Reinhard Bonnke

Here is a detailed biographical article about Reinhard Bonnke:

Reinhard Bonnke – Life, Ministry, and Enduring Legacy

Reinhard Bonnke (1940–2019), the German Pentecostal evangelist, was renowned for his large-scale gospel crusades in Africa and the founding of Christ for All Nations (CfaN). Explore his life, ministry, theology, controversies, and memorable sayings.

Introduction

Reinhard Willi Gottfried Bonnke was a German Pentecostal evangelist whose life mission was to bring the Gospel to Africa through mass evangelism and spiritual revival. He became widely known for organizing huge “crusades,” proclaiming a vision that “Africa shall be saved,” and founding the evangelical organization Christ for All Nations (CfaN). His influence extended across continents; yet his ministry was not without controversy. This article explores Bonnke’s background, missionary career, theology, influence, challenges, and lasting legacy.

Early Life and Family

Reinhard Bonnke was born on April 19, 1940, in Königsberg, East Prussia (then in Germany). Hermann Bonnke, served in the German army (logistics) during World War II and later became a pastor. Meta (née Scheffler).

During the evacuation of East Prussia in and after the war, Bonnke and his family were displaced and lived in refugee or displaced persons camps before eventually settling in what became West Germany.

According to his own testimony, Bonnke experienced a spiritual awakening at the age of nine, when his mother spoke with him about a sin he had committed and the need for Jesus’ forgiveness. ten, he said he felt a divine calling to serve as a missionary in Africa.

Education & Early Ministry

Bonnke studied at the Bible College of Wales in Swansea, Wales, UK, where he was influenced by Samuel Rees Howells, the director of the college, especially in the areas of intercession, faith, and commitment to spiritual mission.

After completing his theological training, he served as a pastor in Germany for about seven years, including founding or leading a congregation in Flensburg.

During that period, he also engaged in evangelistic meetings and sermon ministry in Germany.

Missionary Work & Evangelistic Crusades

Launching in Africa

In 1967, Bonnke made his first missionary expedition to Africa, beginning in South Africa, and soon thereafter to Lesotho, where he faced challenges but persisted in ministry.

His early efforts used tents and small gatherings; as his ministry grew, he escalated to very large open-air crusades.

Bonnke claimed that a dream or vision — of a map of Africa splashed with blood and the voice saying “Africa shall be saved” — motivated him to adopt a mass crusade strategy rather than the typical small-scale mission approach.

Christ for All Nations (CfaN)

In 1974, Reinhard Bonnke founded Christ for All Nations (CfaN) as the organizational framework for his evangelistic mission.

Because apartheid-era politics in South Africa complicated cross-border missions, the headquarters of CfaN were later relocated to Frankfurt, Germany (in 1986).

Crusade Scale & Methods

As his evangelistic reputation grew, Bonnke’s crusades swelled in size. According to CfaN materials, some campaigns reached hundreds of thousands per service; in 2000 in Lagos, Nigeria, the one-day attendance was claimed as approximately 1.6 million participants.

In 1984, Bonnke commissioned what was considered the world’s largest mobile tent structure, seating 34,000, though the tent was damaged prior to a meeting and forced him to switch to open-air format for that campaign.

Over his lifetime, Bonnke and CfaN claimed that tens of millions made “decisions for Christ” (i.e. conversions) through his campaigns.

In 2017, he held what he termed a farewell gospel crusade in Lagos, Nigeria, and passed leadership to Daniel Kolenda for the ongoing work.

Theology, Emphases & Controversies

Theological Approach & Emphases

Bonnke’s ministry was aligned with Pentecostal / Charismatic Christianity, emphasizing the Holy Spirit, miraculous healing, deliverance, exorcism, and faith-based evangelism.

He viewed signs and wonders as confirmation of the Gospel’s power, often integrating dramatic prayer for healing into his crusades.

Bonnke frequently framed evangelism in forceful imagery: he used slogans like “Plunder Hell to Populate Heaven.”

He also placed strong emphasis on divine calling (rather than merely human planning) as the foundation for his authority as an evangelist.

Criticisms and Challenges

Bonnke’s approach was not without opposition. Some criticisms included:

• Skepticism about the authenticity of healings and miracles claimed in his events.

• Concerns that announcing healings and miracles in advance might lead to disappointment or crisis when they did not occur.

• Controversy over mass gatherings in Muslim-majority regions. For example, in 1991 in Kano, Nigeria, Bonnke’s visit triggered riots and casualties amid accusations from Muslim youth that he threatened Islam.

• For several years after those riots, Bonnke was banned from entering northern Nigeria.

• Some critics have characterized elements of his ministry as cultic or emotionally manipulative, especially in the way decisions are elicited at crusades.

Despite these criticisms, Bonnke acknowledged human limitation—he asserted that he could not fully explain why some are healed and others not.

Later Years & Death

In his later years, Reinhard Bonnke's health declined. In late 2019, he underwent surgery for a broken femur, and publicly noted that he needed time to rehabilitate and “learn how to walk again.”

He died on December 7, 2019, in Orlando, Florida, at age 79. Woodlawn Memorial Park, Gotha, Florida.

At his passing, leaders and believers across Africa and beyond mourned him. The Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, a Muslim leader, called his death “a great loss to Nigeria.”

Personality & Leadership

Bonnke was described as passionate, bold in faith, and unwavering in purpose. His preaching style was highly energetic, dramatic, and emotionally charged.

He also combined organizational discipline: training evangelists, delegating leadership through CfaN, and structuring follow-up systems (e.g. counseling, distribution of gospel literature) in converted communities.

His life message was driven by conviction of a divine mandate rather than institutional ambition. He was known for resourcing the evangelical cause sacrificially and making materials freely available (e.g. gospel booklets) in many languages.

Legacy and Influence

Reinhard Bonnke’s influence persists in multiple dimensions:

• Mass Evangelism in Africa: He popularized large-scale crusades in Africa and inspired generations of African evangelists.

• Training and Multiplication: Through CfaN and affiliated programs (e.g. Fire Conferences, boot camps), thousands of evangelists have been trained.

• Gospel Literature & Media: Millions of gospel booklets (e.g. “Now That You Are Saved”) and films (Full Flame series) were distributed globally.

• Evangelistic Model: His model of combining spectacle, spiritual authority, and organizational follow-up has been adopted by many.

Even after his passing, CfaN continues to operate globally and carry forward his vision of evangelism.

Notable Quotes

Here are a few quotations often attributed to Reinhard Bonnke, reflecting his spiritual tone and mission focus:

“Plunder Hell to Populate Heaven.”

“Africa shall be saved!”

“We are not helping people to get God right, but to get right with God.”

“Divine healings are signs and wonders to confirm the preaching of the gospel.”

“It is said that resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for your enemy to die.”

These statements capture his urgency, conviction, and boldness in evangelism.

Lessons from Reinhard Bonnke’s Life & Ministry

1. Bold Vision Matters – Bonnke’s vision for Africa shaped his strategies and drove persistent efforts, even when results were modest.

2. Scale with Responsibility – He pursued large gatherings but also sought systematic follow-up, not only spectacle.

3. Faith + Risk – His ministry illustrates that reliance on faith may require stepping into unpredictable terrain.

4. Transparency and Humility – He acknowledged gaps in understanding and resisted attributing all outcomes to human faith alone.

5. Legacy through Multiplication – Rather than centering on himself, Bonnke built structures to continue after his departure.

6. Interfaith Sensitivity – His experience in Nigeria warns of the complex tensions when evangelical activity meets religious pluralism and political reality.