Top international Pentecostal televangelists Pastor Benny Hinn and Pastor Kenneth Copeland have cancelled their miracle healing crusades in Uganda citing Ebola outbreak fears.
The Miracle Centre Cathedral led by Pastor Robert Kayanja was expected to host Hinn, Copeland and Pastor Paul Enenche this weekend for an event dubbed: “Global Conference on the Holy Spirit.”
In a statement issued by Pastor Hinn’s ministry, organizers said they consulted health experts and followed CDC guidance to postpone the event.
‘Due to the recent Ebola outbreak in regions of Africa, and after careful consultation with health experts, event leadership, and guidance from the CDC, the decision has been made to postpone the Holy Spirit Conference in Uganda, originally scheduled for June 27-29, in the interest of public safety and well-being,’ a statement on Pastor Benny Hinn’s website reads.
Pastor Benny Hinn is known for holding crusades worldwide and has claimed miracle healings, including resurrecting a dead man in Ghana. He was expected to appear with Pastor Kenneth Copeland, one of the world’s richest televangelists, and Dr Paul Enenche, Senior Pastor of Dunamis International Gospel Centre in Nigeria.
The Ebola virus Bundibugyo strain broke out in the Democratic Republic of Congo, killing a dozen people. Some patients travelled to Uganda for treatment. Uganda has confirmed 20 Ebola cases since the outbreak, with 15 imported from DRC, two deaths and 14 recoveries.
Hinn’s ministry said the gathering will be rescheduled: ‘While we are disappointed by this delay, we fully support this precautionary measure. We are encouraged to report that discussions are already underway to reschedule this historic gathering, with new dates presently being considered for late September or October.’
The US government has temporarily restricted entry of travellers recently in Uganda, DRC and South Sudan, requiring 21 days of health monitoring. Last month, Uganda’s Ministry of Health issued tough guidelines on gatherings in Kampala Metropolitan Area and other areas, warning that close physical interaction and uncontrolled crowd mixing ‘may facilitate transmission of Ebola infection where an infected person is present.’