Friday, March 29, 2024

My Farewell Message To Pastor Reinhard Bonnke: Africa Shall NEVER forget.

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Nevers Mumba with Reinhard Bonnke
Nevers Mumba with Reinhard Bonnke

By Rev Dr Nevers Mumba, 

No one knew who I was. I was a 21-year-old boy in 1981 studying to become an Artisan in our National Mining Company in Kitwe. Then Reinhard Bonnke came to Zambia.

Thirty-six years later I have served as Leader of Victory Ministries International and as the first member of the Clergy to serve as Republican Vice President of Zambia.

Thirty-six years later, Zambia has become the first and only nation in Africa to be declared a Christian Nation.

In early 1981, it was noised that a German Evangelist by the name of Reinhard Bonnke would Visit Zambia and was going to have a series of meetings in all the major cities of Zambia. He would start in my city, Kitwe. Within weeks, a ten thousand seater tent was erected and stood out as a new phenomenon in our city. At the time, I served as youth leader at the Maranatha Assembly of God Church under a Canadian Missionary Gary Skinner. For some reason, Pastor Skinner asked me to interpret for Pastor Bonnke in his first sermon at Church before the crusade opened later that evening.

I met Reinhard for the first time in my life in 1981 in the pulpit. He started to preach what I considered a basic message of salvation. In the middle of his preaching, he stopped and looked at me and made the following statement, “Eh, you are made out of the same stuff that I am made out of.” This singular statement changed my life forever. He asked me to continue to interpret for him the whole two weeks of the crusade. My heart was bonded to him and his message changed both my life and my city forever.

Never in the history of my nation had we ever seen an evangelist of such passion and anointing. He ignited a wave of revival which has never stopped to date. At his coming in 1981, it was said that Christianity constituted 45% of the population. Today, Christianity stands at 96% of the population and Zambia has become the only country on the continent to be constitutionally declared a Christian nation.

Reinhard Bonnke started this movement. He is a household name in Zambia. He focused his faith on Zambia for several years. CFAN sowed a human seed into the soil of Zambia when one of Pastor Bonnke’s closest crusade organizers was killed in Chililabombwe in an accident which burnt down a CFAN truck. Reinhard himself flew back to Zambia and retrieved the body. He called this loss, a seed sown in Zambia which would germinate and grow into full salvation of the nation. Reinhard wept.

As a Nation, we have a redemptive history with Reinhard and CFAN. Zambia is a Christian nation because of his investment of faith.

He took me up as his own son. He believed in me before I even knew myself. He sent me to Bible college at Christ for the Nations Institute in Dallas Texas and paid for it. Upon graduation, he mentored me and purchased the equipment I needed to launch an evangelistic ministry in my nation. While he carried the banner of Africa shall be Saved, I have carried the banner of Zambia shall be Saved to date. He was present in my life until he returned to the one who called him to Africa in the early hours of December 7th 2019.

In 1995 after he was guest at our Victory International conference in Lusaka, he said to me, Nevers, I am not coming back to Zambia after this. I asked him why, and he said because you are here and able to handle it. “You don’t need me” he said. He however mentored me from afar. He supported me both in prayer and finance for 36 years. In 1997, I was faced with a huge decision concerning joining the political process. I had two authorities to contact, one was Mrs Gordon Lindsay, President of Christ for the Nations in Dallas, Texas and Reinhard Bonnke, President of Christ for All Nations in Frankfurt, Germany. I asked for their counsel concerning my desire to join politics. It took Reinhard three months to answer but when he did, he was very clear that he had heard from the Lord for me to take my faith into the political process like Joseph of the Bible. He gave me his blessing to go into politics. Mrs Lindsay’s letter came much latter with the same response. Soon after that, I became Vice President of Zambia and now President of the former ruling Party, the Movement for Multiparty Democracy, preparing to run for President in 2021.

If Reinhard had not come to Zambia, maybe there would have been no Christian nation. If he had not come, there would have not been a Nevers Mumba who became the first Evangelist to become Vice President. Because he came, Zambia is, and I am.

Pastor Bonnke invited me to what he considered life changing events. He invited me to the 2000 Millenium Crusade in Lagos where he addressed his largest single crowd of 1.6 million people. I shed tears of joy at the sight of such a harvest of souls. He invited me to Orlando Florida to celebrate his fifty years of ministry in Africa and asked me to speak at the event when Pat Robertson could not travel for health reasons. He invited me for his last african crusade in 2017 in Nigeria but I could not travel in the last minute for political reasons. This was his way of mentoring me to the end.

My last emotional interaction with Reinhard was last year in April (2018) after he heard that I had been thrown in jail for political reasons. After my release he sent me a note not to give up. He also sent what has now become the last financial gift to “help” me after my jail experience. What touched me is that the gift came from his personal account. What type of love is this? God gave me the best mentor and the best spiritual father. He loved and cared till the end. I later found out that when he sent me his last gift, his health had started to fail him.

