Pentecostal Research Articles

The image of Gresik Town Square based on participatory design of multicultural society in Gresik

Gresik Town Square, or Alun-alun Gresik, was originally an open space that was used by local residents for various activities. However, in 2017, the Gresik Town Square was converted into an Islamic Center, which caused pros and cons in the society. This refusal is based on the position of the Gresik Town Square as a cultural heritage and the conditions around the Square are not only based on Islamic culture. This is marked by the existence of the Pentecostal Church and Kim Hin Kiong Temple near the Alun-Alun. This phenomenon generates a “placelessness”, which describes the ignorance of special feature of places in the creation of the new landscapes. The existence of Alun-Alun Gresik, which is an Islamic Center, can slowly replace the special meaning of places, such as the Pentecostal Church and Kim Hin Kiong Temple which are also highly related to the cultural traditions. Based on this problem, the multicultural condition of the Old City of Gresik is the basis for restoring Gresik Town Square by respecting other cultures. Using participatory design approach, this project is trying to involve participants’ contributions in seeing this issue and giving aspirations on the design of multicultural Gresik Town Square. The research employs field observation, interview, survey, and literature review for data collection. The results showed that two groups (accepting and rejecting the design) are likely to have multicultural image of the town square, supported by activities and facilities that accommodate each communities’ culture.

Megacostalism and the pandemic: Developing a megacostal theology of care beyond COVID-19

Megacostalism and the pandemic: Developing a megacostal theology of care beyond COVID-19

Moderating Effect of Empowerment on Servant Leadership and Church Spiritual Growth

Purpose: This study entailed assessing moderating effect of empowerment on servant leadership and church spiritual growth. The general objective of the study was to establish how empowerment moderates the relationship between servant leadership and church spiritual growth in Pentecostal Churches in Kenya within the Nairobi metropolitan counties. The study delved on Pentecostal Evangelical Fellowship of Africa (PEFA); Kenya Assemblies of God (KAG), and Full Gospel Churches of Kenya (FGCK), all under the umbrella of National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK). The study was guided by servant leadership, empowerment and spiritual leadership theories which all indicate that servant leaders play a crucial role in empowerment of church members and consequently causing effect on church growth. Materials and Methods: Descriptive cross-sectional survey design was used for the study and pragmatism was employed as a philosophical framework for the research. The study employed a mixed method approach with both quantitative and qualitative research methods in use and data collection undertaken through, questionnaires and interview guides. The target population constituted 2000 church pastors, elders as well as members from which a sample of 333 was obtained through purposive and stratified random sampling techniques in selected Pentecostal churches within Nairobi, Machakos, Muranga, Kiambu and Kajiado counties. The total response rate was 304 (91%). Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation and regression analysis, where Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 29 was used. On qualitative data, thematic analysis was carried out on two focus discussions groups to determine views of participants. Findings: Church members’ empowerment has no significant moderating effect in the relationship between servant leadership and church spiritual growth of Pentecostal Churches within Nairobi metropolitan counties of Kenya. The linearity test results for the relationship between spiritual growth and empowerment suggest a significant linear association, as indicated by the low p-values (all p-values are less than 0.05). The high F-value (197.904) and low p-value (0.000) suggest a highly significant linear relationship between Spiritual Growth and Empowerment. The Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) of 0.609 signifies a moderately strong positive relationship between spiritual growth and empowerment, indicating that as one variable increases, the other tends to increase as well. There is therefore a significant moderating effect of empowerment on servant leadership and church spiritual growth. On the research question that stated: “To what extent does Church members’ empowerment moderate the relationship between servant leadership and church spiritual growth of Pentecostal Churches within Nairobi metropolitan counties in Kenya?” Majority of participants agreed that church members’ empowerment moderated relationship between servant leadership and church spiritual growth pointing that training, involvement and sharing of responsibilities with church members by their leaders positively affected church growth both spiritually and numerically. Implications to theory, practice and Policy: The study supported servant leadership, empowerment and spiritual leadership theories. In addition, the study bridged a number of research gaps in area of servant leadership, empowerment and church spiritual growth indicated in the statement of the problem. The most noticeable gap is the contextual gap where many studies on church growth only delved on numerical growth and leaving out spiritual growth of which this study addressed. The study recommended that the church should put more emphasis on active participation of church members in decision making processes especially on provision of suggestion boxes within the church premises for this triggers church spiritual growth. The church was recommended to adopt servant leadership style and endeavor to empower the membership so as to realize church spiritual growth.

