Press Release from the Benny Hinn Ministry website:
Nigeria, which is Africa's most populous country, is composed of more than 250 ethnic groups. Located in West Africa, with a geographical area slightly more than twice the size of California, this country teems with 134-million people (four times California’s population). The oil-rich Nigerian economy is undergoing substantial positive reform under the new civilian administration.
Recently, Nigeria’s President Olusegun Obasanjo sent two official representatives to meet with Pastor Benny Hinn with an invitation to hold a massive service in their country. The officials delivered the request during a Miracle Crusade in Atlanta.
"Greetings in the precious name of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. This is to especially invite you on behalf of Mr. President to be his special guest at the State House for prayer sessions and morning devotions…"One of the representatives quoted 2 Chronicles 7:14:
"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."God is already doing a mighty work in Nigeria. Many of the country’s leaders are followers of Jesus Christ. They believe God has called Benny Hinn to minister in Nigeria to bring the message of salvation and miracles to help heal that precious country. A presidential invitation of this magnitude, however, has never been issued before.
"Now you must come to Nigeria and pray a healing, anointing prayer over the entire constituency of Nigeria."The representatives of the country’s top elected official then mentioned that more than 30 million people throughout Nigeria watch
This Is Your Day! every day. They also told how the nation’s newspapers were already trumpeting the crusade, even before Pastor Benny agreed.
Unknown to the representatives, exactly at 6 PM of that very day as they arrived in Georgia to deliver the invitation, Pastor Benny was preparing for the Atlanta service and the Holy Spirit said, “Go to Nigeria!”
With the official presidential invitation accepted, plans are now underway to hold a massive service in Lagos April 29-30, 2005. In a land once ravaged by civil unrest, and in a country where six percent, nearly 3.5 million people, have AIDS or HIV, with as many as 200,000 current HIV/AIDS victims throughout Nigeria expected to die each year, people throughout the nation seek the solutions that can only be provided by the Savior who died on the cross to give an abundant life and an eternal home.
More and more people throughout Nigeria are accepting the Father’s offer, “If my people….” God can heal this land!
Thanks to Benny Hinn Ministries partners, April 2005 promises to be a watershed service that can begin to change the history of an entire country and continent. The harvest of souls throughout this crucial part of the globe will be immense and eternal!
Press Release from the Office of the Public Communications follows
President Olusegun Obasanjo on Sunday 1 May recounted God’s benevolence to the country.
He was speaking at a prayer, healing and evangelical session that took place at the Redemption Camp in Lagos under the auspices of the Benny Hinn Evangelical Ministry.
In his prayer of repentance and dedication, Obasanjo reassured Nigerians that the country will surely take its rightful place in the comity of nations and be greatly blessed.
He also dedicated Nigeria and all Nigerians to God, thanking the Almighty for his continued goodness to the country.
In his words: “We turn to you Jehovah, that you will cleanse us from all our unrighteousness. Please turn to us in your mercy and heal our land Lord. Thank you for removing our sins. Right now we present Nigeria to you afresh. Take your rightful place in this nation, rule over our lives and reign over Nigeria. Let peace and prosperity permeate Nigeria.”
The crusade attracted a large number of political leaders, state governors, ex-military leaders, church leaders, Christians and non-Christians from all over the country.
Sources:
http://www.bennyhinn.org/resources/intlnigeria.cfmhttp://www.nigeriafirst.org/article_3917.shtmlDid you attend? Can you share your experience?