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Reinhard Bonnke

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Reinhard Bonnke
Reinhard Bonnke
Born(1940-04-19)19 April 1940
Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany
Died7 December 2019(2019-12-07) (aged 79)
Orlando, Florida
OccupationEvangelist
WebsiteChrist For All Nations

Reinhard Bonnke (19 April 1940 - 7 December 2019) was a German-American Pentecostal[1] evangelist, principally known for his gospel missions throughout Africa. Bonnke had been an evangelist and missionary in Africa since 1967.[2] In Nigeria’s city, Lagos, in 2000, a single service is believed to have been attended by 1.6 million people.

Christ For All Nations (CFAN) organisation, known for its work throughout Africa, claims Bonnke preached Christ to more than 79 million non believers.[3]


Early life

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Reinhard Bonnke was born on 19th April 1940, in the city of Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany,[1][4] the fifth son of Hermann Bonnke, an army logistics officer in the Reichswehr who fought on the Eastern Front; his paternal grandfather was August Bonnke, the owner of a windmill in Trunz, East Prussia (now Milejewo, Poland), who was healed of an unknown ailment by the evangelist Luis Graf in 1922, but died during the evacuation of East Prussia in 1945. His mother was Metaa Bonnke (née Scheffler). Bonnke had six siblings: Martin, Gerhard, Jurgen, Peter and Felicitas, his only younger sibling and his only sister.

With his mother and siblings, he was taken to Denmark during the evacuation of East Prussia and spent some years in a displaced persons centre before settling in Gluckstadt, West Germany.[5][1] After his own war service, his father became a pastor in the village of Krempe.[6] He became a born-again Christian at the age of nine after his mother spoke with him about a sin that he had committed.[7] He sensed a call from God to serve as a missionary in Africa from the age of 10 and said that he had the experience of baptism in the Holy Spirit.

Bonnke studied at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea, Wales, UK, where he was inspired by the director, Samuel Rees Howells. In one meeting Howells spoke of answered prayer; after this meeting, Bonnke prayed, "Lord, I also want to be a man of faith. I want to see your way of providing for needs."[8] Passing through London, he had a chance meeting with the preacher George Jeffreys.[9] As he walked, he came across a house with a nameplate on the front that said “George Jeffreys”. He wondered if it could be the great George Jeffreys who had founded the Elim Pentecostal churches in Ireland and England. He prayed for the young student and imparted grace to him.

Aftergraduation, he pastored in Germany for seven years, including establishing a congregation in Flensburg which met in a former rum factory.

African mission

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His work in Africa began in 1967. He arrived in South Africa and almost immediately encountered the apartheid system, which he developed an antipathy towards, which in turn caused friction between him and the minister who oversaw him in South Africa. Bonnke subsequently accepted a position to oversee three churches in Lesotho, but began again from scratch after he discovered that unbiblical practices had emerged in the congregations he was to oversee.

In the first few years of his work, Bonnke encountered poor results from his evangelistic efforts and felt frustrated at the pace of his ministry. Then he had a recurring dream featuring a picture of the map of Africa being splattered with blood and heard the voice of God crying "Africa Shall Be Saved". This ultimately led him to adopt large-scale evangelism, rather than the traditional small-scale missionary approach. He rented a stadium in Gaborone, Botswana, and preached with little cooperation from local churches. The first meetings saw about 100 people attending, but this number grew swiftly.[10]

In 1974, Bonnke founded the mission organisation Christ for all Nations (CfaN).[7][11] Originally based in Johannesburg, South Africa, the headquarters were relocated to Frankfurt, Germany, in 1986. This was done primarily to distance the organisation from South Africa's apartheid policy at the time.[7] Today CfaN has 9 offices across 5 continents.[12][13]

Bonnke began his ministry holding tent meetings that accommodated large crowds. According to an account published by the Christian Broadcasting Network, in 1984 he commissioned the construction of what was claimed to be the world's largest mobile structure - a tent capable of seating 34,000; this was destroyed in a wind storm just before a major meeting and therefore the team decided to hold the event in the open air instead. According to this account, the event was subsequently attended by over 100,000 people which is far greater than the 34,000 seating capacity the tents could have contained. For various reasons, usually due to insufficient capacity, the 34,000-seat tent was only used once, in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1986.[14]

