On May 7, 2006, the letter to Prime Minister Manning was followed-up with "An Open Letter to the People of Trinidad & Tobago concerning Benny Hinn." This letter, as with similar letters written to people and government officials in other foreign countries, served to spark lively debate in the foreign news media, and inform, educate, and alert people to the deception behind Benny Hinn's teachings and his so-called "Holy Spirit Miracle Crusades" (the letters and additional information on Benny Hinn may be read at http://www.christianresearchservice.com/Benny_Hinn.htm).

Three months later, on August 9, 2006, NATIONNEWS.COM, the leading newspaper in Barbados, printed a Letter to the Editor written by William H. Cuke. The letter was titled, "Don't talk down to us, Mr Press."

Mr. Cuke's letter, which may be read at NATIONNEWS.COM in its entirety, accuses CRS's director, Bud Press, of using a "back-door approach" to the people of Trinidad & Tobago, and states that Press'  letter to the people of Trinidad & Tobago "is laced with arrogance, hypocrisy and misrepresentation of the Bible."

Nevertheless, CRS recognizes a person's freedom to disagree and express  his or her opinions. Indeed, if it can be proven that CRS has misrepresented and even misinterpreted the Bible, then an apology, repentance, and a retraction is in order. The same applies to William Cuke.

With that in mind, Mr. Cuke's letter centers around CRS's suggestion to the Trinidad & Tobago officials to put Benny Hinn to the Biblical test, by taking him to the "nearest hospital to visit the sick and dying," as well as CRS's usage of 1 Corinthians 12 (where the use of spiritual gifts are outlined). In particular, verse 9, which teaches, to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit...

In reference to Bud Press and his letter to the people of Trinidad & Tobago, Mr. Cuke states:

"Why should he expect Mr Hinn as he puts it: "as ordained in 1 Corinthians: 12, immediately go to the hospitals and emergency rooms in America . . . ."? when the Scriptures have ordained no one to do such!"  (emp. his)

Continuing, Mr. Cuke states that:

"As a matter of fact, The Bible does not command or even suggest such an arrogant approach to the healing ministry as Mr Press is demanding of the evangelist. Our great example concerning the healing ministry is no other than our Lord Jesus Himself. Throughout the Gospels it is reported that He healed all who came to Him" (emp. his).

Apparently, Mr. Cuke has not read chapter 11 of Benny Hinn's book, Welcome, Holy Spirit (1997 edition) where, beginning on page 230, Hinn writes,

"In the mid-1970's I attended a Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship International Convention in Miami. In one of the services, Demos Shakarian, the founder of the organization, gave a prophecy I could not erase from my mind. He declared on God's authority: 'The day will come when believers will have such an anointing on their life that they will walk through hospitals, laying hands on the sick, and the sick will be healed.'

"I wondered, 'Would I ever see such a manifestation? Would God raise masses of people from their beds of affliction?'"

According to Hinn, Demos Shakarian's prophecy and Hinn's questions were answered in 1976. On page 231 of Welcome, Holy Spirit, Hinn writes that he accepted an invitation from Pastor Fred Spring to conduct a series of meetings in his Pentecostal church in Sault Sainte Marie, Ontario, Canada. It was here that Hinn also accepted another invitation to visit a hospital:

"During the crusade I received a special invitation from the Reverend Mother of a Catholic hospital in the area. She wanted me to conduct a service for the patients-along with three other Pentecostal preachers and seven Catholic priests."

Hinn agreed, and describes the condition of the patients in the hospital:

"There were patients present with varying types of ailments. Some were in wheelchairs. Others had been rolled right into the chapel on their beds-with intravenous feeding tubes in their arms. Some patients were too ill to be moved to the chapel. Doctors and nurses were looking on from the balcony. Many could not attend because of the limited space."

On pages 232-234 of Welcome, Holy Spirit, Hinn writes that "Patients began to receive instant healing" as the "Spirit of the Lord descended mightily." Then, after the service in the chapel, Hinn writes that the Reverend Mother asked, "Would you mind coming now and laying hands on all the patients in the rooms who could not come to the service?"

According to the book, Hinn agreed, and was joined with "More than fifty doctors, nurses, Pentecostal preachers, priests and nuns" as his "Miracle Invasion team" headed for the hospital rooms (p. 234).

