity of his “claims” of healing.
I was blind and now I see
The blind man who could now see wasn’t bothered about the mystery behind his miracle. All he said was, “…One thing I know is that I was blind and now I see.” When Jesus said that a dead girl whom he had been called upon to raise was sleeping, he was laughed at. But his scorners ate their words when he raised the girl from death.
At Hinn’s crusade, Moses the man from Lira who had been crippled all his life would explain better the frustration of living in a wheel chair with no hope. The man wasn’t even a Christian before he got his miracle. At the crusade, people couldn’t help but murmur awaiting, “miracle time,” to see if Hinn was going to pull the crippled legs and withered hands in order for them to get healed. There was no warning about the kind of miracles going to happen.
It is difficult to explain how miracles happen. “Take us stage by stage, did the man first limp, then fall down in a heap until he perfected his walking?” those who attended the crusade have been tasked to explain. There was no drama of witnessing a miracle in the making, like where an amputated arm grows back as all are watching.
Miracles are supernatural and it is God who can explain how they happen because he is the one who performs them. The truth though is that they happen mysteriously! You can’t determine how God works. He may sometimes reveal himself in the simplest of ways and at other times in a strong way.
“Falling down” like many would put it isn’t a new thing. Some of the prophets in the Bible like Ezekiel, John and Daniel were overwhelmed by an encounter with God. “…I fell on my face,” writes Ezekiel when explaining a vision he received. In the book of Revelations, John describes an encounter with the Lord, “…and when I saw him, I fell at his feet as if dead.”
“And I Daniel fainted,” Daniel describes an experience he had. Human beings can be overwhelmed by extraordinary events. When you stand in awe of someone mighty, you may not be able to maintain your composure and sometimes it may be in front of a crowd.
Seeing Jesus is unbelievable
When King David in the Bible was excited after a certain victory, he danced and removed his clothing, much to the annoyance of his wife. She rebuked him for behaving inappropriately. When you are excited about some thing, you can’t hold yourself back. Utterances of seeing Jesus in this age are considered unbelievable.
However, seeing Jesus in the Biblical days was okay, but today when the heavens to many seem closed to the affairs of man, it takes boldness for one to declare that they have seen him.
To some people, God sits in heaven with a big stick waiting to mete punishment when they do wrong. Nobody sees him or is supposed to see him, until the life to come. That is why to such people, a person who claims to have seen Jesus is either crazy or hallucinating.