Sounds, Emotions, and the Body in Pentecostal Romani Communities in Slovakia

In the past, the Romani in Slovakia identified with the prevailing religion, mainly with the Roman Catholic Church. However, the missionary activities of various Christian denominations after 1990 resulted in the conversion of the Romani to Pentecostal Christian communities. This launched a long, creative process of the formation of Pentecostal Romani music. Romani believers consider music and the ability to play and sing to be a gift from God and view these as a form of prayer that should serve for the praise of God. That is why many have given up their worldly music making and now play only praise songs. They gradually modified the hymns they borrowed and replaced them with their own creations. The soundscape of religion does not lie only in religious singing and music, as the emotional sermons and prayers, glossolalia and sounds during the healing and blessing rituals can also be considered religious sounds. During the worship services, this mixture of various sounds leads to the gradual spiritual and emotional unification of the community. The music and the rituals create feelings of intense sensory and emotional character that reflect in bodily expressions. Movements, dance, and the positions of the hands can help glorify God and experience the worship service more intensely. However, under certain circumstances, they might become sources of temptation and sin. This is related to the concepts of “purity” and “impurity”. The premises, whether sacral or profane, interior or exterior ones, also play a significant role in creating the sound. In writing this paper, I have also drawn on my own research on Romani Christian songs, which I carried out in (2012–2013 in Eastern Slovakia).

Gender-based violence perpetrated against migrant women during lockdowns: A pastoral care challenge

Background: The article unpacks the complexities of gender-based violence (GBV) against illegal migrant women during lockdowns and contributes to the broader discourse on gender equality, human rights and social justice within the Pentecostal or Charismatic pastoral praxis. The geographical demography was a semi-formal area located between South Africa’s Gauteng and Northwest provinces. The period for the inquiry was South Africa’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) induced lockdowns that began on 27 March 2020 until 05 April 2022.Objectives: The study aimed to shed light on the unique challenges faced by this vulnerable population, exploring the intersectionality of their undocumented status, gender and the socio-economic impacts of restrictive measures and the challenges to pastorally care for them.Method: The qualitative approach and case study were used to select two sets of participants; 13 illegal Zimbabwean Migrant Women (ZMW) and 3 Pentecostal or Charismatic clergy.Results: There was a disturbing prevalence of GBV incidents, ranging from physical, sexual to psychological abuse. The illegal status of migrant women exacerbated their vulnerability and reluctance to seek help due to fear of deportation and societal stigmatisation. The lockdown-induced economic strain further compounded their susceptibility to GBV.Conclusion: There was nonexistent pastoral care policy or praxis within the Pentecostal or Charismatic church for illegal ZMW who were victims of GBV during the lockdowns. These themes emerged: (1) high incidents of GBV perpetrated against illegal ZMW during lockdowns; (2) barriers to seeking pastoral care were lack of trust, migration status, fear of deportation, fear of infection and (3) no physical virtual pastoral care.Contribution: This article is embedded in the Pentecostal or Charismatic practice of care; postmodern, using the interpretive narrative framework to highlight the narratives of illegal Zimbabwean Migrant Women (ZMW) who were victims of gender-based violence (GBV) during South Africa’s COVID-19 lockdowns and the challenges of pastorally caring for them.

