Well-known evangelist Reinhard Bonnke died at the age of 79, his family announced in a statement on social media.

“It is with sorrow that the Bonnke Family would like to announce the passing of our beloved husband, father, and grandfather, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke. He passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on December 7, 2019”, the statement said.

The German-American preacher was founder of, a ministry through which he preached to millions of people around the world, in mass evangelistic events. “For the past 60 years he has preached the glorious Gospel of Jesus throughout the entire world”, the family said.

Bonnke’s main focus was Africa, where his organisations says over 78 million have professed faith in Jesus Christ through his preaching. In 2017, he preached the gospel in a farewell crusade to 1.7 million people in Lagos, Nigeria.

The evangelist was often referred to as the “Harvester of God”, and had a charismatic theology and practice, which included the performance of healings - these often lead to controversy.

The evangelistic outreach of Christ for all Nations has been headed since 2017 by evangelist Daniel Kolenda.