HOLY ANGER: American Evangelist, Benny Hinn Leaves Nigeria In Annoyance

Ghana Home Page/May 13, 2005

American evangelist, Benny Hinn left Nigeria in annoyance, saying $4million went down the drain in 3-day crusade. When the charismatic American evangelist, Dr. Benny Hinn arrived in Nigeria on April 28, he was looking forward to a quintessential crusade that would be attended by about six million people.

His expectations were high because he had already sunk $4million dollars (about N600million) into the 3-day crusade that is now being trailed by controversy. Dr. Hinn could not hide his disappointment on the third day of the crusade when he said with regret that the money he pumped into the project could have been put to better use.

“Four million dollars down the drain!” he reportedly shouted during the crusade, with his voice cracking with emotion. Giving a breakdown of the money spent after the crusade, Jon Wilson, vice president of the Benny Hinn Ministries said $3million was spent on hotel accommodation, transportation, technical infrastructure and other items, while the remaining money running into about N140million was used up by members of the local organizing committee.

Hypes and great expectations had heralded the coming of the world renowned healing evangelist to Africa’s most populous nation, but the organisers were reportedly scored very low by Hinn, who insinuated money business and told organisers that they got many things wrong. More was his anger when he learnt that the organisers collected N1,000 each from pastors who turned out to attend the Ministers Conference, which was part of the three-day programme.

This and many other discoveries allegedly led the preacher to pronounce publicly that no further fund will be provided by his organisation after the programme, to settle outstanding bills. He asked that the offering collected on two of the three days be used for that purpose.