SPECIAL REPORT

SPECIAL REPORT

Benny Hinn's 2006 Fiji Crusade

The Figures versus The Facts

May 11, 2006

The naive believes everything, But the sensible man considers his steps

(Proverbs 14:15)

Benny Hinn held his first "Miracle Crusade" in Fiji at the Post Fiji Stadium in Suva on January 20-22, 2006. Months before his arrival, and in full support of the crusade, the Fiji government's own website announced an estimated "300,000" in attendance. When the crusade ended, the attendance numbers skyrocketed to a "Total of 370,000" for the three-day event, according to Hinn's website, that is.

Putting on a crusade of any size--whether for 1,000 or 370,000 people--takes planning, preparation, and careful attention to details. But there are a few important details that apparently went unnoticed by the Fijian government, Benny Hinn, and others involved with the crusade.

More on that later.

Back to basics: What is a stadium?

According to Dictionary.com, a stadium is "A large, usually open structure for sports events with tiered seating for spectators."

Stadiums date back thousands of years to the old Greek theatres and Roman coliseums, where thousands of people gathered for various activities and events.

Speaking of stadiums, "World Stadiums is a database-related commercial website about stadiums," whose goal is to "provide the most comprehensive online stadium resource with major stadiums containing pictures and info" (refer to www.worldstadiums.com ).

According to the World Stadiums website, there are 17 stadiums in Fiji, that range in seating capacity from 1,000 to 30,000. The seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium, where Benny Hinn's three-day crusade was held, has a seating capacity of only "30,000" (also refer to these pictures for the "Celebrations at the Post Fiji Stadium"). The stadium capacity includes the playing field and surrounding area.

Crusade figures: attendance estimates from the Fiji government

The following statements are from the Fiji Government Online Portal at

http://www.fiji.gov.fj:

1. "In taking this decision, Cabinet noted that the Crusade will attract a large number of people from overseas, with the total number estimated to be around 300,000 people from around Fiji and the region" ("Government to facilitate Pastor Benny Hinn visit," Fiji Government Online Portal, October 11, 2005, http://tinyurl.com/fek9m, emp. added).

2. "More than 300,000 people are expected to attend the Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in January, says chairman of the organizing committee at the World Harvest Centre, Reverend Suliasi Kurulo. Mr Kurulo said they had already begun to train volunteers for the crusade. The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade will be held at the Post Fiji Stadium from January 20 to 22" (Fiji Government Online Portal, News Briefs, October 15, 2005, http://www.fiji.gov.fj/publish/page_5592.shtml, emp. added).

3. "The Benny Hinn Crusades organizing committee has prepared extra facilities, to cater for the expected number of spectators that will turn out on the three nights of the Miracle Crusade that will be held at the Post Fiji Stadium beginning on Friday. Public relation coordinator Manasa Kolivuso said the committee was well ahead of the preparation and the stage was set for the event. Over 300,000 locals would be expected to turn up to the crusade on al the three nights" (Fiji Government Online Portal, News Briefs, January 19, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/kjm2h, emp. added).

Crusade figures: attendance estimates from Pastor Suliasi Kurulo

Suliasi Kurulo is the Senior Pastor of the World Harvest Centre church in Suva, Fiji, President of the Christian Mission Fellowship, Chairman of the Assembly of Christian Churches, and the Chairman of the organizing committee for the January 2006 Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade.

Apparently, Pastor Kurulo was instrumental in bringing another controversial faith healer, Reinhard Bonnke to Suva, Fiji in 2003, where a reported total of 254,000 people attended the three-day event (which is about 85,000 per day).

Refer to the following articles and pictures on Reinhard Bonnke's website, and pay close attention to the pictures of the crowd in the Post Fiji Stadium (which is another story for another time):

-- God's Fire in Fiji

-- Suva, Fiji: Day 1

-- Suva, Fiji: Day 2

-- Suva, Fiji: Day 3

The following is a word-for-word transcript from the first 2 minutes/40 seconds of Benny Hinn's "This Is Your Day Archive Show" (Miracle Crusade in Suva, Fiji, day 3, dated Friday, February 24, 2006). Pay close attention to Suliasi Kurulo's words in the following transcript.

Benny Hinn: God bless the people here in Fiji! This is; God bless you! This is an exciting moment for God's work and God's kingdom here in Fiji, and Pastor Suliasi is here with me. I want you to see this. How many of you watch This Is Your Day here in Fiji? Wave at me. Look at all the hands. Look at all the hands all over this place; back behind us; in front of us.

His Excellency, the President, is here; his wife. The Prime Minister, even the Prime Minister watches, and his dear wife. Yeah, give the Lord a mighty hand! That's wonderful!

Now, dear pastor, you were telling me as we're sitting, uh, on the platform, how many people were here the first night, last night, and what's the estimation for today here?

