Benny Hinn refused entry!From The Times
October 3, 2009
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6859240.ece
My comment:
Here is some facts about Benny Hinn and his money-stealing misleading circus show.
Here you can see how to make a count in a deceptive way and some more facts!
Or how to grow into fakes, lies, and a deceptive way! Telling lies in hypocrisy!
Texas televangelist Benny Hinn refused entry to Britain
Out in the cold: Benny Hinn had been due to speak to thousands of Pentecostal Christians at the ExCel Centre in London
An American Christian preacher has been turned away from Britain, leaving thousands of people stranded at an evangelical rally in London this weekend.
Benny Hinn, from Texas, who draws large crowds to his Pentecostal revival rallies, was turned back at Stansted airport under new rules on visiting ministers of religion.
Many thousands of Pentecostal Christians travelled from across Britain and Europe and booked long weekend breaks in the capital’s hotels for his mission at the ExCeL exhibition centre in Docklands, East London, which had been due to begin on Thursday night.
They were left disappointed after Border Agency officials turned him back when he landed with his private jet because he had failed to obtain a “letter of sponsorship” from a church.
Instead, Mr Hinn flew on to Paris and tried to enter Britain at Luton airport but was again turned back. He was on his way back to France last night.
Jill Masefield, who lives in Bristol, said that she and thousands of other followers had been left waiting for Mr Hinn to appear at the free preaching event, not knowing why he had not appeared.Instead, another pastor preached and requested donations of up to £1,000.
“He’s been coming here for years and years,” she said. “I think it is very unfair that they have blocked him now. It has cost me a fortune in hotel bills and I feel we have been led up the garden path. It is extremely unfair.”
The Benny Hinn “fire conference and miracle service” was scheduled to last three days. Among the “miracles” the Texan preacher performs are those in which he instructs participants to “let the bodies hit the floor”. The routine is featured on YouTube videos that show the devout falling down backwards, “slain in the spirit”.
A spokeswoman for ExCeL said thatMr Hinn had been turned back at immigration and would not be coming. Staff at the exhibition centre were meeting last night to decide whether to provide another evangelical preacher in his place.
Mr Hinn has visited before without any problem but the Home Office has changed the rules for ministers of religion. He fell foul of tier five of the new points-based system for all visitors to Britain, which came into effect last November. One of the aims of the new rules was to combat extremism and prevent teachers of religious hate entering the country.
A Border Agency spokesman said: “Under the UK’s tough new points-based system, religious workers must obtain a valid certificate of sponsorship prior to arriving in the UK. These rules are designed to make sure that a legitimate sponsor is linked to each application to enter the UK for work purposes.
“These rules are applied objectively and clearly set out for travellers. People who arrive without the required documentation can be refused entry to the UK.”
Benny Hinn/Fiji Controversy
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/BHinn7.htm
Benny Hinn in 'Nigerian Money Row' - Sola Odunfa, BBC Focus on Africa Magazine
Pastor Hinn in Nigerian money row
By Sola Odunfa
BBC Focus On Africa magazine
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/4619733.stm
In late April, scores of giant billboards and thousands of wall posters all over Lagos proclaimed the first of three days of divine miracles and healing for at least six million Nigerians -
but at the end of the third day, there was more bickering over money than praise to God for mercy received.The vehicle of the expected wonders of the Holy Spirit was the UNited States-based evangelist Benny Hinn, who flew into Nigeria in a Gulfstream private jet with a large retinue that included his bodyguards.
He was received at Lagos airport in a motorcade of Hummer jeeps and other expensive cars.
The deaf would hear, the blind would see, the lame would jump and walk, barren women would conceive, the jobless would gain employment, and the enemy - both seen and unseen - would be vanquished. Mention any problem - physical, spiritual, economic - Hinn had come with the instant solution.
But things did not go well.
Expenditure
About 300,000 people attended the event each night - a modest congregation by Nigerian crusade standards. It is estimated that about 1 million worshippers attend the monthly Holy Ghost Congress service organised by The Redeemed Christian Church God (RCCG) at the same venue.
Whatever disappointment he felt on the first and second days of the miracle crusade, Hinn kept to himself
- but he opened up with anger on the final day."Four million dollars down the drain," he shouted into the microphone from the huge rostrum.He said that he had been assured by the local organising committee that at least six million people would attend the crusade - but the total turnout was only around one million. As a result, he realised that all the mega public address equipment he had flown in from the US was not needed.
He also complained about some claimed expenditures, the charges imposed on pastors who attended his day-time seminar, and journalists who sought to cover the crusade.
He then announced publicly that he would not provide any more funds, and that the local organisers should pay all outstanding bills from the collections they made on the first two days.Hinn's complaints instantly overshadowed the spiritual context of the event. Some people from the congregation came out to declare that they received healing and other miracles after the prayers, but they were hardly audible.
The Nigerian head of the local organising committee, Bishop Joseph Olanrewaju Obembe, accused other Nigerian Pentecostal preachers of sabotaging the crusade and peddling false information to Hinn and his aides out of envy, and to discredit him.
Soon after the crusade, a committee was set up by the leadership of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) - the umbrella body of Pentecostal churches nationwide - to investigate the funding controversy.