In addition to South Africa, Bonnke would also hold many campaigns in other African countries including Nigeria and Kenya and became known as "the Billy Graham of Africa."[15][16] In the 5 February 2001 edition of Graham's Christianity Today, journalist Corrie Cutrer stated that Bonnke had set "record-breaking attendances" at recent events he held in Nigeria.[17] Bonnke announced his "farewell gospel crusade" to be held in Lagos, Nigeria, in November 2017. Lagos is also the location of a gospel crusade held in 2000 which, according to CfaN, is the organization's largest to date, drawing an attendance of six million people.[18] In 2009 Bonnke appointed his successor, Daniel Kolenda who continues to lead the ministry.[19] In 2020, following Bonnke's death, Christ for all Nations launched the CfaN Evangelism Bootcamp. In 2022 Schools of Evangelism were started in South Africa,[20] and Europe and Fire Camps were launched in dozens of nations on six continents. Today, more than 4,000 evangelists have been trained by Christ for all Nations and more than 91-million decisions for Christ have been counted. In 2024, in the 50th year of the ministry, CfaN is conducting 50 gospel crusades throughout the African contenent.[21][22]

Persecution

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Kano riots and subsequent expulsion from Nigeria

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In 1991, during Bonnke's visit to Kano in Nigeria, there were riots in the city as Muslims protested over remarks he had reportedly made about Islam in the city of Kaduna on his way to Kano.[23] A rumour was spread that Bonnke was planning to "lead an invasion" into Kano. Muslim youths gathered at the Kofar Mata Eide-ground where they were addressed by several clerics who claimed that Bonnke was going to blaspheme Islam. About 8,000 youths gathered at the Emir's palace and after noon prayers the riots ensued, during which many Christians sustained various injuries and several churches were burned. Official reports state that at least eight people were killed,[11][24][25][26][27] although other research and reports place the number as being as much as 500 as many of the Christians who were killed were thrown into wells and the attacks were spread between multiple locations.[28]

Despite the state governor absolving Bonnke of any blame for the incident, Bonnke's subsequent attempts to return to Nigeria were denied, as the Nigerian Embassy refused his visa applications.[11] In 2000, a new civilian government in Nigeria was elected to power, and President Olusegun Obasanjo, a Christian, invited Reinhard Bonnke to return to the country.[29] Bonnke returned to Nigeria and held a crusades in Benin City in the south.[30][31] He would deny reports that the Northern Region of Nigeria's Council of Ulamas banned him from entering northern Nigeria.[32]

Bonnke held many crusades in Nigeria after 2000, and conversion rates were significantly higher than in many other African nations, with one campaign achieving an 83% conversion rate. Nigeria would be where his final international crusade would be held, in Lagos in 2017.[33]

Personal life

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After graduating from the Bible College of Wales and returning to Germany, Bonnke led a series of meetings in Rendsburg. He began receiving speaking invitations from all around Germany and the rest of the world. Bonnke met Anni Suelze at a gospel music festival and admired the grace which she showed when a mistake led to her losing a music competition. He offered to preach at the church she attended and over time they fell in love. They married in 1964 and had three children: Kai-Uwe Friedrich, known as "Freddy", Gabrielle and Suzanne. [34]

Death

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Bonnke died on 7 December 2019.[35] The month before, he had announced on his official Facebook page that he had undergone femur surgery and needed time to "learn how to walk again".[36] Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who is Muslim, praised Bonnke for his frequent visits to Nigeria and described his death as a "great loss to Nigeria".[37]

