A New Paradigm of Pentecostal Power


Book Description

Ukah describes with great historical and sociological incisiveness one of the prime movers of this transformation, the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), which has more than 10,000 congregations in more than 80 countries around the world.




The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism


Book Description

Pentecostalism is one of the fastest-growing religious movements in the world. Groups in the United States dominated early Pentecostal histories, but recent global manifestations have expanded and complicated the definition of Pentecostalism. This volume provides a nuanced overview of Pentecostalism's various manifestations and explores what it means to be Pentecostal from the perspectives of both insiders and outsiders. Leading scholars in the field use a multidisciplinary approach to analyze the historical, economic, political, anthropological, sociological and theological aspects of the movement. They address controversies, such as the Oneness-Trinity controversy; introduce new theories; and chart trajectories for future research. The Cambridge Companion to Pentecostalism will enable beginners to familiarize themselves with the important issues and debates surrounding the global movement, while also offering experienced scholars a valuable handbook for reference.




Creativity and Change in Nigerian Christianity


Book Description

This work provides an overview of Nigerian Christianity. it covers issues such as Pentecostalism, Charismatism, gender dynamics, Muslim-Christian relations, and the arts and performance in Christian traditions as they are transforming contemporary Nigerian society. While focussing on contemporary Christianity, these essays also reflect on Nigeria's history and cultural traditions. Understanding and interpreting the events covered in the essays will enable us to envision the nation's future.




Global Renewal Christianity


Book Description

This third of four volumes is an authoritative collection from more than two dozen leaders and scholars of the Spirit-empowered movement in Africa.




Traveling Spirits


Book Description

Globalisation has provided tools for religious actors and organisations to thrive in migrant communities, as fluid transnational networks help project messages across borders and from a local to a global audience. This volume addresses several under-examined questions of religious practices within migrant communities and transnational religious networks.




20 Pentecostal Pioneers in Nigeria


Book Description

Ever so often a book comes along that I feel should have been written years ago, and this book is one of them. As a Christian who found faith in Nigeria in the 80s, I was intrigued by stories about 'God Generals", those men and women that led 20th century revivals across the world (most of them in the West). Now I have in my hands, a book that shares some of the stories of some of my fellow countrymen who shaped the faith landscape in Nigeria. I am really impressed with the diversity of the leaders identified and the depth of the research undertaken. This book, in my view, should be a must read for anyone interested in origins of Pentecostalism in Nigeria. Keno Ogbo, Co-editor, The Black Church in the 21st Century "The Lord joined us to the ministry of Benson Idahosa for 20 years and we saw firsthand the reality and power of the gospel in Africa that has touched the world. The Lord's sovereign work in the continent is going to impact the globe for generations to come. Thank God for the African church of Jesus Christ. Millions of strong and faithful believers are coming forth at this critical time as God builds His church." Dr Kent & Ruth Hodge, President of Christian Faith Institute, Jos, Nigeria. Christianity has been recognised to be a growing religion in Sub Sahara Africa. The expression of Christianity that is expanding in Africa is Pentecostalism. One reason for this growth is the renewal factor which has engulfed the whole continent. Nigeria is one of the countries that has and is still experiencing revival that is contributing to local and global Christianity. What is the origin of Pentecostalism in Nigeria? What contributions did the late Archbishop Benson Idahosa make to the Pentecostal scene in Africa? Why is RCCG one of the fastest growing Churches in the World? This book considers the history of Pentecostalism in Nigeria by looking at the pioneering efforts of men and women who laid the foundation of the Movement.




Internal Affairs


Book Description

Why are some international nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) more politically salient than others, and why are some NGOs better able to influence the norms of human rights? Internal Affairs shows how the organizational structures of human rights NGOs and their campaigns determine their influence on policy. Drawing on data from seven major international organizations—the International Committee of the Red Cross, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, Médecins sans Frontières, Oxfam International, Anti-Slavery International, and the International League of Human Rights—Wendy H. Wong demonstrates that NGOs that choose to centralize agenda-setting and decentralize the implementation of that agenda are more successful in gaining traction in international politics.Challenging the conventional wisdom that the most successful NGOs are those that find the "right" cause or have the most resources, Wong shows that how NGOs make and implement decisions is critical to their effectiveness in influencing international norms about human rights. Building on the insights of network theory and organizational sociology, Wong traces how power works within NGOs and affects their external authority. The internal coherence of an organization, as reflected in its public statements and actions, goes a long way to assure its influence over the often tumultuous elements of the international human rights landscape.




To the Ends of the Earth


Book Description

No branch of Christianity has grown more rapidly than Pentecostalism, especially in the southern hemisphere. There are over 100 million Pentecostals in Africa. In Latin America, Pentecostalism now vies with Catholicism for the soul of the continent, and some of the largest pentecostal congregations in the world are in South Korea. In To the Ends of the Earth, Allan Heaton Anderson explores the historical and theological factors behind the phenomenal growth of global Pentecostalism. Anderson argues that its spread is so dramatic because it is an "ends of the earth" movement--pentecostals believe that they are called to be witnesses for Jesus Christ to the furthest reaches of the globe. His wide-ranging account examines such topics as the Azusa Street revival in Los Angeles, the role of the first missionaries in China, India, and Africa, Pentecostalism's incredible diversity due to its deep local roots, and the central role of women in the movement. He describes more recent developments such as the creation of new independent churches, megachurches, and the "health and wealth" gospel, and he explores the increasing involvement of pentecostals in public and political affairs across the globe. Why is this movement so popular? Anderson points to such features as the emphasis on the Spirit, the "born-again" experience, incessant evangelism, healing and deliverance, cultural flexibility, a place-to-feel-at-home, religious continuity, an egalitarian community, and meeting material needs--all of which contribute to Pentecostalism's remarkable appeal. Exploring more than a century of history and ranging across most of the globe, Anderson illuminates the spectacular rise of global Pentecostalism and shows how it changed the face of Christianity worldwide.




Text and Context


Book Description

As biblical hermeneutics moves increasingly toward the inclusion of vernacular approaches to the text--understandings of the Bible based on culture, context, and human experience--many communities of faith around the world are contributing their voices to the conversation of global Christianity. This volume explores reading methods and text interpretations of believers in South Africa, the Caribbean, Spain, the Netherlands, the United States, India, Kenya, Fiji, Japan, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, and Nigeria--revealing the ways various faith communities read the Bible contextually. Essays in this volume also illustrate the impact of the biblical text in people's lives--on their understandings of oppression, identity, the plight of refugees, decline and loss, the relationship between church and society, imperialism, homelessness, restorative justice, bodily experiences of the Holy Spirit, and time and the future. Together, these writings provide an in-depth sense of how global Christians read the Bible through the lens of their own tradition or culture, as well as how the Bible informs all aspects of their lives as they read the world biblically.




Pentecostalism in Africa


Book Description

Within recent decades Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity has moved from an initially peripheral position to become a force to be reckoned with within Africa’s religious landscape. Bringing together prominent Africanist scholars from a wide range of disciplines, this book offers a comprehensive and multifaceted treatment of the ways in which Pentecostal-Charismatic movements have shaped the orientations of African Christianity and extended their influence into other spheres of post-colonial societies such as politics, developmental work and popular entertainment. Among other things, the chapters of the book show how Pentecostal/charismatic Christianity responds to social and cultural concerns of Africans, and how its growth and increasingly assertive presence in public life have facilitated new kinds of social positioning and claims to political power.




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