Big spendersThe Pentecostal faith in Nigeria is a veritable goldmine, judging by the opulence of most of its pastors.It is made even more attractive because incomes of churches are tax-exempt. Nearly all the churches are the private property of their pastors or founders and their immediate families.In an economic environment in which the majority of Nigeria's estimated 130 million population has been impoverished by unemployment, lack of basic social infrastructure and rising inflation,
the church has become the last refuge for many people.The favoured churches are the new-generation Pentecostal assemblies that are owned and managed solely by fast-talking American-style pastors.Rich and powerful Nigerians run after the pastors for "spiritual protection" from imaginary 'enemies' who, they are convinced, are lurking around the corner to pull them down.
These are the big spenders in the churches.The attraction, perhaps, lies in the often-quoted biblical injunction that "givers never lack" and the fact that most pastors don't ask the donors how they make the money they give.
Devoted serviceIn March 2003, a cashier at a five-star hotel was arrested for allegedly stealing nearly 40 million naira (then about US$400,000) from his employer.
His colleagues were shocked because there was nothing to suggest that he was living above his means - he had no car and he lived in a rented flat in a non-fashionable part of Lagos.
The man confessed that he gave all the money to his Pentecostal church in cash and equipment.
In another case a bank clerk stole 40 million naira from his employer and gave 10 million to his church as 'seed money' in the belief that the seed would germinate and yield several fold as promised by his pastor.Many Nigerians believe that a large number of pastors are honest and devoted to the service of God and mankind.
But they readily take umbrage under the Yoruba saying that "only God knows who serves Him truly."
Benny Hinn's 2006 Fiji Crusade - The Figures versus The Facts - 5/11/06
SPECIAL REPORT
Benny Hinn's 2006 Fiji Crusade
The Figures versus The FactsMay 11, 2006
The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps
(Proverbs 14:15) Benny Hinn held his first "Miracle Crusade" in Fiji at the Post Fiji Stadium in Suva on January 20-22, 2006. Months before his arrival, and in full support of the crusade, the Fiji government's own website announced an estimated "300,000" in attendance. When the crusade ended, the attendance numbers skyrocketed to a "Total of 370,000" for the three-day event,
according to Hinn's website, that is.
Putting on a crusade of any size--whether for 1,000 or 370,000 people--takes planning, preparation, and careful attention to details. But there are a few important details that apparently went unnoticed by the Fijian government, Benny Hinn, and others involved with the crusade.
More on that later.
Back to basics: What is a stadium?
According to Dictionary.com, a stadium is "A large, usually open structure for sports events with tiered seating for spectators."
Stadiums date back thousands of years to the old Greek theatres and Roman coliseums, where thousands of people gathered for various activities and events.
Speaking of stadiums, "World Stadiums is a database-related commercial website about stadiums," whose goal is to "provide the most comprehensive online stadium resource with major stadiums containing pictures and info" (refer to www.worldstadiums.com ).
According to the World Stadiums website, there are 17 stadiums in Fiji, that range in seating capacity from 1,000 to 30,000. The seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium, where Benny Hinn's three-day crusade was held, has a seating capacity of only "30,000" (also refer to these pictures for the "Celebrations at the Post Fiji Stadium"). The stadium capacity includes the playing field and surrounding area.
Crusade figures: attendance estimates from the Fiji government
The following statements are from the Fiji Government Online Portal at
http://www.fiji.gov.fj: 1. "In taking this decision, Cabinet noted that the Crusade will attract a large number of people from overseas, with the total number estimated to be around 300,000 people from around Fiji and the region" ("Government to facilitate Pastor Benny Hinn visit," Fiji Government Online Portal, October 11, 2005,http://tinyurl.com/fek9m, emp. added).
2. "More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in January, says chairman of the organizing committee at the World Harvest Centre, Reverend Suliasi Kurulo. Mr Kurulo said they had already begun to train volunteers for the crusade. The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade will be held at the Post Fiji Stadium from January 20 to 22" (Fiji Government Online Portal, News Briefs, October 15, 2005, http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5592.shtml, emp. added).
3. "The Benny Hinn Crusades organizing committee has prepared extra facilities, to cater for the expected number of spectators that will turn out on the three nights of the Miracle Crusade that will be held at the Post Fiji Stadium beginning on Friday. Public relation coordinator Manasa Kolivuso said the committee was well ahead of the preparation and the stage was set for the event. Over 300,000 locals would be expected to turn up to the crusade on al the three nights" (Fiji Government Online Portal, News Briefs, January 19, 2006,http://tinyurl.com/kjm2h, emp. added).
Crusade figures: attendance estimates from Pastor Suliasi Kurulo
Suliasi Kurulo is the Senior Pastor of the World Harvest Centre church in Suva, Fiji, President of the Christian Mission Fellowship, Chairman of the Assembly of Christian Churches, and the Chairman of the organizing committee for the January 2006 Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade.
Apparently, Pastor Kurulo was instrumental in bringing another controversial faith healer, Reinhard Bonnke to Suva, Fiji in 2003, where a reported total of 254,000 people attended the three-day event (which is about 85,000 per day).
