German evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, who drew huge crowds in Africa over decades of preaching, has died aged 79.
"He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family," his wife Anni Bonnke said in a statement.
The family lives in the United States but Bonnke was best-known for his work with the Christ For All Nations organisation throughout Africa.
The Pentecostal preacher oversaw more than 79 million conversions to Christianity, his organisation claims.
"It's no exaggeration to say that his work transformed the continent," it said in a statement.
At huge rallies - including one in Lagos, Nigeria in 2000 that was said to have drawn 1.6 million people - Bonnke claimed to heal people using the powers of God. He also told followers he had witnessed resurrections.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari paid tribute to the evangelist, saying his death was a "great loss to Nigeria, Africa and [the] entire world".
Bonnke was born in 1940 in Königsberg, Germany. The city on the Baltic Sea is now called Kaliningrad, and is part of Russia. He became involved in missionary work in Africa at a very young age and in 1974 founded the Christ For All Nations mission organisation, which was headquartered in South Africa and later in Germany. Bonnke's held a farewell gospel campaign in 2017 in Nigeria, after which he stepped down as the organisation's leader due to health issues. His activities in Africa at times stirred controversy. In 1991, there were religious riots in the Nigerian city of Kaduna after police granted permission for Bonnke to hold a revival meeting and thousands of Muslims took to the streets in uproar. At least eight people were reported killed. In 1999, 16 people died in a stampede during a rally organised by Bonnke in Benin City, Nigeria. In 2014, the Associated Press reported that he was living in a $3m (£2.3m) apartment near Palm Beach, Florida.President Buhari affirms that Bonnke”™s crusades in Nigeria, across Africa and the globe strongly accentuated the message of Jesus Christ, & his vision and zeal for the salvation of souls clearly helped the world in understanding the power of love & kindness as universal language.
— Presidency Nigeria (@NGRPresident) December 7, 2019
DISCLAIMER: The Views, Comments, Opinions, Contributions and Statements made by Readers and Contributors on this platform do not necessarily represent the views or policy of Multimedia Group Limited.
Latest Stories
-
Investors don’t find Ghana’s oil field or upstream sector attractive anymore – Nana Amoasi VII
2 hours -
We’ll not accept these unscrupulous acts – Kwesi Kwarteng on alleged distribution of expired rice to SHSs
2 hours -
Frimpong Manso wins NASCO Coach of the Month award for October
3 hours -
Kotoko’s Albert Amoah wins NASCO POTM for October
3 hours -
Paradox of Elitism: Why Ghana’s brightest minds fall short in leadership
3 hours -
EPA, UNESCO to advance plan to guard Lake Bosomtwe from further degradation
3 hours -
The Great Exodus: How Ghana’s best and brightest are trapped in a cycle of modern slavery
3 hours -
Ronica Sings returns with ‘Covenant Keeping God’
4 hours -
The Uneven Path Toward Cheaper Digital Remittances: A Focus on Ghana
4 hours -
Ogagus nominated A&R of the Year at the 2024 Beatz Awards
4 hours -
Is Ghana on the brink of becoming a failed state?
4 hours -
There is no order against The Speaker – Thaddeus Sory
4 hours -
I have observed his good and unifying conduct – Kufuor on Bawumia
4 hours -
Bawumia’s understanding of technology and global trends is what we need as a country – Kufuor
4 hours -
It is the way to go – ex-President Kufuor hails Bawumia railway development plan
4 hours