I am sure my story can be told by many Africans across this continent who have been impacted by this “African Apostle.”

79 million souls later, he now rests in the arms of the one who commissioned him to Africa. This legacy is unparalleled.

Just like Jesus stood up for Stephen when he showed up in heaven, I believe the Lord Jesus and the heavenly host have given a standing ovation as Reinhard makes his grand entry into heaven. Until we meet again. So long.

Africa Shall NEVER forget.

37 COMMENTS

    • Zambia being declared a Christian nation is meaningless. Since this declaration under Chiluba, corruption and moral decay have increased exponentially.

      These days, we even have a national day of prayers. This is another vice that current politicians are using to deflect attention from corrupt activities.

    • He in a big way Bonnke facilitated the coming of “pentes” in Zambia. With it false prophets, Men of Gold, thieving pastors . Before , we never heard of women being taken to the montains for “prayers”. We did not have sexual orgies in the name of “over night prayer meetings”. We did not have thieving pastors buying posh cars , planes and mansions. We had churches like catholics, Seventh Day, Salvation Army who built schools , hospitals and opharnages for the poor. But these fake pentes are a big problem. I would not say “Zambia has been Saved”!

    • Poor Africans are the only one who thought Bonnke was a healer. He swindled poor africans out of their hard earned money just like African fake pastors and fake prophets like Joshua and Imakando are doing.
      He was born in East Germany during the time when WWII was underway, he learned quickly how to survive by teaching doctrines outside the bible.
      In Germany no one followed him like Africans did. As usual Africans follow anyone who is a sweet talker and promises them heaven after they die in poverty. He lived a good life from poor peoples money.

    • Slave mentality at its best….Nevers Mumba thought he met god when he met false prophet Bonke…meeting a Muzungu….Nevers was more thrilled to meet the Muzungu false prophet than the Muzungu himself …inferiority complex

    • That’s whn chequebook Christianity was brought to Zambia. I would rather stick with the good old fashioned Catholics, Methodists, Anglicans, 7th Day Adventists and the Salvation Army who built the churches ,hospitals and schools that literally built Zambia. I despise Pentecostals fir their money mongering. They hv corrupted Christianity everywhere.

  1. He has run a good race and fought a good fight. Glory be to God for this Galant soldier of the Cross. Till we meet again on the other side….

    • You shall never meet him again NEVER! He is dead and gone end of!

      He was a Con artists preying on faithful poor people.

      “Prosperity gospel taught by many televangelists, is a trend called religious affinity fraud.

      “It’s part and parcel of the whole prosperity gospel deal,”
      Preachers abuse the faith of their blind followers by enriching themselves through large donations

  2. Unfortunately you have failed him in many ways. Your message, Zambia shall be saved”” “has been a big flop. Zambia politically is now in a coma. Before your friend came here we did not have crooks in the name of prophets, bishops pastors etc. We only had the Catholic and genuine protestant Churches. With the coming of so called Pastors which you facilitated through the failed Zambia shall be saved we now have prophets raping women on the mountains, Pastors selling holy panties. We have Pastors stealling money from their members.
    Would trully say we have made progress? Is this the Zambia shall be saved you had in mind???

  3. The crazy 80’s. All manner of so-called Born-Again movements subsisted and this became the stomping ground for all manner of jostlings. Those guys from the USA who were singing “Ninsanga [na iwe wine kuti wasanga]” and all sorts of things that eventually culminated in some intolerable Pentecostal movements taking root. It really was one of a kind. He helped birth it. May he go well having done his part – right or wrong. Ba Nevers found it phenomenal! Good for you!!! It tore some families apart.

    • I pity people that attended this man’s crusade. The crusades never changed anyone,any community or nation. He performed miracles only in Africa. He could never have organized the kind of crusades that he organized in Africa in his home country of Germany in fact Reinhard bonnke couldn’t organise a crusade in Germany for 100 people.

      Africans should not be colonized religiously by the same people that colonized, enslaved n dehumanize them for centuries.

      Are Africans the only ones that need miracles?

  4. May the soul of the departed rest in eternal peace. I remember our favourite song on the Copperbelt in the early eighties. ” Ninsanga,Ninsanga naiwe wine Kati wasanga. ( I have found a friend in Jesus , I have found the LORD Jesus Christ) Beautiful days they were. Days of soul searching.

  5. He was a might warrior,commander in chief,fighter fearless we will remember Bonke as long as we live. he may his soul rest in eternal peace of Yehshuwa ya ma shuwa.

  6. Awe, count me out! Which Gods did Africans pray to before the Colonizers came? You hypocrite, even forsaken the Gods of your forefathers! Christian nation, my foot!