Refer to the following articles and pictures on Reinhard Bonnke's website, and pay close attention to the pictures of the crowd in the Post Fiji Stadium (which is another story for another time):
-- God's Fire in Fiji
-- Suva, Fiji: Day 1
-- Suva, Fiji: Day 2
-- Suva, Fiji: Day 3
The following is a word-for-word transcript from the first 2 minutes/40 seconds of Benny Hinn's "This Is Your Day Archive Show" (Miracle Crusade in Suva, Fiji, day 3, dated Friday, February 24, 2006). Pay close attention to Suliasi Kurulo's words in the following transcript.
Benny Hinn: God bless the people here in Fiji! This is; God bless you! This is an exciting moment for God's work and God's kingdom here in Fiji, and Pastor Suliasi is here with me. I want you to see this. How many of you watch This Is Your Day here in Fiji?
Wave at me. Look at all the hands. Look at all the hands all over this place; back behind us; in front of us. His Excellency, the President, is here; his wife. The Prime Minister, even the Prime Minister watches, and his dear wife. Yeah, give the Lord a mighty hand! That's wonderful!
Now, dear pastor, you were telling me
as we're sitting, uh, on the platform, how many people were here the first night, last night, and what's the estimation for today here?
Some synonyms, my own comment:
Platform – base, pedestal, stand, manifesto, scheme, plan, program, Suliasi Kurulo: On the first night we have, about, uh, eighty thousand [80,000] people that was here...
Benny Hinn [interrupts]: That were here on the first night.
Suliasi Kurulo: That was here on the first night, and, uh, last night there were, uh, hundred and ten thousand [110,000], hundred and ten thousand people that were here last night. So, our estimation today is about, right now on the grounds, about hundred and eighty thousand [180,000] that are here right now. But people are still coming.
Benny Hinn: That is amazing. Eighty thousand the first night; a hundred and ten the second night and, already today you are estimating it's at a hundred and eighty thousand. That's amazing.
Suliasi Kurulo: And, and, we are not, this is not assumptions. We are doing the head-count, because we...
Some synonyms, my own comment:
Assumptions – assumption, hypothesis, guess, theory, speculation, presumption, philosophy, model, concept, system, scheme, idea, notion, conjecture, speculate, imagine, picture, envisage, envision, visualize, see, see in your mind's eye, make up, dream, dream up, invent, make believe, conceive of, create in your mind, conjure up, dream of, see, think of, imagine, visualize, dream up, conceive, bring to mind, invent, conjure up, create, assume, presume, notion, belief, idea, Benny Hinn [interrupts]: You've got people counting?
Suliasi Kurulo: We've got people counting from every entry point.
[End of transcript]
Pastor Suliasi Kurolo's words prompted the following letter from Christian Research Service:
March 17, 2006
Pastor Suliasi Kurulo, President
Christian Mission Fellowship
World Harvest Center
Suva, Fiji Islands
Dear Pastor Kurulo:
I was led to write and ask you a few important questions concerning the attendance estimates during the January 2006 Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in Suva, Fiji.
We have carefully reviewed videos, pictures of the crusade, and pictures of the Post Fiji Stadium. We have communicated with individuals from the Fiji Sports Council, and with people who attended the crusade. Also, we have researched the seating capacity of the Post Fiji Stadium (which includes the stadium grandstand, the infield, and the immediate area surrounding the infield).
We have also consulted with an expert in crowd dynamics (crowd density), which is the mathematical science of determining how much space people occupy, and how many people will safely fit into a specific area.
During the last day of the crusade, as you stood on-stage next to Benny Hinn, you said that about 80,000 people attended the first night, 110,000 attended the second night, and that an estimate of about 180,000 attended the last night. Altogether, your estimates total to 370,000 for the three-day event,
which Benny Hinn also maintains. You also said that the estimates were not assumptions, and that there were people at the crusade who were doing a head-count of those in attendance.
This leads to my first question: Are you aware that the World Stadiums website rates the seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium
at only 30,000 people? (Click HERE for verification)
The Post Fiji Stadium grandstand has a seating capacity of
about 5,000. The infield, and the immediate area surrounding the infield, has a capacity of about 30,000. These capacities fall short of your estimates of 80,000 for the first day, 110,000 for the second day, and 180,000 for the third day.
Here are some examples of stadiums with seating capacities of 150,000 and over:
Velky Strahovsky Stadium (seating capacity: 220,000)
Maracana Stadium (seating capacity: 200,000+)
Maracana Stadium (panoramic picture; seating capacity: 220,000+, including the infield)
Rungnado May Day Stadium (seating capacity: 150,000. Notice the crowded granstand and infield)
Compare the above stadiums with the Post Fiji Stadium (seating capacity: 30,000). In fact, the entire Post Fiji Stadium will fit inside the above stadiums with room to spare.
Almost two months have passed since the crusade. My second question is: Do you still maintain that 370,000 people attended the crusade during the three-day event?
