Spirit moves thousands

Benny Hinn, the controversial evangelist known for his worldwide revival meetings and his lavish spending, brought his personalized message of healing and salvation to the Meadowlands this week.

“We want souls healed by the millions. We want bodies healed. We want Satan’s purpose destroyed,” Hinn told the enraptured audience Thursday.

The spirited revival meeting drew 12,500 people to Continental Airlines Arena on the first day of the two-day event. Nearly 300 churches from seven East Coast states participated. The mood was jubilant and the “church” as Hinn repeatedly called the audience, sang, prayed, danced and called on God throughout the evening.

This is the second time in as many months that a major evangelist has come to the area. In June, the Rev. Billy Graham, 86, hosted a three-day crusade in Queens, which drew more than a quarter of a million people.

Hinn, 52, has a style more reminiscent of the fiery Graham of old. Through his daily television show, “This is Your Day,” and his worldwide crusades, Hinn reaches millions every year.

Known for his sharp attire – he wore a white suit that perfectly matched his head full of white hair. Hinn mesmerizes audiences with his impassioned delivery and his ability to make believers swoon to the floor with the touch of a hand.

He has been criticized for his lavish lifestyle, and the Internal Revenue Service recently opened an investigation into the accounting practices of his World Healing Center Church ministry in Grapevine, Texas, the Dallas Morning News reported. But that was not the focus of Thursday’s event.

“That guy is moving with power,” said Rene Silva, 44, of Queens. “And showing people that He (Jesus) is coming back for all the Christian people that believe in Him (Jesus). It’s a blessing.”

Hinn’s biggest draw, say followers, is his self-proclaimed ability to heal the sick and infirm with a just a touch of his hands and the power of Jesus’ name.

People with various disabilities and diseases including AIDS, cancer, blindness and broken limbs attended, and the disabled section, which accommodated people in wheelchairs, took up more than half the floor seating.

Brenda James and her husband, Virgil, traveled from Chaddsford, Pa., to see Hinn. Brenda suffers from sarcoidosis , a multi-system disorder that has caused her to lose the use of her legs 10 years ago.

“I’m here for the healing. I’m ready,” she said early in the program. “You’re going to see me walking tonight. I know so.”

Later in the evening a seemingly discouraged James was still struggling to get out of her wheelchair. An usher prayed with her and her husband and she stood with a walker for a moment, took a few steps, but then returned to her wheelchair and continued to pray.

Mary Evans drove three hours from Baltimore with daughter, Ashley, 10, who was diagnosed with spinal meningitis at the age of 1 month. She has limited physical and speech abilities.

“I’m not going to say I know she’s going to be able to walk after this, because I know it’s highly impossible,” said the hopeful mother. “But at least let her move a little bit better than she was in the beginning.”

When Hinn announced, two hours into the four-hour revival that, “He’s healed your soul, now he’ll heal your body,” the arena erupted in applause. A 750-member choir began to belt out songs, the band blared and the audience sang along.

“His name is so exalted, that sickness cannot say ‘no’ when the name of Jesus is mentioned,” Hinn said.

He put his palm to his mouth and blew toward the audience, turning to face each direction and repeated the phrase, “Receive the Holy Ghost.”

At that, people started trembling, crying and calling on the Lord as ushers assisted the infirm.

One young woman began to walk unsteadily without her crutches or assistance, as her mother looked on, her hand covering her mouth. Later, the girl would not say with certainty that her condition, which she wouldn’t reveal, had been healed, but she did say she would be back on Friday.

Dozens, perhaps hundreds, of others claiming to be cured of their ailments, lined the sides of the arena to receive Hinn’s touch. When they arrived on stage, Hinn would tap them on the forehead and the person would fall limp to the ground.

Hinn announced that this event would be his last “normal” two-day crusade.

From now on, he said, he will stay “as long as it takes for the work to get done.”

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