Ritual, myth and transnational giving within the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa

John Ringson,Admire Chereni

doi:10.4102/hts.v76i3.5860

John Ringson, Admire Chereni

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v76i3.5860

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Abstract

This article interrogates how rituals and myths may reshape Pentecostal ideology and practice in ways that resonate with the practical concerns of born-again congregants in an exclusive foreign labour market. It draws on a series of field observations conducted in Johannesburg, at two congregations of the Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa (ZAOGA) – a born-again movement with roots in Zimbabwe – between 2009 and 2016. The authors critically examine the shifting architecture of the ritual of Working Talents and its contradictory use of myths. The authors consider the intended consequences of both the ritual of Working Talents and often contradictory myths used to bolster it, for the transnational growth of the church and its involvement in the development of the nation. A phenomenological observation qualitative research was utilised to establish the experiences, feelings and behaviours of the ZAOGA congregants regarding the gospel of Working Talents at two of their assemblies in Johannesburg. A key finding was that Working Talents contains ethical action and empowerment narratives, and it aspires to create Pentecostal congregants with collective cultural identities, disposed to give money to support the causes of the church. In doing so, myths and rituals have reshaped the ZAOGA Pentecostal ideology into a nuanced version of the Prosperity Gospel, one that emphasises notions of indigenisation, empowerment and self-propagation.

Highlights

Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith Mission International (ZAOGA FIFMI) occasionally refers to its congregants as workers
Along with Robbins (2009), the authors assert that ZAOGA FIFMI members are Pentecostals who live an intensely ritualised life, not least because ZAOGA FIFMI allows its members to participate in mutual ritual acts during praise and worship, prayer and various forms of giving, of which Working Talents is one
Because this study was dealing with human beings, the ethical issues were observed which include establishing informed consent with the church leadership to conduct observational phenomenological participatory study on the ritual, myth and transnational giving within the ZAOGA FIFMI Church with special reference to the two assemblies located in the Johannesburg area of South Africa

Summary

Introduction

Zimbabwe Assemblies of God Africa Forward in Faith Mission International (ZAOGA FIFMI) occasionally refers to its congregants as workers. Her profound insight states that ritual is constituted in the ritual activity through ritualisation – a strategic manner of acting that differentiates ritualised from other ordinary actions in the social context. FIFMI, he or she will less likely get a response to suggest that Working Talents contains ritualised acts To illustrate why this is the case, ZAOGA FIFMI elites invariably reject any representation of the Pentecostal movement, which sends out an unintended message about the church, despite the quality of data the authors draw upon. Along with Robbins (2009), the authors assert that ZAOGA FIFMI members are Pentecostals who live an intensely ritualised life, not least because ZAOGA FIFMI allows its members to participate in mutual ritual acts during praise and worship, prayer and various forms of giving, of which Working Talents is one. These rules appear to be a recent articulation of the Working Talents – or a post-script

Methodology

Discussion of the findings

Data availability statement