“Violent Times Call for Violent Prayers”: “Divine Violence” during the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, Nigeria

Interest in studying prayer has significantly increased because of the belief that it helps humanity to cope, particularly in times of crisis. Prayer is not just a communication with God, it is also an instrument of bond and embodied ritual among prayer litigants or people who belong to the same religious community. This article argues that divine violence, a sovereign act of God, was crucially needed by the litigants in order to guarantee human flourishing in the face of existential threat. The article studied how violent prayer—a genre of prayer that is targeted at the spirits underlying physical manifestation of suffering, pain, or crisis—was utilised by the Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (MFMM) in Nigeria to cope with the fear and uncertainties occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article is part of an ongoing ethnographic research on “The Politics and Poetics of Violent Prayer in the Nigerian Pentecostal Churches”, which began in 2021. I utilised ethnographic engagement, particularly interviews and participant observation, to attempt to understand what these prayer litigants are doing when they pray violently.

Clergy Vestment: An Analysis of the Ecclesiological and Theological Journey of African Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches in South Africa

Historically, African Classical Pentecostal Churches (the African sections of the Apostolic Faith Mission, the Full Gospel Church, the International Assemblies of God, and the Back to God-Assemblies of God) did not used clergy vestment. The use of clergy vestment emerged among African Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches when Gladstone Botwana, the founder, and head of Zoé Bible Church in Soweto, was elevated to the office bishop in 1996. Currently, the use of clergy vestment has become a norm among African Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches in South Africa. This article uses desktop research method to analyse the ecclesiological and theological journey of clergy vestment among African Pentecostal-Charismatic Churches in South Africa between 1996 and 2022. It shows that association with African Pentecostals from the United States of America and the Commonwealth Dominican influenced this trend and provided them with a Christian leadership accountability platform accompanied with a new ecclesiastical and theological identity.

The Influence of African Traditional Beliefs and Practices on Neo-Prophetic Christianity: An Analysis

The rapid expansion of the neo-prophetic strand of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in Africa has resulted in much public and academic scrutiny against the backdrop of perceived appropriation of elements of indigenous African faith. Even though African countries have retained secularism in place of a state religion, many African states, notably Ghana, have remained steadfastly committed to their traditional religions, sometimes even working in tandem with monotheistic Abrahamic religions like Islam and Christianity. Unquestionably, indigenous African religious beliefs have had a significant impact on African mental matrixes, which in turn has affected the practice of Christianity. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate how Ghanaian Christianity was impacted by traditional African beliefs and customs. In particular, a study of neo-prophetic churches at Manso Dome-Beposo within the Ashanti Region of Ghana was employed. The data for the study was gathered using interview guidelines and qualitative approaches. The data collected was thematically analyzed in line with the reviewed literature. The study found that most prophetic explorations involve the use of rituals, artefacts, and stylistic forms, which are similar to Abisa in the Akan spiritual cosmology. The study found out again that, there are several elements suggestive of African traditional religious influence on Christianity. For instance, it was observed that the notion of the existence of evil spirits in Akan cosmology has strongly influenced contemporary prophetism in Ghana. The study concluded that although the idea that Christianity has been affected by African traditional religion may not have empirical validity, there are plenty of visible indicators to back up this assertion. It has been recommended that with the evidence of possible syncretism, a clear distinction should be made between the culture and the religious activities of the people since at times the church wrongfully accuses members even when they are performing culturing duties. This will help the church authorities to inculturate Christian liturgy. Keywords: Inculturation, African Traditional Religion, Syncretism

Prophet Jonah Is not Alone: Understanding the History of Pentecostal Evangelism in Light of Contemporary Missionary Endeavours in Nigeria