His appointed successor is the evangelist Daniel Kolenda.[38]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Kürschner-Pelkmann, Frank. "Reinhard Bonnke's Theology" (PDF). Translated by C. Lies, Cynthia. Im Evangelischen Missionswerk in Deutschland. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 October 2020. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  2. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke: Evangelist who drew millions in Africa dies at 79". 8 December 2019 – via www.bbc.com.
  3. ^ Digital, Standard. "Reinhard Bonnke: The man who changed the face of Christianity in Africa". Standard Entertainment.
  4. ^ Synan, H. Vinson (2002). "Bonnke, Reinhard Willi Gottfried". In Stanley M. Burgess (ed.). The new international dictionary of Pentecostal and charismatic movements (Rev. and expanded ed.). Grand Rapids, Mich.: Zondervan Pub. House. pp. 438–439. ISBN 0310224810.
  5. ^ Watt, C. Reinhard Bonnke: A Passion for the Gospel 1978 pp19-27 ISBN 0860657736
  6. ^ Gordon, Tamar; Hancock, Mary (1 November 2005). ""The crusade is the vision": branding charisma in a global pentecostal ministry". Material Religion. 1 (3): 386–404. doi:10.2752/174322005778054023. ISSN 1743-2200. S2CID 194083307.
  7. ^ a b c Bonnke, Reinhard (2009). Living a Life of Fire: an Autobiography. Orlando: E-R Production. ISBN 9781933106816.
  8. ^ Maton, Richard (2012). Samuel Rees Howells : a life of intercession. ByFaith Media. p. 81. ISBN 9781907066139.
  9. ^ Watt, C. Reinhard Bonnke: A Passion for the Gospel, 1978, pp. 66-67 ISBN 0860657736
  10. ^ "Life and Times of Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke - P.M. News".
  11. ^ a b c "The man who changed the face of Christianity in Africa". BBC News. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  12. ^ "Christ for all Nations - Contact Us". Christ for all Nations. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  13. ^ "Our Story". Christ for all Nations. 9 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke: Setting Souls on Fire". The 700 Club. 5 February 2010.
  15. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke: The man who changed the face of Christianity in Africa". BBC News. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  16. ^ Eddy, Melissa (11 December 2019). "Reinhard Bonnke, the 'Billy Graham of Africa,' Dies at 79". New York Times. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  17. ^ Cutrer, Corrie (5 February 2001). "Come and Receive Your Miracle". Christianity Today. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  18. ^ "Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke Who Led Millions to Christ Announces 'Farewell Crusade'". The Christian Post. 7 March 2017. Retrieved 5 August 2017.
  19. ^ Ministry, Christ for all Nations | Evangelistic. "Christ for all Nations | Evangelistic Ministry". cfan.org. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  20. ^ "Evangelists trained in Africa". www.cfan.eu. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  21. ^ "Home". 50th Anniversary Crusades | Christ For All Nations. Retrieved 29 May 2024.
  22. ^ V, JM (28 March 2024). "Christ for All Nations Celebrates 50 Years". Missions Box. Retrieved 2 June 2024.
  23. ^ Marty, Martin Emil; Appleby, R. Scott, eds. (1993). Fundamentalisms and the State: Remaking Polities, Economies, and Militance. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 199. ISBN 9780226508849.
  24. ^ Boer, Jan H (2003). Nigeria's Decades of Blood: Volume One: Studies in Christian-Muslim Relationships. Bellville, Ontario: Essence Publishing. pp. 41–44. ISBN 9781553065814.
  25. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke". Deception in the Church.
  26. ^ "German Evangelist 'Banned'". World Watch Monitor. Archived from the original on 20 March 2014.
  27. ^ "At Least 8 Dead in Nigerian City As Muslim-Christian Riots Go On". The New York Times. Associated Press. 17 October 1991. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  28. ^ "Flashback: The day 500 people died for Bonnke in Kano - P.M. News".
  29. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke, special blessing to the world, say Bamgbola, Olaleye". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. 8 December 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  30. ^ "The Nigerian Outpouring". Christ for all Nations. 1 August 2013. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  31. ^ "Return of Reinhard Bonnke". Vanguard News. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2021.
  32. ^ Eyoboka, Sam (14 November 2000). "Nigeria: Bonnke Denies Ban By Northern Islamic Group". allafrica.com. Vanguard. Retrieved 28 February 2023.
  33. ^ "Bonnke's Nigeria visit and the promise of fire". 1 October 2017.
  34. ^ "Remembering 'God's General' Reinhard Bonnke". CBN. 9 December 2019.
  35. ^ "Reinhard Bonnke: The man who changed the face of Christianity in Africa". BBC. 18 December 2019. Retrieved 27 December 2019.
  36. ^ "Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke Dead: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know". Heavy.com. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 7 December 2019.
  37. ^ "A great loss to Nigeria' - Buhari mourns Reinhard Bonnke". TheCable. 7 December 2019. Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  38. ^ "Biography of Evangelist Daniel Kolenda". The New Man. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 27 February 2024.
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