Living a Life of Fire: An Autobiography

Taking into account just raw numbers, Reinhard Bonnke is probably the most successful evangelist of our life-time. Reading this book gives us an engrossing overview of his remarkable life. This autobiography is filled with heartwarming personal memoires, dramatic events, headline-grabbing miracles, beautiful testimonies, accounts of meetings with kings, presidents and rulers of nations, lessons learned and and even just some fun, lightweight anekdotes. We read how the often explosive political climates in Africa affected the ministry and led Reinhard and his team into sometimes life-threatening situations. Although we know Reinhard Bonnke for his famous gospel crusades throughout Africa with attendance often exceeding more than one million people, his beginnings were humble and small. When he was 11 years old he evangelized on the street corners of Glückstadt and was overjoyed to see for the first time a soul saved. God spoke to him when he was 8 years that he would be send to Africa, but a lot of people around him, including his father (who was a preacher) and family members did not acknowledge his calling. In many ways he was considered socially a 'zero'. Pentecostals were looked down upon in Lutheran Germany, his brothers looked down upon the occupation of their father and found it foolish that Reinhard wanted to be a preacher. When he eventually came to Africa he initially found little support for his ministry. But God took him through a personal training through a series of events that would repeatedly break the mold of his thinking. Theological barriers were broken, denominational barriers were broken and natural barriers were broken. God gave him a vision of a blood-washed Africa and this vision has remained the driving purpose of his life. Always seeking and knocking for new opportunities to bring the Gospel in new and grander ways for maximum impact. The tents grew bigger until no tent could ever hold the crowds. The technological tools and equipment that were used grew more advanced and left nothing to chance. The crusades were headline news everywhere they came. Besides his unstoppable desire to fulfill his life-time mission, one of the things that strikes me most about his life is his simplicity and pureness. Although his ministry has impacted the history and courses of whole nations and generations, there always remains this often boyish and feisty sheen in his personality and the complete dependence on the guidance of the Holy Spirit. From the outside he is changing the course of world-history, from the inside we read how he cries out to God for help how to handle the situations he faces. Besides that, he never lost the ability to value the life of one soul. Every life is valuable, because Jesus paid the highest price for that one individual. The book is full of lessons in faith and what gets clear from every page, is that Bonnke is actually a normal, ordinary man, whose secret of success is just in simple obedience to the voice of the Lord. What God did through Bonnke, *GOD* did through Bonnke. And since it's *GOD* that does the impossible while Bonnke simply acts in obedience, it becomes clear that God can do miraculous things through anybody that simply chooses to obey. One might argue that some stories in the book could've been skipped (nice to know that he loves to ride a bicycle, but the book could've done without a complete chapter about the subject). Sometimes Bonnke unnecessarily repeats some of the events in different parts of the book. But this style actually fits the man. It never pretends to be top-literature or anything more than amusing and faith-inspiring prose that anybody can read. And as just that, it succeeds marvelously and it will give you some lessons in history, politics, culture and ministry in the process. One last remark: some of the stories in this book were also collected in the book 'Even Greater'. So if you read this book, you can skip that one.

Absolutely the best! This is not only inspiring, but it's the kind of book that you hope doesn't end. I can't usually read a book twice without waiting a decade, but this is one I could have started right over. I am on the second go-round now.

Wow... What do I say? The first chapter made me quite skeptical if I'd enjoy the read. But... after that? I couldn't stop turning pages along the roller coaster of this man's life! His story encouraged, humbled, awed, and inspired me, in so many ways. To love Jesus and others more. To always be attentive to God's voice, and seeking His will above my own. To obey Him, even if it seems dumb, dangerous, or impossible. 'Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believes on Me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do' -John 14:12 "For the word of the LORD is right; and all his works are done in truth." -Psalm 33:4 'These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me you might have peace. In the world you shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.' -John 16:33 "God is faithful, by whom you were called unto the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord." -1 Corinthians 1:9 I'd definitely recommend it. (

You'll miss the best true adventure if you don't get this book. Inspirational, exciting and read by the author.

I am a Taiwanese Christian so English is NOT my first language at all. But This book is a MUST READ!!! 600 some pages, yes, I know, it is intimidating (not even mention how intimidating it is for me to read the whole English version) . but the author and editor compiled the book in such an epic and story-telling way that once you picked up the book, you just can't put it down. It is full of the glory and love of God. So many times I feel so thrilled, encouraged and healed by just reading the mercy and grace of God described in this book . I bought this book in 2014 OneThing conference when Mr. Bonnke came to Kansas City , and I started reading its Kindle version since then. But Since English is not my first language so I am a much slower reader, yet now I am at chapter 39, and I am so blessed by reading this book! There are so many places I cried when I was reading , and it also reminds us so much about how deep is that original love of our Lord Jesus who died on the cross for all humanity!!!

Reinhard Bonnke's book is better written than I expected. (No thick German accent like when he speaks) It is a faith walk adventure. It is marvelous what God can do with the obedience of of a few good men passing the torch of Holy ghost fire from one generation to the next. His story reminds me of the book "Like a Mighty Wind". Only instead of a few brief chapters, this narrative is about a growing and continuing manifestation of God's work that is decades long. It illustrates the transformation and "Last Days" urgent acceleration of the Lord's Harvest. From lonely remote missionaries gleaning a few handfuls of souls over a life time of thankless work to evangelists like Bonnke whose obedience allowed the Father to put him at the throttle of a giant combine harvester where entire nations are reaped for Christ and a million converts in a single open air event are harvested. For most of us the "still small voice" within is still too small. Bonnke shows what is possible if we listen more actively and obey promptly relying on what is in HIS pockets and not on what is in our own... (meaning not only money but talent, the words we speak and resources.) If we are faithful to use the bread and fishes we have on hand God will multiply the rest. And that is the point. It should be more than just a "good read" which leaves us with a "well that was nice... lucky for them" after taste. Life is full of "if onlys" only when we let them go. Like the book of Acts we are the next chapter. And Bonnke shows us how to accomplish mighty things in our own life. Listen. Discern. Obey and do. K.I.S.S. Tom Refshauge, Rogers, AR

Great

Pastor Bonkke presents himself and God in a way that is totally disarming. I kept reading and saying "I really like this guy", and "this is a man I would call a true friend". The love Bonkke shares for Africa and the world is the Gospel of a saving relationship with a loving God. I was literally blown away by the mind boggling statistics of how many would come to crusades - millions! My heart was touched greatly by the incredible stories of miracles but much more by the sheer number of salvations - 60 million and counting! I didn't have anything "dislikes" about this book. I pray for this same "Spirit led" anointing to fall on America. I pray for The Lord to send laborers out of the young and old alike. This book tells me that this is God's desire, therefore I have great hope for an even greater harvest in the years to come.