| Reinhard Bonnke | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 April 1940 Königsberg, East Prussia |
| Occupation | Evangelist |
| Website | |
| Christ For All Nations | |
Reinhard Bonnke (born on 19th April, 1940 in Königsberg, East Prussia) is a German charismatic Christian evangelist, principally known for his Great Gospel Crusades throughout the Continent of Africa.
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He was reportedly born-again at the age of 9. He studied at The Bible College of Wales in Swansea and pastored in Germany for seven years. He began his ministry in Africa, with which he is principally identified, preaching in Lesotho in 1967. He has subsequently held large evangelical meetings across the continent.[1]
Reinhard began holding tent meetings that accommodated 800 people. As attendance steadily increased, larger tents had to be purchased. 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. The team decided to hold the event in the open air instead, and it was attended by over 100,000 people, significantly more than the tent would have allowed. His meetings have continued to attract audiences on this scale.[1]
It has now been some thirty-five years since Reinhard Bonnke founded the international ministry of Christ for all Nations (CfaN), which currently has offices in the Nigeria, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, South Africa; Frankfurt, Germany; Birmingham and London, United Kingdom; Ontario, Canada and Orlando, Florida.[1]
Bonnke has written many books which have been printed in different languages. In the early 1990s Bonnke, who had prophesied a major world revival which would start in the United Kingdom, was involved in an initiative to reverse the decline in church attendance there. This involved the distribution of millions of copies of a booklet he had written called Minus to Plus to homes throughout the country, which was hoped to win 250,000 converts. However, only 20,000 were claimed to have been 'won over', and these were mostly those returning to the faith rather than coming to it for the first time. Church attendance in the United Kingdom continued to decline.[2]
Bonnke's visit to Kano in Nigeria in 1991 was marred by the outbreak of 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.[3] A rumor was spread that Bonnke was planning on “lead an invasion” into Kano.[4] 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.[5] About 8,000 youths gathered at the Emir's palace and after noon prayers the riots ensued.[6]