Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who dedicated his life to bringing the Gospel to people all over the world, passed away at the age of 79 on December 7, 2019.
Although his ministry would eventually reach to every continent, it is Africa where Bonnke had perhaps the most profound impact, bringing millions of people to Christ from his first visit in 1967 to his final Crusade in 2017. For his love and devotion for the people of Africa, Bonnke became affectionately known as “the Billy Graham of Africa.” Dr. Corné Bekker, Dean of the School of Divinity and a native of South Africa, attended several of Bonnke’s prayer meetings and recalls that “There would be a wonderful time of worship, he would preach the Gospel, very simple Gospel of Jesus Christ, and then he would give an invitation for people to come forward, and people in their thousands, sometimes, hundreds of thousands of people, would come forward and dedicate their lives unto the Lord.”1
Throughout the years, Bonnke was a regular guest on the 700 Club and in March 2013 preached at the dedication services of the newly completed University Chapel. The Library has a selection of his books and video spanning 1992-2013. During February, a display in the Library will commemorate the life and work of this tireless servant of the Lord.
1George Thomas, “Remembering ‘God’s General’ Reinhard Bonnke,” CBN News, December 9, 2019, https://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/december/remembering-gods-general-reinhard-bonnke.