The legacy of Reinhard Bonnke, a world-renowned evangelist, is one that will never be forgotten. His fervor for spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth was a source of inspiration for millions of people, leading to countless salvations. Born on April 19, 1940, in Königsberg, East Prussia, Reinhard Bonnke grew up in a Christian home and gave his life to Christ at the age of nine. From an early age, he knew that his calling was to evangelism. After studying at a Bible college in Wales, he began his ministry in Africa, where he spent over 40 years spreading the gospel. In 1974, he founded Christ for all Nations (CFAN), a ministry that hosted some of the largest evangelistic events in history. Throughout his ministry, he preached to over 100 million people in Africa alone, with countless more tuning in to his crusades via television and the internet. His powerful preaching style, his passion for souls, and his unwavering faith in God were known worldwide. His legacy includes not only the millions of lives that were transformed by his preaching but also the numerous pastors and evangelists that he mentored and trained. He believed that the gospel should not only be preached but also lived out, and he exemplified this through his own life of faith and service. Although he retired from active ministry in 2017 at the age of 77, passing the mantle to his successor, Daniel Kolenda, Reinhard’s influence continued to be felt even in retirement. His teachings and messages continue to impact and inspire people globally.
He was not just a preacher, but a missionary at heart. He was convinced that the gospel was intended for all people, irrespective of their background or social status. In his travels across Africa, he witnessed firsthand the suffering and poverty that many people faced, and he felt called to bring hope and healing through the power of the gospel. One of the defining characteristics of his ministry was his emphasis on the Holy Spirit. He believed that the Holy Spirit was essential for effective evangelism and that preaching would be in vain without His guidance and power. He spoke often of the need for believers to be filled with the Holy Spirit and to be led by Him in all aspects of their lives. His passion for souls was infectious, inspiring many others to take up the call to evangelism. Through CFAN, he trained and mentored countless pastors and evangelists, equipping them with the tools they needed to spread the gospel in their own communities. His ministry was not just about preaching to large crowds but about empowering local churches and believers to reach their people with the gospel. His ministry grew to encompass much more than just preaching over the years. He was known for his compassionate heart and his dedication to meeting the practical needs of people. CFAN established numerous projects to provide clean water, medical care, and education to impoverished communities, and Reinhard was often personally involved in these efforts.
His crusades were some of the largest evangelistic events in history, attracting crowds of up to 1.6 million people. He was known for his dramatic preaching style, using illustrations and stories to drive home his message. But beyond the theatrics, it was evident that Reinhard’s heart was genuinely burdened for the lost. Although his ministry was not without controversy, with some criticizing him for his emphasis on miracles and healings and others accusing him of exploiting the poor for personal gain, there was no denying the impact that he had on countless lives.
Reinhard Bonnke passed away on December 7, 2019, at the age of 79. His death was a great loss to the global Christian community, but his legacy lives on. He will always be remembered as a passionate evangelist, a mentor to many, and a man who lived out his faith through his actions. Today, Christ for all Nations, the ministry that he founded, continues to spread the gospel across Africa and beyond. Through their evangelistic outreaches, discipleship programs, and humanitarian projects, they are carrying on Reinhard’s vision of bringing hope and healing to the world through the power of the gospel. His life and ministry serve as an inspiration to many, reminding us of the transformative power of the gospel and the importance of sharing it with the world. His legacy challenges us to continue the work of evangelism and to be passionate about seeing lives transformed by the love of Jesus Christ.