Thank you, Pastor Kurulo. This is an important issue, and we look forward to your timely reply.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
Jude 3
[END]
As of this writing, there has been no reply. Crusade figures from Benny Hinn and his website
"I have just returned from Fiji where 370,000 souls heard the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus! Nearly half of the nation’s population were present, including the acting president and his wife, as well as the prime minister and his wife, plus many more members of Fiji’s government" ("From the heart of Pastor Benny,"http://tinyurl.com/p2z2l, emp. added). "On Saturday night there were about thirty thousand people at the Post Fiji Stadium. A person who claimed to be suffering from an incurable disease had gone up on stage" ( see "The Miracles Continue," emp. added).
"Haven’t the This Is Your Day! programs from the Fiji crusade been powerful? I wish you could have been with me as 370,000 souls heard the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus!" (Benny Hinn Ministries e-mail newsletter, February 24, 2006, on file, emp. added). In addition, Benny Hinn's own website places the total numbers in attendance to "370,000," and states that during the second night of the crusade, "Pastor Benny prayed with the man and his wife as they knelt together before the 110,000 there for the second night’s service" (refer to "Historic Fiji Islands Crusade Attended by a Total of 370,000!" http://tinyurl.com/pec4p, emp. added).
Hinn's website also states that during the third and final day of the crusade, "A 12-year-old girl came forward. Though she was born deaf, in an instant she could hear in both ears. She also began speaking, repeating phrases Pastor Benny said.
He turned to the 180,000 in attendance, 'If I came to Fiji just to see this girl hear, it was worth it!'" (Ibid., emp. added)
Again, the Fiji government estimated 300,000 would attend the crusade. Pastor Suliasi Kurulo (with Benny Hinn at his side), estimated 80,000 for the first day; 110,000 for the second day, and 180,000 for the third day.
Apparently, the Fijian government officials who attended Hinn's crusade said nothing to disagree with the estimates.
Crusade figures: according to the news media ---
"More than 26,000 people were at the Post Fiji Stadium on Friday. According to the Fiji Sports Council, the facility can accommodate 26,000 people at one time" ("Qarase, 26,000 Welcome Televangelist to Fiji," Pacific Islands Report, January 22, 2006, emp. added).
--- "Thousands of people flocked to Fiji’s National Stadium on Friday 20th through to Sunday 22nd January for the visit of Pastor Benny Hinn.
Each night the Stadium’s capacity of 26,000 people was reached. On Friday evening, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase welcomed Pastor Hinn to Fiji" ("Benny Hinn in Suva Crusade,"Equippers-News & Photos, emp. added).
--- "About 180,000 people attended Benny Hinn's final miracle crusade at the Post Fiji Stadium yesterday afternoon.
The historic gathering has prompted the self-styled miracle healer to return in June" ("Record crowd at Hinn's miracle crusade," Fiji Sun, January 23, 2006, emp. added).
--- "SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 25) – More than FJ$100,000 [US$58,600] was collected from the estimated 370,000 crowd which converged at the three-day Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade at the National Stadium in Fiji during the weekend" ("Hinn Collects $58,000 In Fiji Crusade," Pacific Islands Report, January 25, 2006, brackets theirs, emp. added).
--- "In January 2006, Pastor Benny arrived with ministry team members to Fiji. Sunny and unique, the Fiji Islands are one thousand miles of pristine white sand beaches, coral gardens and lagoons. This was the first-ever crusade held on the South Pacific island.
Though extremely hot and humid nothing kept the 370,000people from attending" ("Benny Hinn: The Miracle Crusader," CBN/The 700 Club). --- "Upon being prayed upon by Hinn that Saturday evening in front of the 26,000 or so faithfuls, the woman tearfully testified that she had been cured" (Samisoni Pareti, Politics: AMERICAN MIRACLE MAN PULLS CROWD:
But not without controversies," ISLANDS BUSINESS, February 3, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/ndzhy, emp. added).
--- "The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade lasted three days and drew an estimated 180,000 people on the final day, an impressive feat in a nation where the population hovers just under 1 million" (Anoosh Jorjorian, "Exporting Evangelism," February 7, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/e7prf, emp. added).
Christian Research Service contacted Anoosh Jorjorian, and asked how the estimate of 180,000 for the final day was determined. Jorjorian replied and said the attendance numbers from Benny Hinn's crusade in Suva, Fiji were taken from the Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun.
The facts: attendance estimates from eyewitnesses In a joint research project, Christian Research Service spent two months working with the Director of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries, Steve Muse, to determine the facts on how many people actually attended Benny Hinn's January 2006 crusade in Suva, Fiji.
The research involved countless hours of evaluating city-wide and satellite maps of Fiji, viewing pictures of the Post Fiji Stadium, watching videos, reading news articles, corresponding with an expert in Crowd Dynamics (crowd density), communicating with individuals who attended the crusade, and speaking to unnamed sources in Fiji over the phone.
As the information unfolded, glaring contradictions in the crowd estimates began to surface. For instance, one of the unnamed sources contacted officials at the Post Fiji Stadium, asked specific questions, then relayed the following information to Eastern Regional Watch and Christian Research Service:
The seating capacity of the the Post Fiji Stadium grandstand
is 4,963 seats.The infield (playing field) and the area surrounding the infield has a seating capacity of
approximately 35,000 people.A small overflow of people were crowded people in the parking lot of the Post Fiji Stadium.
