Pastor Bonnie Deuschle
She is a living legend not just in Zimbabwe but the world over. A tireless, energetic and dedicated pioneer, Pastor Bonnie Deuschle displays a fierce devotion to fulfilling God’s purpose in her life and the lives of others. Yet, if you were to ask her how or why she does it all, she would say, “It’s not about me. It’s up to me.”
Her early musical heritage includes “Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians”, national drum and bugle corps experience, “Oral Roberts World Action Singers” and Studio Work in Los Angeles. However, she left behind her blossoming singing career
She is a living legend not just in Zimbabwe but the world over. A tireless, energetic and dedicated pioneer, Pastor Bonnie Deuschle displays a fierce devotion to fulfilling God’s purpose in her life and the lives of others. Yet, if you were to ask her how or why she does it all, she would say, “It’s not about me. It’s up to me.”
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| Pastors Tom and Bonnie Deuschle |
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| Bonnie Deuschle -Celebrated Children In Italy 2012 |
Her early musical heritage includes “Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians”, national drum and bugle corps experience, “Oral Roberts World Action Singers” and Studio Work in Los Angeles. However, she left behind her blossoming singing career
and her celebrity status as a former Miss
Tulsa in the US, when she met and married
Pastor Tom Deuschle. As he was based in
Zimbabwe, she moved halfway around the
world to Africa, to serve God alongside her
husband.
Over three decades later, Bonnie Deuschle is; wife, mother of five, grandmother, co-founder of Celebration Ministries International (CMI), pastor, musician, gospel artist, song-writer, restaurateur, author, educator, health and wellness advocate and innovative pioneer. She cannot be contained within the boundaries of any normal label. Her life’s work defies limitations. Responsible for an orphanage, overseeing a school,
Over three decades later, Bonnie Deuschle is; wife, mother of five, grandmother, co-founder of Celebration Ministries International (CMI), pastor, musician, gospel artist, song-writer, restaurateur, author, educator, health and wellness advocate and innovative pioneer. She cannot be contained within the boundaries of any normal label. Her life’s work defies limitations. Responsible for an orphanage, overseeing a school,
spearheading a community centre, launching
a restaurant and so much more, she also
co-labored with her husband for 14 years
to build a leading community and church centre within the region. However, with
so many outstanding achievements she
is known best for her capacity to relate to the everyday man. Coming from a divorced home, abandoned by her father who later committed suicide, surviving a debilitating lung disease, persevering through economic hardships and experiencing cultural misunderstandings, she has overcome numerous obstacles and endured more trials than many people would ever face.
Rarely are church leaders recognised
for changing lives past the four walls of the church. Yet, her fifteen album history and especially the song, “Don’t Give Up”, have been celebrated by many Zimbabweans for their messages of hope and encouragement for over 32 years.
As she has continued to record in Zimbabwe, new audiences have emerged throughout surrounding countries responding to the same message of God’s faithfulness. Out of this movement, the Celebration
Choir was birthed. In 2006, their increasing influence established on Bonnie’s platform as an artist and mentor, had reached
regional significance with hit song “Tambira”, eventually leading to a world tour promoting her eighth album—“Change the World”. This was hardly surprising as Bonnie’s custom
is to include all of her children in everything she does; clearly seen in the album “This
is Our Story” which featured all five of her children singing, performing, writing and recording. In 2010, along with second
eldest son, Jonathan, she co-produced and wrote “Singing with the Angels”. Receiving local acclaim in early 2011, the album was promoted on tour throughout Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia.
In 2012, she boldly ventured to Italy with
22 “Celebrated Children” violinists from the
Celebration Ministries Children’s Shelter,
where they performed in 16 locations, all of
them travelling in an airplane for the first time
in their lives. Although Bonnie is now being
recognised for her work with this children’s
orchestra, few people know about her other
ministry to the destitute, old people, street
children and the homeless. In her early days
in Zimbabwe she often sang, ministered to
and clothed displaced Mozambican refugees
in resettlement camps.
to build a leading community and church centre within the region. However, with
so many outstanding achievements she
is known best for her capacity to relate to the everyday man. Coming from a divorced home, abandoned by her father who later committed suicide, surviving a debilitating lung disease, persevering through economic hardships and experiencing cultural misunderstandings, she has overcome numerous obstacles and endured more trials than many people would ever face.
Rarely are church leaders recognised
for changing lives past the four walls of the church. Yet, her fifteen album history and especially the song, “Don’t Give Up”, have been celebrated by many Zimbabweans for their messages of hope and encouragement for over 32 years.
As she has continued to record in Zimbabwe, new audiences have emerged throughout surrounding countries responding to the same message of God’s faithfulness. Out of this movement, the Celebration
Choir was birthed. In 2006, their increasing influence established on Bonnie’s platform as an artist and mentor, had reached
regional significance with hit song “Tambira”, eventually leading to a world tour promoting her eighth album—“Change the World”. This was hardly surprising as Bonnie’s custom
is to include all of her children in everything she does; clearly seen in the album “This
is Our Story” which featured all five of her children singing, performing, writing and recording. In 2010, along with second
eldest son, Jonathan, she co-produced and wrote “Singing with the Angels”. Receiving local acclaim in early 2011, the album was promoted on tour throughout Zimbabwe, Kenya and Zambia.
