The Heresy Hunter

Today's Word to the Wise on Benny Hinn

From a newspaper in Trinidad:

The wife of the man who died soon after he was said to have been healed by American televangelist Benny Hinn seven years ago had this bit of advice for sick people who plan to attend Hinn's crusade this month: Visit a doctor instead.

"Don't believe in any man. Believe that Jesus can help you," Molly Chance said on Monday.

Chance's ailing husband, Marcano Siewkumar, went to Hinn's crusade at the Queen's Park Savannah, Port of Spain in 1999.

Struggling to walk, he was chosen as one of the people to be healed that night, and was lifted onto the stage.

Hinn is returning to Trinidad for a three-day crusade from May 19.

Siewkumar, who suffered with heart disease, kidney failure and hypertension, was told he was healed.

The Siewkumar miracle as it was called was broadcast on a Christian television cable channel by Hinn who said he had cast out more demons in Trinidad than anywhere else he had preached.

Chance said her husband was bitter until his death, which came 33 days after the healing.

At her home in Douglas Trace, Barrackpore, Chance recalled: "When he came home, he believed he was healed. He walked off that stage without help. He felt real good. But three days later, he said we should take him to hospital."

She added: "My husband said the man didn't heal him."

Siewkumar, a 61-year-old cane farmer, was taken to the San Fernando General Hospital, then Mt Hope, and died at the Port of Spain General Hospital.

His wife said: "He was Hindu. But he took Jesus when he started getting sick. But he should never have put his faith in Benny Hinn. If I get sick. I would not put my faith in Benny. I would put it in Jesus."

Chance said many people who listened to Hinn might be given false hope.

posted by Bob Hunter @ Wednesday, May 10, 2006