Uganda: Benny Hinn Has a Gift for Country
http://www.gospeluganda.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=55&Itemid=2
Written by Raphael Okello - Kampala
Friday, 18 May 2007
SINCE 1990, when he started evangelising, Pastor Benny Hinn has travelled to many nations of the world, preaching salvation and bringing healing to millions of the broken-hearted and cancer victims, among other illnesses.
Until today, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa were the only African countries blessed with his visit.
Africa 2007
And now Uganda, a regular host to renowned international evangelists, rejoices to finally have him.
People from all walks of life, in Uganda and across the border, are expected to go to Namboole Stadium today for Benny Hinn's healing Crusade at 5:00pm and Saturday at 4:00pm.
Many are expected to attend the crusade in search of healing, miracles and spiritual revival. Others may want to just witness a historic mammoth gathering brought by the American-based international evangelist.
An amazing 5,000-member choir from Pentecostal churches will sing at the crusade.
Hinn's visit is a highly-billed spiritual episode in Uganda and among all Ugandan born-again Christians, some of whom travelled to Nairobi in 2001, to attend his crusade that was attended by more than a million people.
Such is the compelling influence of Hinn's healing crusades that Police has mapped out a provisional traffic route for vehicles to divert an inevitable traffic catastrophe Blessing to Uganda
Pastor Joseph Serwadda, of Victory Christian Centre in Ndeeba, says Benny Hinn's visit is a blessing to Uganda because he has come at a time when Ugandans need spiritual intervention and revival.
"Uganda is walking out of a period of political uncertainty and a period when the born-again church needs unity. He, therefore, comes as a precursor to that (unity)," Serwadda said.
"Many people are suffering from HIV/AIDS and other diseases yet Benny Hinn is known for his healing ministry. I have no reservation whatsoever that he will bless and quench the spiritual thirst of this country."
"Uganda is braced for a major revival and anointing as he (Benny Hinn) is an ambassador of Jesus Christ," said Pastor Robert Kayanja, whose Rubaga Miracle Centre was used for the Benny Hinn choir practice.
"He brings a gift of healing to many people whose lives are going to be renewed. When they see miracles, they will realise that what they read in the Bible is true."
But Kayanja says because Hinn is a spiritual leader whom people listen to regardless of religion, tribe or ethnicity and who travels with a large team of people, his visit does not only bestow spiritual blessing to Uganda, but also stands to bring national unity and enhance the economy.
Also, since Hinn, is globally known and his crusades are telecast to millions across the world via his syndicated TV programme, This Is Your Day, Pastor Chris Komagum of Kampala Pentecostal Church, believes his visit will market Uganda.
"Uganda is a gifted and rich tourist destination. However, most of the world knows it for HIV/AIDS, corruption, Kony and all the bad things. So having him here will definitely put Uganda on the international map.
We believe that after his visit, the world will come to recognise that Uganda exists with all its beauty," Komagum said.
Born to heal, win souls
Hinn believes in winning people's souls back to God. During his TV programme, he says the greatest miracle is salvation; the heavens do not rejoice because someone has been healed or acquired wealth. They rejoice at the salvation of one soul.
Nurtured within the Greek Orthodox Church and taught by nuns at a Catholic school, Hinn's conversion to Pentecostalism, at an early age of 15, earned him a visit to a psychiatrist, on recommendation of his Greek father and Armenian mother.
As a high school senior, living in Toronto, Canada, where his family (six boys and two girls) had been forced to relocate because of the 1967 war in Israel, Hinn attended crusades by Pentecostal faith-healing evangelist, Kathryn Kuhlman.
His visits materialised in his subsequent abandonment of his Greek Orthodox roots; a decision viewed by his parents as an act of rebellion against family norms.
In spite of all that, Hinn's conviction in his new-found faith would not be shaken. After listening to Kuhlman, in 1973 (two years after becoming born-again), Hinn writes in his book Good Morning, Holy Spirit how an eight-hour night experience with the Holy Spirit would change his life.
"It seemed that my room had been lifted into the hemisphere of heaven . I began to shake and vibrate all over with the Holy Spirit."
The events of the night slowly sucked Hinn into fulltime evangelism and consequently out of college. With similar influences from Kuhlman, he preached mostly in Canada and the U.S.
Crusades and healing:
In 1983, as pastor of the Orlando Christian Centre in Florida, he attracted a rapidly-growing following as a charismatic preacher, who spoke in tongues and, just like Kuhlman, God healed the sick through him.
His trademark white Nehru jackets and gold jewellery would also become remnants of Kuhlman's influence. She always adorned flowing white garments, trimmed with gold.
However, other Christian ministries criticised him because he lacked any biblical or theological training. His criticism not withstanding, his church averaged over 10,000 in attendance during its heyday.
By 1990, Hinn was receiving prominence from his book, Good Morning, Holy Spirit. He went on to author and co-author more than 10 books, among which are The Blood, The Anointing, Holy Spirit, Miracle of Healing and The Healing Christ.
Perhaps wanting to spread his ministry, in 1999, he handed the church to someone else and moved his ministry headquarters to Grapevine in Dallas, Texas, but retained the name "World Outreach Center Benny Hinn Ministries".
His former church, Orlando Christian Centre, was renamed Faith World Church.
Outside of the Billy Graham crusade, Hinn's ministry is believed to draw the largest crowd of any evangelist in America today.
But in all his travels, his largest congregation was recorded in his 2004 three-day crusade in India, where the crowd swelled to two million by the third day. It is considered to be the largest congregation in the modern history of healing crusades.
"There is nothing that could have prepared me for those moments when two million people raised their hands to the skies and began lifting their praise to the Lord," he is reported to have said of the crusade.
Criticism
From his extravagant wealth and flamboyant lifestyle to highly theatrical style of ministry, critics have had their reasons to draw out the dagger.
"It has not been a pleasant life," Hinn told a Times reporter in 2003. "People think we are in it for the money. They think that God does not really heal, so these guys are just fooling the world. I would be a fool to be in this for money. If I did not believe God healed, I'd quit tomorrow and go get a job."
But Hinn, at times bewildered by all the public criticism, explained that if his 11-year-old daughter found a difficult time figuring him out from the person she sees healing people on crusades, he understands why all criticism might be directed to him.
"One day she asked me a question that blew me away: 'Daddy, who are you? That man up there (onstage), I don't know.' If my own child is asking that, surely the whole world is asking that."
Hinn lives in California, with his wife, Suzanne Harthern. They have three children.
Benny Hinn dedicates Uganda to God
http://www.gospeluganda.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=58&Itemid=9
Letter to Pastor Joseph Sserwada
http://www.yesumulungi.com/Apologetics/Appologs17.htm
Open Letter to Pastor Joseph Sserwadahttp://www.yesumulungi.com/Articles/Article7.htm