To corroborate and verify the information, both CRS and ERWM contacted officials at the Fiji Sports Council, and inquired about: the seating capacity of the Fiji Post Stadium grandstand; the seating capacity of the infield (playing field) and the area surrounding the playing field; and the attendance figures for the third day of Benny Hinn's crusade.
Eventually, the information was verified, and it was determined that even if the established seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium grandstand, playing field, and the area surrounding the playing field were doubled, once the claim was closely examined under a factual microscope,
the "Total of 370,000" falls way short of what Pastor Suliasi Kurulo and Benny Hinn have claimed. A crash-course on 'Crowd Dynamics' Dr. Keith Still is an internationally renowned expert on crowd dynamics, and the founder and CEO of Crowd Dynamics, Ltd. His expertise includes advising at Wembley, the Sydney Olympics, and the Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.
"Large crowds are a normal part of the operation of many public venues such as railway stations, fairgrounds, leisure centres and sports stadiums. From a commercial point of view large numbers of customers may be desirable. But excessive crowding and poor crowd management can lead at worst to crushing, injury and even death and at the very least to such anxiety and stress that visitors decide not to come again or recommend a visit to others" ("Crowd Risk Assessment").
"Individuals within a crowd usually behave in a rational and goal-orientated manner. For example, someone whose aim is to watch an event or celebrity may climb onto a roof or to the top of scaffold poles to get a better view, despite the danger. Other spectators with a similar aim may follow, leading to more people on the roof and the possibility of collapse and injury. A risk assessment should pick up the likelihood of this happening and enable adequate measures to be taken before the event" (Ibid.).
While there is more to crowd dynamics than figuring crowd density, in simple laymen's terms, crowd dynamics
answers the question: How many people will fit safely into a room, an elevator, or a soccer stadium? At this point, it is important for the reader to refer to Steve Muse's commentaries, "It Just Doesn't Add Up" (Benny Hinn's Bangalore, India crusade), and "It Just Doesn't Add Up-Benny Hinn & Fiji").
From skepticism to confidence: looks can be deceiving After consulting with Dr. Keith Still on crowd dynamics, and studying Steve Muse's commentaries on crowd density during Benny Hinn's crusades in India and Fiji, there was an admitted skepticism. In other words, unless one is a trained expert in figuring and calculating the number of people in a crowd, such as a soccer stadium filled to capacity, then it would be very easy to over-estimate the numbers.
But after a careful review of the information, the skepticism turned to confidence, due to the fact that what we see with our eyes can be deceiving at times. Indeed, looks can be deceiving. This is why A picture is worth a thousand words.
A few important details In his February 3, 2005 Commentary, "It Just Doesn't Add Up" and his March 6, 2006 Commentary, "It Just Doesn't Add Up--Benny Hinn & Fiji," Steve Muse provides the reader with ground-breaking research into the figures versus the facts behind Benny Hinn's foreign crusades:
"After the Bangalore, India event last year, where the reported attendance of 7.3 million was grossly exaggerated to the point of being ridiculous (actual attendance figures are estimated at approximately 1.2 million for the three days), with his latest crusade at Post National Stadium in Suva, Fiji. Hinn has once again given us another example of an inaccurate reporting of the facts."See inaccurate facts - Wrong, Immoral, Wicked, Dishonest, Illegal, Sinful, Iniquitous, Criminal, Unethical, In the wrong, Amiss, Unsuitable, Sin, Crime, Injury, Wound, Harm, Damage, Insult, Injustice, Insult, Injure, Wound, Harm, Ill-treat, mistreat, maltreat, treat badly, be cruel to, neglect, Abuse, Sin against, Offend, erroneous, invalid, untrue incorrect, false, imprecise, inexact, mistaken, Continuing, Steve maintains that the "Post National Stadium has a seating capacity of only 30,000 with an infield that can safely hold up to another 30,000 which is a far cry from the 80,000 reported the first day, the 110,000 reported on day two, or the 180,000+ reported on day three. "If one adds 30,000 plus 30,000 it does not come close to 80,000, 110,000 or 180,000. If it was reported that the stadium was filled to capacity, I would not have given this another thought but when large numbers are indiscriminately thrown about, the red flags go off and I start to ask questions" (Ibid.).
Steve is correct. It is mathematically and physically impossible to cram 180,000 people into an area designed to contain at the most 60,000 people;
unless, that is, the people are standing on top of each other like circus acrobats. Besides, 180,000 attendees would rival some of the largest stadiums in the world, which were built specifically to contain over 100,000 people (for the record, "The greatest recorded crowd at any soccer match was 199,854, for the Brazil v. Uruguay World Cup final in the Maracanã Municipal Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 16, 1950" (Guinness World Records).
For a panoramic picture of the Maracanã Municipal Stadium, go to
http://tinyurl.com/gof2f. Big difference in the Maracanã and the Post Fiji National Stadium ( http://tinyurl.com/f4ukl ).