Hinn writes, "As we walked down the halls of the hospital that day you could feel God's Spirit all over the building" (p. 234). "Within a few minutes the hospital looked almost like it had been hit by an earthquake. People were under the power of the Holy Spirit up and down the hallways as well as in the rooms."

Therefore, in his own words, Benny Hinn admits to visiting a hospital, and going room-to-room to visit the sick and dying. This is one reason why Bud Press suggested that the government officials of Trinidad & Tobago put Benny Hinn to the Biblical test (1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 John 4:1), and take him to the hospitals and emergency rooms. Then, if Hinn fails the test, put him back on the plane.¹ 

Laws are different in foreign countries. For example, according to this December 6, 2005 Pacific Islands Report, "The Fiji Council of Churches called on the Government to investigate the purpose of controversial South Korean Reverend Sun Myung Moon's trip to Fiji before approving a visa."

According to the article, the investigation resulted in the Fiji Ministry of Home Affairs denying entry to the self-proclaimed messiah, Sun Myung Moon, and his entourage. 

To ban Sun Myung Moon from landing in Fiji was a controversial move on the part of Fijian government officials. But they did it. By doing so, they not only set a precedent, they demonstrated their desire to prevent a false messiah from entering their country.

They banned Sun Myung Moon, but welcomed Benny "I am a messiah" Hinn. Hmmm...    

Now that it has been proven that Benny Hinn claims to have visited the sick and dying in a hospital, a question that comes to mind is: What does Benny Hinn have to say about the gift of healing, divine health, and the spiritual gifts? The answer is found on his website and the Trinidad & Tobago news media:

To reiterate, Mr. Cuke states: "Why should he [Bud Press] expect Mr Hinn as he puts it: "as ordained in 1 Corinthians: 12, immediately go to the hospitals and emergency rooms in America . . . ."? when the Scriptures have ordained no one to do such!" and that, "As a matter of fact, The Bible does not command or even suggest such an arrogant approach to the healing ministry as Mr Press is demanding of the evangelist. Our great example concerning the healing ministry is no other than our Lord Jesus Himself. Throughout the Gospels it is reported that He healed all who came to Him" (emp. his).

Obviously, there were no hospitals and emergency rooms 2,000 years ago in Jesus' day. But there were multitudes of sick and dying people, of whom were graciously healed by the miraculous power of God.

Note that in verse 7, Jesus said, I will come and heal him.

In Matthew 9:35, the Bible teaches that Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.

Note the words, Jesus went about all the cities and villages...healing every sickness and every disease among the people.  

Mark 5:21-24 records: When Jesus had crossed over again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around Him; and so He stayed by the seashore. One of the synagogue officials named Jairus came up, and on seeing Him, fell at His feet and implored Him earnestly, saying, My little daughter is at the point of death; please come and lay Your hands on her, so that she will get well and live. And He went off with him; and a large crowd was following Him and pressing in on Him.

Note the words, And He [Jesus] went off with him... 

Note that when Jarius informed Jesus that his daughter was dying, he fell at Jesus' feet and begged Him to go to her and heal her. Jesus agreed, and in Mark 5:35-43 we find that Jarius' daughter had died, but was raised-up by Jesus: While He was still speaking, they came from the house of the synagogue official, saying, Your daughter has died; why trouble the Teacher anymore? But Jesus, overhearing what was being spoken, said to the synagogue official, Do not be afraid any longer, only believe. And He allowed no one to accompany Him, except Peter and James and John the brother of James. They came to the house of the synagogue official; and He saw a commotion, and people loudly weeping and wailing. And entering in, He said to them, Why make a commotion and weep? The child has not died, but is asleep. They began laughing at Him. But putting them all out, He took along

the child's father and mother and His own companions, and entered the room where the child was. Taking the child by the hand, He said to her, Talitha kum! (which translated means, Little girl, I say to you, get up!). Immediately the girl got up and began to walk, for she was twelve years old. And immediately they were completely astounded. And He gave them strict orders that no one should know about this, and He said that something should be given her to eat.

Note that Jesus, Peter, James, and John came to the house of the synagogue official and, along with the daughter's parents, entered the room where the child was. 

Luke 10:1-9 tells us that Jesus appointed seventy individuals, and sent them ahead into cities and places where Jesus would soon follow. Part of Jesus' instructions to the seventy were to "heal" those who were sick (verse 9).