I can’t speak for Benny Hinn except to say that from a catholic perspective, a lot of his teachings raise serious concerns among theologians.
However, I can speak about his followers. Benny Hinn came to UK to perform. I received a phone call from an acquaintance I had met only once, and then only briefly. I was amazed she had my telephone number. As she would be travelling a long way to see Benny Hinn, could I provide a bed for the night. This I agreed.
Then I was asked if I could provide a bed for a male friend. Then three then four. In a spirit of Christian charity, I agreed although it would be difficult to accomodate four people in my home as I have only one spard bedroom.
I got enough food in to feed them. Then a week before, I received a call to ask what sleeping provision I had made. I was astonished to learn during the call that ‘the four’ had invited ten more WITHOUT ASKING ME! My hospitality was assumed. It was known by the one person I vaguely knew, that I was ill at the time. Finding accommodation for one was all that I could reasonably manage.
The reason they gave was that all the accommodation had been taken. Apart from sleeping rough, they had nowhere else to stay. I thought of the Holy Family when they went to Bethlehem and found no accommodation. I panicked, dashed out, spent money I could ill aford in an effort to feed fourteen people.
Then two days before they were due to arrive, I received a call to say that as they had not visited this part of the country before, they planned to worship Benny Hinn and stay over for a few days.
I was unable to sleep with the worry. I didn’t know any of these people. How was I going to accomodate 14-people [male and female] for a few days in a small two bedroom bungalow?
My suggestion that they made a contribution towards the cost of their food was met with derision: in their church ‘it is the duty of the host to make provision’!
Then I was given a list of places I was expected to take them. I told them I would be working. Only working sessional I have to take the work when it is there. Cannot afford to take time off to provide a free taxi service.
In the worry of it all, I prayed about it and felt the answer I was getting, was that I was being exploited. I rang and informed I was calling it off. I and my small home could not be used in this way. I felt terribly guilty doing this. They informed that I ‘need not worry, they would happily sleep rough’. It was hardly surprising seeings I was a Roman Catholic, they would have expected nothing less than me to pull the plug at the last moment’!
I later learned there was loads of accomodation available and it was much nearer, in the city where they would be attending the Benny Hinn concert.
I donated the perishable food I had bought to a poor family.The name Benny Hinn does not conjure up pleasant feelings for me. Neither does the name ‘Evangelical’. I will be very sceptical next time an Evangelical asks me for a favour.