  7. Zambia being Christian nation doesn’t mean people stop sinning that is wrong , and the absence of knowledge of who a human being is , David was called to be a man after God’s heart yet David was just a sinner like you .
    Many times un believers think there are no sinners in church that is completely wrong as long as man remains in this flesh and in this world he is a sinner and only saved by God’s grace .
    Chiluba didnt become an angel because he was a christian however what he declared still has a great impact in Zambia we give credit to the declaration up to now the enemy is fighting tooth and nail .
    Chiluba was God’s own man and we appreciate what he did .

  8. Nervers performing his last act of sycophancy to a white ‘saviour’ who saw an opportunity to profit from African ignorance. Talking meaningless numbers when the real consequences are there to see: con-pastors, pastors for hire by politicians to win elections or anoint corruption, orgy overnights, sexual abuse of minors, unnecessary holidays, expensive flamboyant national church buildings instead of industries, and HIV spread and pregnancies through sexual healing. Zambia would be a lot better if Bonke never set foot here.

  9. The declaration of Zambia as a christian country is a very bad joke and no surprise that nearly three decades after this most blasphemous of declarations, there is not another single country making the same mockery of God. Bonnke is a conman who oncle claimed to have had a recurring dream featuring a picture of the map of Africa being spread with red and heard the voice of God crying “Africa Shall Be Saved”. Never Mumba plugiarized this dream and dreamed it too to con us, forsake! I’m done with these thieving political charlatans from Lubwa, they should try their trade else where praising NAZIs.

  10. Fake miracles. Stealing in the name of the lord. My people in Africa you need enlightment. Reinhard was an entertainer, nothing more. He lived a luxury life in Miami FL. The poor africans that donated money for him to have that glamorous are still in wheelchairs or
    languishing in poverty. When will you wake up I don’t understand why people give their money to these crooks.

  11. Reinhard Bonnke sparked a revival in Zambia that will never be quenched. Even demons know this and shudder! Not these meaningless comments we are seeing! May the Lord shake your hand and say, “Welcome, good and faithful servant!”

  12. I have found it!
    That is what the church was called the locals. All who belonged to this Cfan organisation (Ninsanga) were the only christians of the day and would resonate so well amongst the youths.
    In Ndola Dr. Bonkee stationed his prestigious tent between Cairo Bar and Cairo bus station. In Masala township.
    The tent was adorned with colored lights that could previously only be seen in disco houses. It was a spectacular erection! No doubt it can leave a lasting mark in Dr. Mumba that he can tell a tale in this manner. Bye bye Pator Reinhard, you lived your life. Thank you.

  13. Some People here are not scared of God they just open their big mouths and say anything which is in their dirty brains I can forgive you because you don’t know who reinhard bonkke was to Africa do some research.

  14. So what did he leave you in his WILL, Mr. President Nevers?
    You remember his financial aid to you, not his spiritual aid.
    In your eulogy, you left out the part that you formed a political party. NCC and ditched your members when Levy M. came to wake you up to be Vice President.
    You are the least qualified Vice President that Zambia has ever known.
    You are just an artisan from Kitwe Trades, just a one year certificate course.
    What was it again? Metal fabrication?

  15. BAKAWALA CHABE’!!
    – Bonke, Kawalala.
    -Nevers abuse of office in Canada, Kawalala.
    Frederick Kilubaa aka Zambia is a Christian nation Zamtrop, Kawalala.
    -T.B Joshua Kawalala.
    – Bushiri Kawalala.
    -Alfred Lukau Kawalala.
    -Julius Isaac Amata Kawalala.
    -(G0d)fr!dah Kawalala.
    -Humble Jona Chakolwa, aka National day of prayer Kawalala.
    COULD GO ON ALL DAY & NIGHT ABOUT THESE THEIVING “MEN & WOMEN OF GOLD”
    What a load of Tripe, & Nonsense!!

  16. Ode to Reinhard Bonnie,

    Way back circa 1974/5, I received a letter inviting me to start a bible correspondence course.

    Together with my twin brother we enrolled and right from Lesotho you started teaching us the

    word.

    To this day, I have never figured out who gave you my name and how you got my snail

    address.

    We used to call it the church from the ‘mail box’ and we used to tell our fellow Catholic church

    mates that miracles still happen as we showed them the CFAN magazines we used to receive.

    Never had the opportunity to meet you in person, but the seed you planted is still around

    impacting people right in Swansea, the city were you attended Bible school.

    The church is awakening!

    Rest in eternal peace brother, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke.

  17. We thank the Lord for Reinhard Bonnke. Through his ministry, many of us came to know the Lord. Many lives were changed from uselessness to the Lord. The ministry worked closely with the local churches across the cities. The local churches were United in making an impact for the Lord. God raises people to lead a revival at different times and places. On this occasion God used Reinhard Bonnke to great effect. I had the privilege to attend an evangelistic meeting he addressed in Lusaka. I also while in Hamburg , Germany came across teams planning one of his meetings. His little book ‘vom minus zum plus’ is worth reading. ( I believe its been translated into English as well)

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