Suliasi Kurulo: On the first night we have, about, uh, eighty thousand [80,000] people that was here...

Benny Hinn [interrupts]: That were here on the first night.

Suliasi Kurulo: That was here on the first night, and, uh, last night there were, uh, hundred and ten thousand [110,000], hundred and ten thousand people that were here last night. So, our estimation today is about, right now on the grounds, about hundred and eighty thousand [180,000] that are here right now. But people are still coming.

Benny Hinn: That is amazing. Eighty thousand the first night; a hundred and ten the second night and, already today you are estimating it's at a hundred and eighty thousand. That's amazing.

Suliasi Kurulo: And, and, we are not, this is not assumptions. We are doing the head-count, because we...

Benny Hinn [interrupts]: You've got people counting?

Suliasi Kurulo: We've got people counting from every entry point.

[End of transcript]

Pastor Suliasi Kurolo's words prompted the following letter from Christian Research Service:

March 17, 2006

Pastor Suliasi Kurulo, President

Christian Mission Fellowship

World Harvest Center

Suva, Fiji Islands

Dear Pastor Kurulo:

I was led to write and ask you a few important questions concerning the attendance estimates during the January 2006 Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade in Suva, Fiji.

We have carefully reviewed videos, pictures of the crusade, and pictures of the Post Fiji Stadium. We have communicated with individuals from the Fiji Sports Council, and with people who attended the crusade. Also, we have researched the seating capacity of the Post Fiji Stadium (which includes the stadium grandstand, the infield, and the immediate area surrounding the infield).

We have also consulted with an expert in crowd dynamics (crowd density), which is the mathematical science of determining how much space people occupy, and how many people will safely fit into a specific area.

During the last day of the crusade, as you stood on-stage next to Benny Hinn, you said that about 80,000 people attended the first night, 110,000 attended the second night, and that an estimate of about 180,000 attended the last night. Altogether, your estimates total to 370,000 for the three-day event, which Benny Hinn also maintains.

You also said that the estimates were not assumptions, and that there were people at the crusade who were doing a head-count of those in attendance.

This leads to my first question: Are you aware that the World Stadiums website rates the seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium at only 30,000 people? (Click HERE for verification)

The Post Fiji Stadium grandstand has a seating capacity of about 5,000. The infield, and the immediate area surrounding the infield, has a capacity of about 30,000. These capacities fall short of your estimates of 80,000 for the first day, 110,000 for the second day, and 180,000 for the third day.

Here are some examples of stadiums with seating capacities of 150,000 and over:

Velky Strahovsky Stadium (seating capacity: 220,000)

Maracana Stadium (seating capacity: 200,000+)

Maracana Stadium (panoramic picture; seating capacity: 220,000+, including the infield)

Rungnado May Day Stadium (seating capacity: 150,000. Notice the crowded granstand and infield)

Compare the above stadiums with the Post Fiji Stadium (seating capacity: 30,000). In fact, the entire Post Fiji Stadium will fit inside the above stadiums with room to spare.

Almost two months have passed since the crusade. My second question is: Do you still maintain that 370,000 people attended the crusade during the three-day event?

Thank you, Pastor Kurulo. This is an important issue, and we look forward to your timely reply.

Sincerely in Christ,

Bud Press, Director

Christian Research Service

www.christianresearchservice.com

Jude 3

[END]

As of this writing, there has been no reply.

Crusade figures from Benny Hinn and his website

"I have just returned from Fiji where 370,000 souls heard the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus! Nearly half of the nation’s population were present, including the acting president and his wife, as well as the prime minister and his wife, plus many more members of Fiji’s government" ("From the heart of Pastor Benny," http://tinyurl.com/p2z2l, emp. added).

"On Saturday night there were about thirty thousand people at the Post Fiji Stadium. A person who claimed to be suffering from an incurable disease had gone up on stage" ( see "The Miracles Continue," emp. added).

"Haven’t the This Is Your Day! programs from the Fiji crusade been powerful? I wish you could have been with me as 370,000 souls heard the Gospel of our wonderful Lord Jesus!" (Benny Hinn Ministries e-mail newsletter, February 24, 2006, on file, emp. added).

In addition, Benny Hinn's own website places the total numbers in attendance to "370,000," and states that during the second night of the crusade, "Pastor Benny prayed with the man and his wife as they knelt together before the 110,000 there for the second night’s service" (refer to "Historic Fiji Islands Crusade Attended by a Total of 370,000!" http://tinyurl.com/pec4p, emp. added).

