A large open space, powerful sound systems carrying a voice resonating miles away; hundreds of thousands of people gathered in one place and lifting their hearts and souls to the Lord; miracles happening from every corner – the blind seeing, the deaf hearing, the lame walking, the dumb speaking, the sick receiving their healing.
Amidst these wonders, a call is made for people to accept Jesus and thousands of people indicate their desire to be reunited with Jesus and that soul-altering commitment is made. At the centre of all this is one man who has dedicated his life to see revival come to Africa through the ministry of the Holy Spirit; Reinhard Bonnke, a man totally submitted to the leading of the Lord and driven by a God-inspired love for Africa.
From his first visit to Nigeria in 1972 and much later only eight years ago, in 2009, and many times in between, Bonnke is set to undertake a wide-reaching crusade for the final time in Africa from November 8th to 12th, 2017 under two separate themes tagged ‘Reinhard Bonnke’s Farewell Gospel Crusade’ and ‘Passing the Burning Torch Conference’.
This was announced at a press conference in Lagos on October 16th, 2017 organised by Bonnke’s evangelical ministry, Christ for all Nations (CfaN) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).
Reverend John Darku, the director for CfaN Africa said it was a ‘sentimental journey for a man who may never see Africa’ again, adding that while it might be the end for Bonnke, for the people in Africa, the work has just begun as the German-born evangelist would be passing the baton to the next generation.
Responding to questions about the feasibility of the entire Christian body in Nigeria putting aside their differences to ensure that the programme succeeded, the Chairman of the central working committee of the Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke’s Final Fire in Africa (FFA), Alexander Bamgbose gave the assurance that the churches in Nigeria were fully cooperative with the CfaN organisation.
He explained that Bonnke’s coming to Nigeria was nothing short of being God-ordained as Nigeria is seen as the trigger point of Africa and whatever happens here seems to have a ripple effect across the nations.
People from various parts of Africa are expected to attend the ‘Final Fire in Africa’ Crusade and also participate in the ‘Passing the Burning Torch’ conference for ministers in Africa who are hungry for God and are yearning to catch the fire for evangelism.