Not to beleaguer the point, but common sense dictates that a one gallon container will only hold one gallon. A 55 gallon drum will hold 55 gallons. Why? Because these specific containers are designed to contain a specified amount. The same applies to stadiums and their seating capacities.
To cram 180,000 people into an area that would only hold 60,000 at the most, is not only impossible, but extremely dangerous to the physical welfare of people in the crowd.
It goes without saying: there are a limited amount of people that can safely fit into a room, elevator, or a soccer stadium. Therefore, when the figures for Benny Hinn's Fiji crusade are compared with the facts, the figures do not add up.
Special thanks to Steve Muse of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries, Dr. Keith Still, Founder and CEO of Crowd Dynamics Limited, and the many unnamed sources in Fiji for their valuable assistance.
Letter to the President of Fiji concerning Benny HinnChristian Research Service Issues Challenge to the Officials and
People of the Fiji Islands
Christian Research Service Issues A Challenge
to the Officials and People of the Fiji Islands
Christian Research Service is just one discernment ministry among many here in the U.S. and overseas that has spent years conducting extensive research on Benny Hinn, and informing the body of Christ about Hinn's false teachings, false prophecies, false healings and lavish lifestyle. Since the early 1990's, Benny Hinn's ministry has been under constant criticism--specifically from cult evangelists, apologists, theologians, pastors and former members of his churches--specifically for what he has done, said and taught during his telecasts and crusades.
And there are plenty of books, videos, DVDs, articles, news releases, news media documentaries and Christian websites
that expose his deception. According to Hinn's website and regular reports streaming in from online news sources in Fiji, Hinn is scheduled to conduct his first healing crusade in Suva, Fiji in January 2006, where an estimated 300,000 may be in attendance.
But Hinn's visit to Fiji isn't without its own controversy. The clanging chains of questions and doubt are already rattling in a city with an estimated population of 167,000 people.
Please refer to the following articles from various news sources, including Fijian:
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25697.shtml ("Qarase Defends Protection for Evangelist," 12/21/05).
http://www.pacificislands.cc/pina/pinadefault2.php?urlpinaid=18898 ("FIJI: Methodists Won't Oppose Visit of US Televangelist," 12/14/05).
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=33558 ("Church wants Hinn banned," 12/13/05).
http://www.fijilive.com/news/show/news/2005/12/14/1407.html ("Crusade organizers undisturbed by opposition," 12/13/05).
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=33514 ("No disclosure on Benny Hinn," 12/12/05).
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=33443 ("Qarase backs man of God," 12/11/05).
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=33480 ("Passing the needle test," 12/11/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25434.shtml ("Stop New Denominations Coming to Fiji," 12/10/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25434.shtml ("Stop New Denominations Coming to Fiji," 12/10/05).
http://www.fijitimes.com/story.aspx?id=33353 ("Don't ban Hinn call," 12/9/05).
http://www.radionz.co.nz/news/bulletins/rnzi/200512091422/498dba8 ("Fiji minister says banned preacher free to sue government," 12/9/05. This article speaks mainly about the infamous Rev. Sun Myung Moon, but mentions Benny Hinn).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25418.shtml ("Church defends Benny Hinn's visit," 12/9/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25397.shtml ("Church Concerns Valid-Vosanibola," 12/8/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25390.shtml ("Church Concerned with Evangelist Visit," 12/8/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_25380.shtml ("Methodist Church Concerned with Benny Hinn Crusade," 12/8/05).
http://www.fijivillage.com/artman/publish/article_24680.shtml ("Govt to provide Security for Evangelist," 11/10/05).
http://www.abc.net.au/ra/news/stories/s1527916.htm ("Fiji criticised for granting Visa to American evangelist," 9/12/05).
'Put Benny Hinn to the Biblical test. If
he fails, put him back on the plane!' Every year the suffering and dying flock to Benny Hinn's healing crusades with a hope and a prayer that This will be their day for a healing. But they leave the same way they came in--suffering and dying. Precious, innocent children, whose bodies have been contorted, wilted, misshapened and tortured by Multiple Sclerosis and Spina Bifida, leave Hinn's crusades in wheelchairs. Furthermore, those confined to wheelchairs are always placed in the rear of the crusade building, away from the main audience, and away from Benny Hinn and the stage where he conducts his "miracles." It stands to reason, if Benny Hinn had the true Biblical gift of healing, he would go to the hospitals and emergency rooms here in America and around the world. But he doesn't, because God does not work miracles through Benny Hinn.
If the mere thought of this doesn't bring you to tears, then your heart has been hardened, possibly to the point of no return. Therefore, Christian Research Service issues the following challenge to the Fijian officials and people:
Put Benny Hinn to the Biblical test (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1). As a suggestion, once Hinn's plane lands in Fiji, Christian Research Service suggests that the Fijian officials immediately whisk him and his entourage away to the nearest hospital. If Hinn has the true, New Testament gift of healing, the bedridden and lame will walk; the diseased will be healed; the weak will be made strong; amputees will grow new limbs; children confined to wheelchairs with twisted bodies will be made whole; the suffering will find peace; the incurable will be miraculously cured; broken bodies will be mended; the blind will see; the deaf will hear; the dead will be raised to life.