Hinn's website also states that during the third and final day of the crusade, "A 12-year-old girl came forward. Though she was born deaf, in an instant she could hear in both ears. She also began speaking, repeating phrases Pastor Benny said. He turned to the 180,000 in attendance, 'If I came to Fiji just to see this girl hear, it was worth it!'" (Ibid., emp. added)

Again, the Fiji government estimated 300,000 would attend the crusade. Pastor Suliasi Kurulo (with Benny Hinn at his side), estimated 80,000 for the first day; 110,000 for the second day, and 180,000 for the third day.

Apparently, the Fijian government officials who attended Hinn's crusade said nothing to disagree with the estimates.

Crusade figures: according to the news media

--- "More than 26,000 people were at the Post Fiji Stadium on Friday. According to the Fiji Sports Council, the facility can accommodate 26,000 people at one time" ("Qarase, 26,000 Welcome Televangelist to Fiji," Pacific Islands Report, January 22, 2006, emp. added).

--- "Thousands of people flocked to Fiji’s National Stadium on Friday 20th through to Sunday 22nd January for the visit of Pastor Benny Hinn. Each night the Stadium’s capacity of 26,000 people was reached. On Friday evening, Prime Minister Laisenia Qarase welcomed Pastor Hinn to Fiji" ("Benny Hinn in Suva Crusade," Equippers-News & Photos, emp. added).

--- "About 180,000 people attended Benny Hinn's final miracle crusade at the Post Fiji Stadium yesterday afternoon. The historic gathering has prompted the self-styled miracle healer to return in June" ("Record crowd at Hinn's miracle crusade," Fiji Sun, January 23, 2006, emp. added).

--- "SUVA, Fiji (Fiji Times, Jan. 25) – More than FJ$100,000 [US$58,600] was collected from the estimated 370,000 crowd which converged at the three-day Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade at the National Stadium in Fiji during the weekend" ("Hinn Collects $58,000 In Fiji Crusade," Pacific Islands Report, January 25, 2006, brackets theirs, emp. added).

--- "In January 2006, Pastor Benny arrived with ministry team members to Fiji. Sunny and unique, the Fiji Islands are one thousand miles of pristine white sand beaches, coral gardens and lagoons. This was the first-ever crusade held on the South Pacific island. Though extremely hot and humid nothing kept the 370,000 people from attending" ("Benny Hinn: The Miracle Crusader," CBN/The 700 Club).

--- "Upon being prayed upon by Hinn that Saturday evening in front of the 26,000 or so faithfuls, the woman tearfully testified that she had been cured" (Samisoni Pareti, Politics: AMERICAN MIRACLE MAN PULLS CROWD: But not without controversies," ISLANDS BUSINESS, February 3, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/ndzhy, emp. added).

--- "The Benny Hinn Miracle Crusade lasted three days and drew an estimated 180,000 people on the final day, an impressive feat in a nation where the population hovers just under 1 million" (Anoosh Jorjorian, "Exporting Evangelism," February 7, 2006, http://tinyurl.com/e7prf, emp. added).

Christian Research Service contacted Anoosh Jorjorian, and asked how the estimate of 180,000 for the final day was determined. Jorjorian replied and said the attendance numbers from Benny Hinn's crusade in Suva, Fiji were taken from the Fiji Times and the Fiji Sun.

The facts: attendance estimates from eyewitnesses

In a joint research project, Christian Research Service spent two months working with the Director of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries, Steve Muse, to determine the facts on how many people actually attended Benny Hinn's January 2006 crusade in Suva, Fiji.

The research involved countless hours of evaluating city-wide and satellite maps of Fiji, viewing pictures of the Post Fiji Stadium, watching videos, reading news articles, corresponding with an expert in Crowd Dynamics (crowd density), communicating with individuals who attended the crusade, and speaking to unnamed sources in Fiji over the phone.

As the information unfolded, glaring contradictions in the crowd estimates began to surface. For instance, one of the unnamed sources contacted officials at the Post Fiji Stadium, asked specific questions, then relayed the following information to Eastern Regional Watch and Christian Research Service:

The seating capacity of the the Post Fiji Stadium grandstand is 4,963 seats.
The infield (playing field) and the area surrounding the infield has a seating capacity of approximately 35,000 people.
A small overflow of people were crowded people in the parking lot of the Post Fiji Stadium.

To corroborate and verify the information, both CRS and ERWM contacted officials at the Fiji Sports Council, and inquired about: the seating capacity of the Fiji Post Stadium grandstand; the seating capacity of the infield (playing field) and the area surrounding the playing field; and the attendance figures for the third day of Benny Hinn's crusade.

Eventually, the information was verified, and it was determined that even if the established seating capacity for the Post Fiji Stadium grandstand, playing field, and the area surrounding the playing field were doubled, once the claim was closely examined under a factual microscope, the "Total of 370,000" falls way short of what Pastor Suliasi Kurulo and Benny Hinn have claimed.