This article examines reasons for the increasing neglect of rural evangelism in Nigeria. Some Pentecostal missionaries, churches and faith-based communities seem unwilling to go on evangelism missions to rural areas; thus the increasing number of churches and missionaries in the city compared to rural Nigeria. Missionary impacts have been felt in schools, hospitals and microfinance banks. Historiography reveals that missionaries before the last decade were willing to go to rural areas. Most churches and schools in rural areas were established by missionaries. However, Pentecostal missionaries are now shifting their interests from urban-rural to urban-urban evangelism. In this qualitative analysis, data were gathered from primary and secondary sources. Oral interviews and relevant academic literature form the sources of the data. Many scholars have written on the history of church missionary activities in Nigeria, but literature is scarce on reasons for the current decrease in the number of missionaries in rural areas. Why do Christian missionaries relegate rural evangelism to the background? What has been the impact on the church? Our findings show the reasons as the advent of mega-churches in Nigerian cities, financial reward from city missionary activities, resistance of some communities, punishment, increased financial burdens, the quest for popularity, intimidation, the few rural evangelists, and the lack of sufficient assistance. Missionary activities, if revived, will lead to the development of rural areas spiritually, morally, educationally, socially, and economically. The church should not restrict the spread of the gospel to specific places. Churches sending missionaries to rural areas should also provide financial support to strengthen these missionaries, as they serve as crucial links between the host church and the local community.

Historiography of the Genesis of the Pentecostal Movement: Early and Recent Research Directions in English-language Literature

The purpose of this article is to identify early and recent Pentecostal studies in the West and to highlight the main difference between them. Today there are more than 250 million Pentecostals in the world, and together with the charismatic movement there are more than 500 million. Having begun to spread in the 20th century, the movement claims to be the fastest growing religious phenomenon in human history. In attempts to interpret the phenomenon of the movement's growth, there have been several gradually emerging approaches: explaining the origin of the movement as supernaturally "coming from heaven"; searching for the origins of Pentecostalism in other Christian movements; presenting the emergence of the movement as the result of social and psychological factors such as poverty, marginalization, and the desire to escape from modern society; and the multicultural approach. The paper analyzes the works of Western historians and theologians of Pentecostalism since the second half of the 20th century. The result shows a turning point between early and late studies, namely that late studies aim to revise the history and include participants in the movement around the world, not just in North America, explore the contribution to the development of the movement of local ministers who have long remained in the shadow of Western missionaries, emphasize the diversity of ideologies and social influences that have shaped the movement. It also highlights three major contemporary areas of research: historical, characterized by studies of Pentecostalism in Asia, Africa, and Latin America; theological, focusing on the development and shaping of theoretical theology as a result of the movement's institutionalization; and religious studies, practiced primarily from the perspective of the sociology of religion.

Образ Пятидесятницы в иконографической программе алтарного кивория Собора во имя первоверховных апостолов Петра и Павла в Санкт-Петербурге

The article is devoted to the unique monument of Peter the Great Baroque – the altar ciborium of the St. Petersburg Peter and Paul Cathedral. The study presents an analysis of the decoration of the ciborium (1722-1729, I.P. Zarudny). First of all, the connection of the iconographic and iconological program of the monument with the circumstances of the apostolic dedication of the cathedral of the new capital of the Russian Empire in the context of the church reform carried out by Peter I is traced. The synodal reform is proposed to be considered from the point of view of the principles of the structure of the ancient Church as a justification for the transition from patriarchal governance in favour of the conciliar Most Holy Governing Synod.In the article, the altar canopy of the Peter and Paul Cathedral is compared with the baldachin of the Assumption Cathedral of the Moscow Kremlin, with the imperial coronation baldachins of Catherine I and with the baldachin of D.L. Bernini from Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. The external imitation of the European fashion for baldachins was perceived as an embellishing decoration, which didn't prevent the continuation of the Moscow tradition of church decoration in the St. Petersburg monument, and the preservation of its archetypal relationship with the Jerusalem temple. Thus, the semantic connection of the royal and Divine thrones, laid down in the early Byzantine period, continues until the beginning of the XVIII century. It has found its artistic interpretation, including in the composite monogram crowning the Cathedral of Peter and Paul, the variant of interpretation of which is proposed by the author. The theme of the kingdom in the decoration of I.P. Zarudny's ciborium is intertwined with the theme of apostolic succession and the foundation of the church. The apostolic dedication of the Peter and Paul Cathedral was embodied in the artistic solution of the entire altar composition, for which the image of the "Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles" became central. The establishment of a new Church and a new Jerusalem, manifested in the image of "Pentecost", indicated a particularly important role for the new state symbolically denoting its continuity from both the artistic tradition of Byzantium and the tradition of the Western Christian world.