But if he fails the Biblical test, put him back on the plane! Is this too much to ask of a man who claims to receive visions and divine revelations from God, and visitations from Jesus Christ? Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
Jude 3
December 22, 2005
Additional articles and websites for further research on Benny Hinn and the Word-Faith Movement:
-- Do You Believe in Miracles?
-- The Price of Healing
-- IRS investigating televangelist's operation, report says
-- Pastor Hinn in Nigerian money row
-- Benny Hinn's Move into Necromancy: Faith Healer Claims Contact with the Dead Foretells New Direction for His Ministry
-- Out of Control, Again! Benny Hinn screams, hisses and pushes followers during Canada Crusade
-- Benny Hinn's False Prophecies for the 1990's (word-for-word transcript)
http://www.erwm.com
http://www.letusreason.org
http://www.powertostand.org
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com
WORD-FAITH AUDIO CLIPS
Letters from CRS to the Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs
& Immigration Officials concerning Benny HinnTo the Reader: Normally, CRS waits 7 to 10 days for a reply before going public with a letter. The decision to make these e-mailed letters public came as a result of the news release, "Evangelist Granted Visa" printed in the Fijivillage.com Village News on January 13, 2006.
Both Mr. Josefa Vosanibola (Minister), and Dr. Lesi Korovavala (CEO) of the Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration were provided with the following letter(s).
Additional letters and information on Benny Hinn and Fiji may be reviewed athttp://www.christianresearchservice.com/BHinn7.htm.
Letters to the Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs &
Immigration Officials concerning Benny Hinn
January 11, 2006
Mr. Josefa Vosanibola, Minister
Home Affairs and Immigration
Suva Fiji
Dear Sir:
Please find below my December 19, 2005 letter to your President concerning Benny Hinn. I, and many others here in the U.S., pray you will take the time to read the letter and consider this information before allowing Benny Hinn into your country.
According to the December 7, 2005 "Statement on Dr Sun Myung Moon and 'Unification Church,'" your Ministry of Home Affairs and Immigration confirmed that Moon "has been prohibited" from entering Fiji, because his "doctrines are considered misleading, repugnant and divisive and would affect the peace, good order, public safety and public morality of the Fiji Islands" (refer to http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5931.shtml ).
We agree with the decision, and commend the Department of Immigration for their concern for the people of Fiji.
But as you read my letter to your President, you will find that Benny Hinn, like Sun Myung Moon, is a false prophet and false teacher and, does not have the true, Biblical gift of healing.
As Christians, we are deeply concerned for the spiritual welfare of the people of Fiji. We love you and your people enough to share the truth.
Sir, thank you for your consideration in this matter. Should you need additional information, please don't hesitate to contact me and my colleagues. We will be glad to assist you where possible.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
www.christianresearchservice.com
Jude 3
cc: Dr. Lesi Korovavala, CEO
Letter to the President of Fiji December 19, 2005
H.E. Ratu Josefa Iloilovatu Uluivuda, CF, MBE, JP,
President of the Republic of the Fiji Islands
Government House, Berkley Cresent
PO Box 2513, Government Buildings
Suva, Fiji
Dear Mr. President:
Greetings from America in the name of Jesus Christ.
As you know, Benny Hinn is scheduled to pay a visit to your country and conduct a "Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade" that may attract thousands of Fijians to Suva in January 2006.
As a Christian who has spent many years monitoring and researching Benny Hinn's teachings, prophecies and healing crusades, I am led by the Lord to report to you that Benny Hinn has been proven to be a false healer, false prophet, and false teacher by Christians both here in America and worldwide. There is ample information and documentation available to verify this.
For example, over the years Benny Hinn's "healing crusades" have attracted untold thousands of adults and children, many of whom suffer from a wide variety of afflictions and diseases such as AIDS, cancer, blindness, diabetes, and deafness. Others who attend Benny Hinn's crusades are confined to wheelchairs and suffer from Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Sclerosis. Sadly, it is these precious, innocent people who flock to Benny Hinn's crusades with the hope they will be healed,
but they leave the same way they came in--sick, dying and in wheelchairs. It is important to note that those confined to wheelchairs are always placed in the rear of the crusade building, away from the main audience, and away from Benny Hinn and the stage where he conducts his "miracles."
Benny Hinn does not have the true Biblical gift of healing. If he did there would be thousands, if not millions, of testimonies to back it up.
There is not one legitimate healing on record. Not one. There are, however, testimonies of people who believed they were healed during a Benny Hinn crusade, but they ended up dying a short time later. Again, if Benny Hinn had the true Biblical gift of healing, he would go to the hospitals and emergency rooms here in America and around the world. But he doesn't, because God does not work His miracles through Benny Hinn.
For years here in America, Benny Hinn has indulged in a lavish lifestyle, with multi-million dollar homes, expensive cars, airplanes, designer clothes and bodyguards. Much of his wealth is a result of massive appeals for financial donations over the internet, and passing around large buckets at his crusades for money and checks. By now, the annual income for Benny Hinn Ministries may exceed $100 million a year.
Only time will tell how many Fijian dollars Benny Hinn will collect from your people and add to his growing millions.