A crash-course on 'Crowd Dynamics'

Dr. Keith Still is an internationally renowned expert on crowd dynamics, and the founder and CEO of Crowd Dynamics, Ltd. His expertise includes advising at Wembley, the Sydney Olympics, and the Hajj Pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

"Large crowds are a normal part of the operation of many public venues such as railway stations, fairgrounds, leisure centres and sports stadiums. From a commercial point of view large numbers of customers may be desirable. But excessive crowding and poor crowd management can lead at worst to crushing, injury and even death and at the very least to such anxiety and stress that visitors decide not to come again or recommend a visit to others" ("Crowd Risk Assessment").

"Individuals within a crowd usually behave in a rational and goal-orientated manner. For example, someone whose aim is to watch an event or celebrity may climb onto a roof or to the top of scaffold poles to get a better view, despite the danger. Other spectators with a similar aim may follow, leading to more people on the roof and the possibility of collapse and injury. A risk assessment should pick up the likelihood of this happening and enable adequate measures to be taken before the event" (Ibid.).

While there is more to crowd dynamics than figuring crowd density, in simple laymen's terms, crowd dynamics answers the question: How many people will fit safely into a room, an elevator, or a soccer stadium?

At this point, it is important for the reader to refer to Steve Muse's commentaries, "It Just Doesn't Add Up" (Benny Hinn's Bangalore, India crusade), and "It Just Doesn't Add Up-Benny Hinn & Fiji").

From skepticism to confidence: looks can be deceiving

After consulting with Dr. Keith Still on crowd dynamics, and studying Steve Muse's commentaries on crowd density during Benny Hinn's crusades in India and Fiji, there was an admitted skepticism. In other words, unless one is a trained expert in figuring and calculating the number of people in a crowd, such as a soccer stadium filled to capacity, then it would be very easy to over-estimate the numbers.

But after a careful review of the information, the skepticism turned to confidence, due to the fact that what we see with our eyes can be deceiving at times. Indeed, looks can be deceiving. This is why A picture is worth a thousand words.

A few important details

In his February 3, 2005 Commentary, "It Just Doesn't Add Up" and his March 6, 2006 Commentary, "It Just Doesn't Add Up--Benny Hinn & Fiji," Steve Muse provides the reader with ground-breaking research into the figures versus the facts behind Benny Hinn's foreign crusades:

"After the Bangalore, India event last year, where the reported attendance of 7.3 million was grossly exaggerated to the point of being ridiculous (actual attendance figures are estimated at approximately 1.2 million for the three days), with his latest crusade at Post National Stadium in Suva, Fiji. Hinn has once again given us another example of an inaccurate reporting of the facts."

Continuing, Steve maintains that the "Post National Stadium has a seating capacity of only 30,000 with an infield that can safely hold up to another 30,000 which is a far cry from the 80,000 reported the first day, the 110,000 reported on day two, or the 180,000+ reported on day three.

"If one adds 30,000 plus 30,000 it does not come close to 80,000, 110,000 or 180,000. If it was reported that the stadium was filled to capacity, I would not have given this another thought but when large numbers are indiscriminately thrown about, the red flags go off and I start to ask questions" (Ibid.).

Steve is correct. It is mathematically and physically impossible to cram 180,000 people into an area designed to contain at the most 60,000 people; unless, that is, the people are standing on top of each other like circus acrobats. Besides, 180,000 attendees would rival some of the largest stadiums in the world, which were built specifically to contain over 100,000 people (for the record, "The greatest recorded crowd at any soccer match was 199,854, for the Brazil v. Uruguay World Cup final in the Maracanã Municipal Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on July 16, 1950" (Guinness World Records).

For a panoramic picture of the Maracanã Municipal Stadium, go to

http://tinyurl.com/gof2f. Big difference in the Maracanã and the Post Fiji National Stadium ( http://tinyurl.com/f4ukl ).

Not to beleaguer the point, but common sense dictates that a one gallon container will only hold one gallon. A 55 gallon drum will hold 55 gallons. Why? Because these specific containers are designed to contain a specified amount. The same applies to stadiums and their seating capacities.

To cram 180,000 people into an area that would only hold 60,000 at the most, is not only impossible, but extremely dangerous to the physical welfare of people in the crowd.

It goes without saying: there are a limited amount of people that can safely fit into a room, elevator, or a soccer stadium. Therefore, when the figures for Benny Hinn's Fiji crusade are compared with the facts, the figures do not add up.

Special thanks to Steve Muse of Eastern Regional Watch Ministries, Dr. Keith Still, Founder and CEO of Crowd Dynamics Limited, and the many unnamed sources in Fiji for their valuable assistance.

As a service to the body of Christ, Christian Research Service provides information, documentation and referral on a wide variety of issues to individuals, companies, pastors, outreach ministries and the Christian news media worldwide.