Pentecostals buckle up Africa's Bible belt : Mail & Guardian Online

Tim Cocks skryf uit Kampala, Uganda, oor die asemrowende groei en materialisme van die Pentekostalistiese geloof in Afrika.

As the miracle-healer descended from the sky in an immaculate white helicopter, his disciples cheered with joy: "Hallelujah! Praise Jesus."

Gospel songs thundered through the speakers as televangelist Benny Hinn landed outside Uganda's national stadium last month, before addressing 40 000 enraptured faithful.

His white suit picked out by floodlights, the United States-based preacher promised a "miracle crusade" to heal the sick, make the blind see and the lame walk. "In Jesus's name, lift your hands and sing," he cried, almost drowned out by cheering.

Pentecostal religion is mushrooming in Africa.

The US Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life says Pentecostalism is growing globally, with a quarter of the world's two billion Christians thought to be members of these faiths that emphasise speaking in tongues, divine healing, prophesy and a strongly literal interpretation of Bible stories.

In Africa all churches are booming, but Pentecostalism is overtaking traditional Catholic and Anglican faiths brought by European colonisers over a century ago.

'Fervent prayer, 24 hours'
Pentecostals and charismatics now account for 147-million Africans, 17% of the continent's people, compared with 5% in 1970, the World Christian Database says.

South Africa's Apostolic Faith Mission is its biggest church. A third of urban South Africans are Pentecostals.

America's preachers have long grasped the potential material rewards of their spiritual gifts.

Hinn has said he earns up to $1-million a year, lives in a $10-million seaside mansion and owns a private jet. Creflo Dollar, who visited Uganda this month, drives a Rolls Royce.

Africa's preachers are learning fast.

At Uganda's Holy Fire Ministry -- a marquee beside a dirt track near the airport -- hundreds line up for blessings from "Prophet" Pius Muwanguzi, whose purported talents include curing Aids by touching the forehead.

In the kneeling congregation: a polio victim, a blind man and a girl who lost her phone.

The pastor touches an old woman, she faints. Then out come the collection envelopes. Minimum is 100 000 Uganda shillings ($62,50), although the poor can give as little as 10 000 to receive a blessing.

Muwanguzi, whose own blessings include a smart suit and a new Toyota Land Cruiser, declined an interview. But his secretary, Jackie Kamanyire, said payments were voluntary.

"If you feel like sowing a seed, you sow. It comes from your heart. The Prophet cures Aids, cancer and cell disease with his blessings."

Cameroon's Pierre Anatole Mbezele, who stages miracles at his Yaoundé church, gets showered with lavish gifts, including on two occasions a Mercedes-Benz.

Francis Adroa gave her car to a Ugandan church promising to cure her of HIV/Aids. The miracle failed, she got sicker. And she's now a pedestrian.