Posted on 01/21/2005 2:42:01 PM PST by samsonite
[India News]: Bangalore, Jan 21 : American evangelist Benny Hinn Friday evening began his much-awaited "Festival of Blessings" prayer meeting here, which saw a shutdown call and incidents of stone throwing by protesting Hindu activists earlier in the day.
About 8,000-10,000 policemen have been deployed in and around the sprawling venue to regulate crowds.
Organisers of the show, being held at the Jakkur airstrip on the outskirts of the city, said earlier that about 400,000 people had already gathered for the event from all parts of the country, especially south India. A few hundred also came from abroad.
Speaking to IANS on phone from the venue, they said, "People are still trooping in, awaiting the arrival of Hinn to conduct the mass prayer and deliver sermons. We are expecting 200,000 more people in the night."
The function started with a 2,400-voice choir singing hymns and prayers in several Indian languages apart from English. Giant screens and mega speakers have been installed all over the grounds for a closer view of the massive stage and to listen to Hinn's religious discourses.
Undeterred by the "Bangalore bandh" shutdown call given by the Hindu Jagaran Vedike with the support of the Sangh Parivar, including the Bharatiya Janata party, the organisers are going ahead with the three-day programme, armed with a high court order.
Earlier in the day, the city witnessed stray incidents of stone throwing at moving buses and processions by anti-Hinn activists, demanding a ban on the programme.
According to police, about 60 state-owned buses were damaged in some parts of the city during the day-long shutdown that led to closure of shops and commercial establishments.
Friday being an official holiday on account of Eid, schools, colleges and government offices remained closed, and there was less traffic on roads.
But roads leading to the venue, about 20 km from the city, were choc-a-bloc with hundreds of buses and other vehicles jamming the national highway.
"We have nabbed about 100 miscreants who were indulging in stone throwing and attempting to torch some buses. We have also rounded-up some leaders of the Vedike when they were trying to disrupt traffic and create disturbances," city police commissioner M. Marisamy told IANS.
On a TBN broadcast with Paul and Jan Crouch as a prelude to one of his shows in Nigeria, Benny Hinn stated that Jesus Christ would appear in bodily form at his show and that he believed they would have the first videotape of Jesus Christ. Did Jesus appear in bodily form? Do we have video evidence of his appearing at Hinn's show? No on both questions. Hinn is a false prophet.
Correction on location of the show in question. It was Nairobi, Kenya.
"Jesus can prevail even in the face of evil or deceit."
I agree. God can work wonders even through such as Adolf Hitler if it is in God's Plan.
But it does not change the fact that Hitler was evil or that Hinn is a charlatan.
If any good should come of Hinn's ministry it is truly the work of God because it was no work of Hinn's.
good point,, Jim Jones and David Koresh brought people to read the bible too,,,,,,,, the point to these ignorant Hinn followers and all the others like him is the bible warns us to steer clear of these false prophets no matter how many people show up at one of these phoney crusades,, the bible doesn't say it's ok to follow these fakes because they go to 3rd world countries with their show,, the bible says be aware and steer clear,,,,, by the way has anyone heard if Paul Crouch paid off his homosexual lover with more money yet?
Not only for you, missyme, but for all those who agree that it's okay for their pastor to expose himself to the criticism of unbelievers.
Schwarznegger and Mel Gibson are Christians but they aren't direct evangelists. There are different rules for Apostles, Disciples, Bishops, Presbyters, Deacons etc. Check it up in the Bible and let me know. Especially read the Pastoral Epistles on what a Church Leader is supposed to be like. Mel Gibson etc aren't Church leaders but Benny Hinn is supposed to be one. I guess that's why we need Jesus to cleanse the temple from time to time, we've grown so used to having these guys in the church we just don't know where to draw the line. Which was the apostle who carried the money bag all the time?
Don't call Bush a Christian without qualifying that term. People all over the world are reading this, not just Americans. Sorry to say people outside America have a different idea of what Christians are supposed to be like.
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