History of Reinhard Bonnke in Timeline

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: May 25, 2024

Reinhard Bonnke was a German-American Pentecostal evangelist best known for his decades of missionary work in Africa. Starting in 1967, he dedicated his life to spreading the gospel across the continent.

1922: Healing of August Bonnke

Reinhard Bonnke's paternal grandfather, August Bonnke, experienced a healing from an unknown ailment by evangelist Luis Graf in 1922.

April 1940: Birth of Reinhard Bonnke

Reinhard Bonnke was born in April 1940 in Königsberg, East Prussia, Germany.

1945: Death of August Bonnke

August Bonnke, Reinhard's grandfather, died during the evacuation of East Prussia in 1945.

1964: Marriage of Reinhard and Anni Bonnke

Reinhard Bonnke married Anni Suelze in 1964. They had met at a gospel music festival and eventually fell in love.

1967: Bonnke Begins Ministry in Africa

Reinhard Bonnke began his missionary work in Africa in 1967.

1974: Founding of Christ for all Nations (CfaN)

Reinhard Bonnke established the mission organization Christ for all Nations (CfaN) in 1974 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

1984: Construction of Large Tent for Crusades

In 1984, Reinhard Bonnke commissioned the construction of a large tent with a seating capacity of 34,000, intended to accommodate crowds at his crusades. Unfortunately, it was destroyed by a windstorm before its first major use.

1986: CfaN Headquarters Relocated

In 1986, CfaN's headquarters was moved to Frankfurt, Germany, to distance the organization from South Africa's apartheid policies.

1986: Single Use of the Large Tent

The large tent commissioned in 1984 was only used once, in Harare, Zimbabwe, in 1986.

1991: Riots in Kano During Bonnke's Visit

During Bonnke's 1991 visit to Kano, Nigeria, riots erupted as Muslims protested against alleged remarks he made about Islam in Kaduna. The riots resulted in violence against Christians, church burnings, and several deaths.

2000: Bonnke's Return to Nigeria

After being banned from Nigeria due to the 1991 riots, Bonnke was invited back by the newly elected President Olusegun Obasanjo in 2000 and held a crusade in Benin City.