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| Bonnie Deuschle with Celebrated Children Orchestra (Italy 2012) |
It is no wonder, then, that she was chosen
as one of the top ten most influential
women in the country along with Vice
President of Zimbabwe, Joyce Mujuru. She
was also named one of only five recipients
honoured as ‘Pioneers of Gospel Music’ in
Zimbabwe, Africa.
Internationally, her music has been making waves from the beginning of her career as a facilitator, artist and songwriter. To date she has led praise and worship seminars in South Africa, Zambia, Australia, UK, Holland, Ukraine, Malaysia, Dubai and many cities in America, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe. In 1986, Reinhard Bonnke asked Bonnie to co-ordinate
the worship for his Fire Conference in Harare. Four years later she ministered at Harmony ’90, an international concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, attended by more than 50,000 people.
In 1993, Bonnie was invited to sing at the inauguration tea for the ‘Sally Mugabe Foundation’ (named after the late wife of President Robert Mugabe). She sang the song she had written for the ‘Zimbabwe National Anthem’ competition and received a standing ovation. In 1997, Bonnie was privileged to minister in song to 52 heads of state at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Summit.
Meanwhile, on the home-front, she created, wrote, directed, produced, and performed a massive Christmas musical pageant, “Christmas Foretold” with over 350 cast and crew. From 1992 to 1995, the show grew in acclaim, airing on national television and documented as the president’s favorite Christmas production. This musical is now being produced at
the Celebration Centre for the first time in seventeen years.
Internationally, her music has been making waves from the beginning of her career as a facilitator, artist and songwriter. To date she has led praise and worship seminars in South Africa, Zambia, Australia, UK, Holland, Ukraine, Malaysia, Dubai and many cities in America, Mauritius, Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe. In 1986, Reinhard Bonnke asked Bonnie to co-ordinate
the worship for his Fire Conference in Harare. Four years later she ministered at Harmony ’90, an international concert in Johannesburg, South Africa, attended by more than 50,000 people.
In 1993, Bonnie was invited to sing at the inauguration tea for the ‘Sally Mugabe Foundation’ (named after the late wife of President Robert Mugabe). She sang the song she had written for the ‘Zimbabwe National Anthem’ competition and received a standing ovation. In 1997, Bonnie was privileged to minister in song to 52 heads of state at the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) Summit.
Meanwhile, on the home-front, she created, wrote, directed, produced, and performed a massive Christmas musical pageant, “Christmas Foretold” with over 350 cast and crew. From 1992 to 1995, the show grew in acclaim, airing on national television and documented as the president’s favorite Christmas production. This musical is now being produced at
the Celebration Centre for the first time in seventeen years.
Bonnie has shared the stage with notable
Christian artists such as Donnie McClurkin,
Alvin Slaughter, Richard Roberts and many
more. She has also performed and recorded
with Zimbabwean superstar, Oliver Mtukudzi,
the song “With You, With Me.” Ron Kenoly’s
album “Majesty”, produced by Integrity
Music, included her song, “I Bow My Knee”.
Cam Floria and the Continentals recorded
half a dozen of her songs as did a Praise and
Worship company in Australia. Most recently,
her song, “Kingdom Procession”, was used
as a cover for the recently premiered Arthur
Blessit biography motion picture. Her book,
“The Great Connection” has been translated
into French and received all over the world.
Quoted in a recent magazine article,
she described her musical pursuits; “My
passion for music was birthed when I was
very young. I am told I sang harmony before I
could talk, and whistled before I could walk.”
However, she was later told by her music
Quoted in a recent magazine article,
However, she was later told by her music
teacher in junior school that she would never
amount to anything as a singer. In spite of
the pain of those words, she persevered
and went on to receive many awards for her vocal and piano achievements.
“I can say that there is only one thing that I can take credit for – I have never given up. Everything I have ever done has been met with incredible resistance, criticism and persecution. All that’s been accomplished in my life has been given by God, sown in faith, watered with nights of tears and cultivated by years of prayers. My life’s message is; Don’t Give Up!”
Summing up the contributions of
this icon is best left to these words by international minister -Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin, “Because you have written so many songs, we have made a mistake of calling you a song writer. However, the Lord revealed to me you are not a song writer but your life is a song... you are a song.”
and went on to receive many awards for her vocal and piano achievements.
“I can say that there is only one thing that I can take credit for – I have never given up. Everything I have ever done has been met with incredible resistance, criticism and persecution. All that’s been accomplished in my life has been given by God, sown in faith, watered with nights of tears and cultivated by years of prayers. My life’s message is; Don’t Give Up!”
Summing up the contributions of
this icon is best left to these words by international minister -Bishop Vaughn McLaughlin, “Because you have written so many songs, we have made a mistake of calling you a song writer. However, the Lord revealed to me you are not a song writer but your life is a song... you are a song.”
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| Bonnie Deuschle |
