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Quick to Listen

Don’t Remember Reinhard Bonnke for His Crowd Sizes

Quick to Listen

Christianity Today

Religion, Christianity, Religion & Spirituality

4.3622 Ratings

🗓️ 11 December 2019

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Transcribed highlights of the show can be found in our episode summaries. Last Saturday, Reinhard Bonnke, a prominent German evangelist in Africa, passed away at the age of 79. Bonnke’s ministry began in 1967 and lasted for 50 years. Millions of people attended his crusades, leading him to be dubbed by some as“the Billy Graham of Africa.” In 2000, CT sent a reporter to see him in Nigeria: Sunday night Bonnke delivered a sermon on the first chapters of Acts—when the apostles received the Holy Spirit. He then told the audience: "Jesus is here with all the fire you will ever need! Raise your voices! Receive the Holy Spirit now!" Thousands in the crowd began wailing, screaming, and crying. Frantically waving their hands in the air, many begged loudly for anointing. Bonnke gave a similar message on Saturday night to 1.3 million people on the crusade ground. Building momentum with the audience, the evangelist instructed the crowd to begin shouting "Alleluia!" until the Holy Spirit entered their bodies. "You are going to speak in new tongues—a language you have never learned," he told them. "It comes from you're heart. Don't be afraid—this is fantastic!" Behind Bonnke’s massive popularity was a deep sense of humility, says Nimi Wariboko, the Walter G. Muelder professor of social ethics at the Boston University School of Theology. “Something that will strike you about Reinhard Bonnke and the way he relates to Africa and the way he works is that he believes in Africa and he loves Africa and he loves Africans,” said Wariboko. “….The man never portrayed himself as one of these white guys coming on the white horse with a savior mentality to save Africa. He didn’t ever pretend that God had called him to the whole world. His focus was on Africa and he never lost that.” Wariboko joined digital media producer Morgan Lee and editor in chief Mark Galli to discuss how a German evangelist became passionate about Africa, how he differed from other Pentecostal preachers, and how his work affected the church on this continent. What is “Quick to Listen”? Read more Subscribe to Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow our host on Twitter: Morgan Lee Subscribe to Mark’s newsletter: The Galli Report Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced by Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Bunmi Ishola This episode of Quick to Listen is brought to you in part by Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University, which offers a practical, student-centered approach to seminary. Wesley Seminary’s model connects applicable coursework with active ministry. For more information, visit seminary.indwes.edu. This episode of Quick to Listen is also brought to you by Christianbook.com, your go-to source for everything Christian. Books, Bibles, gifts, music and more, all in one place. And always from people who share your values. Go to Christianbook.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is brought to you in part by The Apologetics Guy Show, the podcast that helps you find clear answers to tough questions about Christianity.

0:11.1

Learn to explain your faith with courage and compassion. Join Moody Bible Institute professor Dr. Mikhail Del Rosario at apologeticsky.com.

0:23.1

Last Saturday, Reinhard Bonke, a prominent German evangelist in Africa, passed away at the age of 79.

0:31.3

Wonki's ministry began in 1967 and lasted for 50 years. Millions of people attended his crusades,

0:39.6

leading him to be dubbed by some as the quote,

0:41.2

Billy Graham of Africa.

0:47.1

In 2000, CT sent a reporter to see him in Nigeria, and I'm going to read from this report.

0:51.9

Sunday night, Bonkey delivered a sermon on the first chapters of Acts, when the apostles received the Holy Spirit.

0:53.5

He then told the audience,

0:54.8

Jesus is here with all the fire you will ever need. Raise your voices. Receive the Holy Spirit now.

1:00.6

Thousands in the crowd began wailing, screaming, and crying. Frantically waving their hands in the air,

1:05.7

many begged loudly for anointing. Bonke gave a similar message on Saturday night to 1.3 million people on the

1:11.6

crusade ground. Building momentum with the audience, the evangelist instructed the crowd to begin

1:15.8

shouting, Alleluia, until the Holy Spirit entered their bodies. You are going to speak in new

1:20.7

tongues, a language you have never learned, he told them, it comes from your heart, don't be

1:24.6

afraid. This is fantastic. Our reporter also commented on some of the

1:28.7

miracles that attendees sometimes claimed after seeing him preach. I'm going to read from that part as well.

1:34.0

Although a cult and other superstitious practices are prominent in Nigeria, many Nigerians came to Bonke's

1:39.6

Crusades in search of a miracle for health reasons alone. As the evangelist delivered a healing prayer specifically for the sick each night of the crusade,

1:47.2

hundreds of people tried to make their way to the platform to profess miracles.

1:50.9

A few made it onto the stage to share.

1:52.9

Many more, however, were questioned and then turned away.

...

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