Holiness and Pentecostal Movements: Intertwined Pasts, Presents, and Futures, Studies in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements, by David Bundy, Geordan Hammond, and David Sang-Ehil Han (Eds.)

Holiness and Pentecostal Movements: Intertwined Pasts, Presents, and Futures, Studies in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements, by David Bundy, Geordan Hammond, and David Sang-Ehil Han (Eds.)

Classical Pentecostals’ literalist reading of the Bible: Challenges and solutions

The study’s setting is South African classical Pentecostals’ use of hermeneutics that became aligned with conservative Evangelicals’ fundamentalist practices since the 1940s. It addresses the lack within Pentecostal scholarship to relate some Pentecostal excesses and related abuses, such as the prosperity message, to the movements’ common literalist-biblicist hermeneutics Bible reading practices. It argues that an alternative hermeneutic to their hermeneutics true to the movement’s original ethos can protect them from such excesses. The study utilises a comparative literature analysis without any empirical research methods. The article developed a scholarly founded Pentecostal hermeneutical model by emphasising three propria: that the Holy Spirit is central in reading the Bible, the influence of an eschatological perspective to establish interpretation practices, and the faith community as normative for interpretation reflects the unique Pentecostal ethos. To be sound as Pentecostal hermeneutics, its charismatic experiences become exemplary for interpretation practices regulated by the faith community.Contribution: The research contributes to the current Pentecostal discussion about the diversity of hermeneutical practices within the movement and the challenges and dangers some of these practices hold for the reputation and prestige of the movement.

Influence of Pre-Marital Counseling Targeting Self-Disclosure on Marital Satisfaction among Married Couples in Pentecostal Churches in Turbo Sub County, Kenya

In Pentecostal churches in Turbo, there are indicators that many couples lack affection to each other and this led to strained relationships resulting to separation or divorce. This could be a pointer to inadequacy in pre-marital counselling programmes. The aim of the paper was to examine the influence of pre-marital counseling on self-disclosure in promoting marital satisfaction among married couples. The study used cross-sectional survey design and targeted a total of 2446 respondents comprising of married couples and counsellors. A sample size of 332 couples and 5 counsellors participated in the study. Stratified and simple random sampling was used to select the respondents. Questionnaires and interview guides were used to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. Validity of the instruments was determined by consulting research supervisors while reliability was determined through piloting and calculation of Cronbach Alpha. Frequencies, percentages, mean and Standard deviation were used to analyze quantitative data. Pearson Correlation analysis was employed to determine relationship that exists between the independent and dependent variables. Qualitative data were thematically classified and arranged before they were reported in narrations and quotations. The analyzed data were presented in tables and graphs. The study found that there was a significant correlation between premarital counseling targeting self-disclosure and marital satisfaction (r = .615; p = .000). The findings of this study would be used to create awareness among couples on how premarital counselling programmes offered to them can affect how they deal with financial issues, conflicts, and communication challenges and consequently their marital satisfaction

Karakteristik Pelayanan Gembala Jemaat Menurut 1 Petrus 5:1-4 dan Implementasinya Bagi GPdI Zion Altar Malang

The characteristics of effective pastoral service, as outlined in 1 Peter 5:1-4, entail that pastors are expected to serve as role models for the congregation. Peter expresses hope that these shepherds will be good leaders for the existing flock. Rather than following behind their sheep, pastors are to lead them. The objective of this research is to enable congregation leaders at the Pentecostal Church in Indonesia Zion Altar Malang (hereafter referred to as GPdI Zion Altar Malang) to implement the service characteristics of pastoral care according to 1 Peter 5:1-4. This is prompted by the suboptimal nature of the service characteristics of pastors in their oversight of local churches. The research, conducted using qualitative methods, involved data collection from several participants, including pastors and supporting servants involved in pastoral care at GPdI Zion Altar Malang. The findings of the research revealed issues such as poorly organized financial management, suboptimal implementation of teaching programs, and exacerbated by the absence of counselling services for congregation members grappling with issues in their faith journey. Pastors acknowledge the necessity of enhancing competency to realize the characteristics of pastoral care in accordance with God’s Word, particularly as outlined in 1 Peter 5:1-4, for the spiritual growth of congregation members.

