Reinhard Bonnke was a German-American Pentecostal evangelist known for his large-scale gospel missions throughout Africa, which he began in 1967. He founded the international ministry Christ for all Nations (CFAN) in 1974 and is credited with over 79 million recorded decisions for Christ through his crusades. A major event was a 2000 crusade in Lagos, Nigeria, with an estimated attendance of 1.6 million people. Bonnke passed away in 2019 at the age of 79.
Early life and ministry: Bonnke was born on April 19, 1940. He felt a calling to missions in Africa as a child and began his ministry there in 1967, eventually moving to Lesotho with his wife Anni and son.
Founding of CFAN: In 1974, he established Christ for all Nations to spread the gospel across Africa. The organization grew from holding meetings in small tents to conducting massive open-air crusades with hundreds of thousands of attendees.
Impact and legacy: Bonnke’s crusades were characterized by large crowds and numerous reports of miraculous healings. His ministry was known for its focus on the power of the Holy Spirit and for its vast output of literature. He passed leadership of CFAN to his successor, Daniel Kolenda, before his death.
Death: Reinhard Bonnke died on December 7, 2019, in Orlando, Florida, at the age of 79.