Historic India Healing Service

Reports continue to filter in from around the world concerning Pastor Benny Hinn and what is now being called the largest healing crusade of its kind in recorded history.

“If you came to receive your miracle from the Lord tonight,” Pastor Benny encouraged the multitude the first night, “you will receive it. Many of you are going to feel the touch of God tonight, like fire or electricity!” The huge crowd responded instantly, seeming to anticipate the rarity of the event.

According to local officials in attendance, 4.8 million people gathered during three massive services February 13-15 at the Bandra Kurla Complex in northwest Mumbai for the event billed as “Festival of Blessings.” People of all ages and backgrounds came not only from every part of India, but also from numerous other countries. Some came to hear the globally known evangelist, while others admittedly came out of curiosity to witness this historic gathering. Many reported a desire to receive answers to prayer and miracles.

Over 1.3 million attended the first night’s services to hear Pastor Hinn share the story of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. The crowds, eager to hear messages about the saving and miracle-working power of the Holy Spirit, increased to 1.5 million by the second night, and then swelled to two million by the third and final service.

Of particular surprise to news reporters and local observers were the vast array of noted officials, including Maharashtra Governor Mohammed Fazal and Congress MP Sunil Dutt. Among the throng were actors Dev Anand, Kiron Kher and Reena Roy, the legendary ghazal singer Jagjit Singh and his wife Chitra Singh, as well as popular television personality Shekhar Suman.

Immense by any description, the data pouring out of the Benny Hinn meeting boggles the mind. Ground of the colossal complex, all 1.2 million square meters (nearly 13 million square feet), was cleared for the services. Organizers brought in nearly 200,000 chairs, exhausting Mumbai rental suppliers and eventually dispatching urgent requests for more chairs to neighboring areas. Technicians erected 32 giant video screens throughout the grounds. Parking for 100,000 cars was provided. Bus services came from Bandra, Sion, Kurla and Santacruz railways stations. Police and personnel from three private security agencies, along with 15,000 volunteers, helped keep things running smoothly. Surprising to many observers, especially government authorities, is the miraculous truth that not a single police report was filed during any of the services, nor were any reports made of injuries sustained by the pressing crowd!

“Who can adequately describe what God has done here in India?” Pastor Benny Hinn reported after the final service ended. “I have been in many large gatherings through the past three decades, yet there is nothing that could have prepared me for those moments when two million people raised their hands to the skies and begin shouting praises to the Lord. God worked mightily among these precious people, pouring out miracles and healings out in such a massive way that I’ve never seen before. I believe we will only begin to understand what really happened in Mumbai when we get to heaven and have the capability there to grasp what truly transpired.”

Pastor Benny expressed his deep appreciation to the wonderfully kind people of India and its local officials for the care and concern they showed to him during his visit to their beautiful land. He also expressed his undying appreciation to his partners in the United States and around the world for helping make this crusade a possibility.

He said, “My precious partners have touched the world with their generosity and love for the Gospel. I cannot thank them enough for standing with me in ministry. Only heaven will reveal all that their prayers and gifts have done to build the Kingdom of God.”

1. Fritz Rienecker, A Linguistic Key to the Greek New Testament, translated, with additions and revisions, from the German Sprachlicher Schluessel Zum Griechischen Neuen Testament, edited by Cleon L. Rogers, JR. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1982) One volume edition, p. 217

© 2009 Benny Hinn Ministries. Excerpt from Welcome Holy Spirit by Benny Hinn. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the written consent of the publisher.