In the past, Benny Hinn has claimed to be a "god" and a "messiah," and has also claimed to have regular visitations from angels, dead people, and Jesus Christ. He has even placed curses on adults (and their children), for those who disagree with him and expose his false teachings publicly.
On December 31, 1989, Benny Hinn delivered a series of prophecies for the 1990's, and claimed they came from God, the Lord, and the Holy Spirit. While delivering these prophecies, he said that:
God would destroy the homosexual community with fire by 1994 or no later than 1995.
A destructive earthquake will hit the east coast of the United States in the 1990's.
Cuban Communist dictator, Fidel Castro, will die in the 1990's.
A world dictator, who is a perfect incarnation of Satan, will rule the world.
Jesus will be seen in the 1990's.
Obviously, not one of these prophecies came true. According to the Bible, Benny Hinn is a false prophet and should be avoided (Deuteronomy chapters 13 and 18; Matthew chapter 24).
Mr. President, Benny Hinn's teachings and healing crusades are dangerous to the spiritual and physical welfare of believers worldwide. We love you and the people of Fiji, and pray that you and your staff will strongly consider canceling the January 2006 Benny Hinn crusade.
Thank you, Sir. I appreciate your time and look forward to your reply.
Sincerely in Christ,
Bud Press, Director
Christian Research Service
Jude 3
PS: For further information on Benny Hinn, please visit the following websites:
http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Benny_Hinn.htm
http://www.trinityfi.org
http://www.letusreason.org/WFDir.htm
http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/bhinn.html
http://www.erwm.com/BennyHinn.htm
'Be careful' - Sandy Simpson'Be careful'
Christian Apologist Reaches Out to the People of Fiji;
Terms Benny Hinn A 'False Prophet, Heretical Teacher'
by Sandy SimpsonJanuary 3, 2006
My family have been missionaries in the Pacific islands for more than four decades.
We have seen many cults and false teachers come and go.
The people who wrote letters to this column defending the antics of Benny Hinn are misinformed. They obviously have little or no desire to look into the facts but rather choose to buy into the hype and lies put forth by Hinn and other false teachers in Fiji.
This invitation to Hinn is facilitated by a church coalition that is simply trying to further the "transformations" agenda to remake the world into the image of the false apostles and false prophets of the New Apostolic Reformation. Apparently the fact that Benny Hinn has been a long time false prophet and heretical teacher means nothing to these folks who simply want to achieve an end by any means.
For more information on Benny Hinn I highly advise the people of Fiji to visit this web page:http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/bhinn.html
Those who want to see Hinn's teach false doctrines and make false prophecies should get a video made by a three Christian apologists called "Spirit of Truth or Spirit of Error?" here:http://www.deceptioninthechurch.com/spiritoftruth.html
Sandy Simpson
Apologetics Coordination Team
Pearl City Hawaii
[This letter appeared in the Fiji Times Online, Letters to the Editor on January 3, 2006. Reprinted by permission from Sandy Simpson of Deception in the Church Ministries ]
Benny Hinn- Man of God or Moneymaker - Fiji Sun
Sect protests against Hinn - Fiji Times Online
Hinn tour still on - Fiji Times Online
Church wants Hinn banned - Fiji Times
Floored by Benny Hinn - Fiji Times
Sect protests against Hinn - Fiji Times
FIJI: Evangelist Benny Hinn Yet To Get Entry Visa - Pacific Magazine
Hinn visa under consideration - Fiji Times Online
Qarase Defends Protection for Evangelist - Fijivillage.com
Govt to facilitate evangelist's visit - Fijilive.com
Fiji Welcomes U.S. Evangelist, Shuns Moon - Pacific Islands Report
Church defends Benny Hinn's Visit - Fijivillage.com
Fiji Government To Assist Texas Evangelist - Pacific Islands Report
Stop New Denominations Coming to Fiji - Fijivillage.com
FIJI: Pastor throws support behind US Televangelist - pacific beat
Church Concerns Valid - Vosanibola - Fijivillage.com
We Say: Religious influence - Islands Business
Fiji criticised for granting visa to American evangelist - ABC Asia Pacific
Government to facilitate Pastor Benny Hinn visit - Fiji Government Online
Interview on Sun Myung Moon and Benny Hinn - Vic Eliason, VCY
Methodists Wary of Benny Hinn - Fiji Village
Benny Hinn's Music Director Hit by Stroke - Fijilive.com
Fiji Police Commissioner says Benny Hinn's Bodyguards 'Will Not' Be Allowed To Carry Firearms in Fiji - Fiji Times Online
Benny Hinn's Security Closes Fiji Airport - Fiji Sun
Healed by the Touch...Did the Crusade Really Heal this Man? - FijiTV-1
Pastors claim crusade 'hoodwinked' locals - Fiji Times Online
Disabled barred from Hinn stage; No welcome for blind, crippled - Fiji Sun
American Miracle Man Pulls Crowd - Samisoni Pareti, Islands Business
It Just Doesn't Add Up - Steve Muse
Benny Hinn's Defence: Focus on the Message and Not the Man - Fiji TV-1
Inlagt av Leif Berg
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