Today, as I was moving around Nairobi Town, I saw several billboards containing this advert about Benny Hinn’s Crusade. The crusade, dubbed Healing the Nation, is set to happen on 24th and 25th February this year at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.
The crusade, set in late February, is expected to draw thousands to fill Nyayo Stadium. The registration website says, ‘Step into a realm of spiritual awakening and divine encounters. You are invited to a remarkable worship gathering featuring the globally acclaimed evangelist Pastor Benny Hinn, who will deliver the Gospel of Jesus in Nairobi, Kenya. This isn’t just an event; it’s your invitation to partake in a transformative experience where worship, the good news, and miracles interweave under the guidance of the Holy Spirit,’ says internationally-known evangelist and best-selling author Benny Hinn.
Now, before you go, I need you to consider the billboard above and note three things in this poster: the man, Benny Hinn; the theme of the crusade, and the crusade itself.
Benny Hinn
The preacher of the crusade, Benny Hinn, is a prominent preacher and televangelist who pastors a megachurch based in Colorado Springs, USA. He is known for the Word of Faith (which teaches that God wants everyone to be rich and healthy). He is one of the most prosperous preachers in the world.
Benny Hinn is extremely wealthy and has a huge following both at home and abroad. He is said to have reached a billion people with his gospel. Benny Hinn’s YouTube channel has over 700K subscribers, while his X (formerly Twitter) account has almost 800K followers, and his Facebook account has over 4 million followers. He is a popular preacher, and there is no doubt that many Kenyans will flock to Benny Hinn’s crusade happening this year.
The Government-sponsored Crusade?
The crusade is said to be government-sponsored, fully paid for by the Kenyan Government. This is according to The Star, first published here. It is said that Kenya’s First Lady, Mama Rachel Ruto, traveled to the USA and invited Benny Hinn to come to Kenya.
During one of his preachings, Pastor Benny Hinn said that it was a great surprise coming from a First Lady.
“Something amazing happened. The First Lady of Kenya flew from Nairobi with her team, just for one reason: to ask me to come back to Nairobi for a nationwide government-sponsored crusade,” Hinn said.
The 2-Day crusade is expected to attract many pastors, the general public, and top government officials. The current government executives are professing Christians and zealous. Kenya has witnessed the church and state being on good terms, with Rachel Ruto calling on Kenyans to pray for nations, organizing mandatory fasting on Wednesdays at the State House, and a prayer meeting every month in the State House. There have even been rumors that the government was to employ 100 intercessors to pray for the nation. Dorcas Rigathi, the wife of the Deputy President, is also a pastor. So, Benny Hinn’s crusade is not just like any other crusade out there.
Benny Hinn’s Nairobi Crusade: Healing the Nation
The crusade is coming at a time when many Kenyans are grappling with hard economic times. There is high taxation imposed by the current regime, particularly the housing levy. The Kenyan Government is also facing a huge public debt approaching the ceiling. Many people are going through difficult moments right now, and then consider the theme of the crusade: healing the nation.
Many Kenyans will seek healing, be it from broken families, sicknesses, or poverty. Who wouldn’t want to be healed anyway? Who would not want more money in this tough economic time? It is going to sell this time.
The prosperity gospel is going to be propagated, miracles are going to be staged, with lots of lies, and the placebo effect is going to affect many. Placebo effect is a psychological effect that if you have an expectation in your mind about something, your body may even act to that to appear as if it is a reality. For example, when someone goes to a faith healer expecting some miracle, e.g., if such a person is crippled, that person may jump out of the wheelchair and appear as if they are completely healed but soon they would go back to the wheelchair. Benny Hinn once said he was shocked at how some people would stand out of their wheelchair, walk around, and later would go back to the wheelchair after some time. This is because they had not been healed. They were under the placebo effect.
Benny Hinn’s False Teachings
Benny Hinn is known for teaching that when you sow a seed (send money to his ministry), God is going to bless you abundantly both in health and wealth. His nephew, Costi W. Hinn, came out and repented after having worked in Benny Hinn’s ministry for years. All miracles were always faked and staged. Benny would ask people to give money to his ministry.
In 2019, Benny Hinn came out of the closet and said publicly that it was wrong to give money to the ministry so that God would bless you. He said, “I’m sorry to say that prosperity has gone a little crazy and I’m correcting my own theology and you need to all know it. Because when I read the Bible now, I don’t see the Bible in the same eyes I saw 20 years ago.”
The 71-year old preacher added, “I think it’s an offense to the Lord, it’s an offense to say give $1,000. I think it’s an offense to the Holy Spirit to place a price on the Gospel. I’m done with it. I will never again ask you to give $1,000 or whatever amount, because I think the Holy Ghost is just fed up with it.”
But a few months after that, Mr. Benny returned to asking for money from his followers. Why? Because he was not converted.
Should Kenyans Attend Benny Hinn’s Crusade?
Since Benny Hinn is a false teacher who does not preach the biblical gospel, Kenyans should not attend his crusade. The truth is, if you attend that crusade, you will not hear the gospel. Even those who are seeking healing will not be healed. Your problems will remain. But his bank account will have more.
Are you saved or are you deceived? Click here to read the gospel.”