Surrounded by a thousand stampeding Ugandans I put both arms around Annie’s torso, pulled her close, placed both feet firmly on the ground in front of me, and proceeded to be pushed thirty feet through an iron gate encompassing the stadium. With room to breath, Annie and our friend Catherine ran to safety as Catherine’s husband Ben and I turned our attention back to the crowd. Just behind us a women lost her footing, causing people to fall to the ground like dominos. Those Ugandan’s outside the gate continued forcing their way in past the trembling armed guards- not stopping to help those they were trampling. Ben and I ran to pull fallen Ugandan’s back up to their feet, only to find them pinned to the ground by the pressure of the crowd. As the guards stepped in, we began waving our arms and yelling for the crowd to stop. Soon we were able to pull people off the ground. Many women were injured, children had blood covered faces, and one child was at best unconscious. Our intentions for coming to this Benny Hinn Crusade in Kampala was to see the authenticity, or lack of, but we found ourselves blessed to escape from a dangerous situation. God was taking care of us, and the night had just begun.

Dangerous Faith

Just inside the 20ft gates holding back the mobs we were presented with a new dilemma- “No camera’s allowed”. The police gave us two options: Take the camera back through the screaming crowd to your car, or give the camera to us- never to be returned. God presented the third option, and his name is Curt. Curt is the Event Coordinator for Benny Hinn’s ministry all over the world. While I was discussing with the officers our options, Ben walked over to this mountain size Texan, and asked him for help. Immediately, Curt escorted us backstage, and then into VIP seating. The Stadium seated 53,000 people, and we were seated on the third row-15 seats from Ugandan’s First Lady, President Museveni’s wife. The show began with worship lead by a 5,000 member choir. We found ourselves divided. The music was solid, but we were soon in shock by the statements Benny Hinn would mislead the audience with.

“Sickness is illegal in the Church and in your body.”
“No Believer should die sick.”
“Cancer and disease do not belong in the Church.”
Give money, but not to me- to Jesus. If you give money to Jesus tonight he will repay you. Don’t worry I know how to spend God’s money. (paraphrase)
“Believe in the Cross and Sickness will leave your body. Touch the place where you are sick- IT IS HEALED!”

Speaking to a third world country, Benny Hinn was telling the people what they wanted to hear. If they put their faith in Jesus they will be given money and healing from sickness. He used passages from the bible, but often took them out of context. 53,000 people that night accepted his words without question. Many accepted Christ for the first time, not because of a love relationship, but because of a big production and they were promised- healing and money. This night we learned first hand about how many of God's people are being misguided- All the more reason for us to keep grounded in truth and share it however we can.

(Copyright Sunday, May 20, 2007 at 10:34 PM )