Commoditization of God in religion: Marketing ‘Pentecostalism’ in the Nigerian public space

ABSTRACT Religion cannot thrive on its own without the use of a Supreme Being or the use of God as a symbol of the supernatural on the society. In Nigerian society, religion has become a major occupation and most sought after by the people. This paper explores the invaluableness of God in religion through the use of marketing and how Pentecostal practitioners commodify God in the public space. This paper argues that God in religion has been converted into services and marketable product in the Nigerian public space, which leads to ‘rivalry’ among Pentecostal churches to gain mass appeal, membership, promotion of church and theological affiliations, and the creation of businesses, which is largely fuelled by massive socio-economic and political disorder in the country.

Exploring the use of the mass media by youths in Pentecostal churches in Nigeria

This article examines how Pentecostal churches in Nigeria use online media to target the youth. Nigeria is now a major player in the commercialization of religion due to the sheer number of websites that promote add-on spiritual services. The promotion of Internet conversion is a major strategy in attracting the youth who are more active and comfortable on the Internet. Pentecostal consumerism became an avenue for the proliferation of religious programs and the consumption of different spiritual products on the Internet. At the same time, the lure of the global mission has also attracted the youth who have the idea ( Japa syndrome) of emigrating from Nigeria to spread the gospel for economic reasons. This article intends to fill that gap in the literature by exploring how Pentecostal churches use the online media as a form of e-evangelism or e-vangelism for the youth.

God-talk rhetoric and the abuse of Women in Neo-Pentecostalism: developing the Pentecostal theology of hearing from God

One of the tenets of neo-Pentecostalism is the claim of "hearing from God", particularly by neo-Pentecostal pastors and prophets in Africa. It is for this reason that even during the sermon presentation in Neo-Pentecostalism there is an element of “thus says the Lord”. This notion is theorised here as a God-talk rhetoric to apply to neo-Pentecostalism. The intersectionality of God-talk rhetoric and abuse of women within neo-Pentecostalism has been explored in previous studies. The contribution here is the development of the Pentecostal theology of hearing from God in addressing these abuses. The background to this study will be given by exploring the notion of "hearing from God" in the context of the broader Pentecostal movement. The article will also introduce God-talk rhetoric as a theoretical framework for this study. The cases where pastors used this framework to abuse women will also be highlighted using the case study method. The research question is how do Pentecostals understand the notion of hearing from God given the abuses? What is the Pentecostal theology of hearing from God that can help address women's abuse and other abuses? The article attempts to answer these questions to develop a Pentecostal theology of hearing from God.

Inaugurated Eschatology within South African Pentecostalism

Abstract Pentecostal eschatology differs from one sub-tradition of Pentecostalism to the other in a South African context. Sub-traditions such as classical Pentecostalism and the New Prophetic Churches (npc s) have been engaged in more than one form of eschatology. The differences are explored here to understand their implications for Pentecostal eschatology. The Pentecostal prophets in npc s do not exclusively focus on a futuristic eschatological approach as opposed to classical Pentecostalism. Pentecostal prophets in npc s embrace a realised eschatology of the kingdom in the here and the now. The challenge is that this approach presents some form of abuse in these churches. How do we address these abuses emanating from an overemphasised realised eschatology? How do we deal with the tensions between realised eschatology and futuristic eschatology? What could be the relevant eschatology that balances both extremes of a futuristic eschatology and realised eschatology? These questions are addressed here through an inaugurated eschatology.

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYSIS ON THE ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF THE MUSIC TEAM IN A WORSHIP

The present study is conducted to explore the roles and functions of the worship music team as shown at the curch of GPdI Karmel Tataaran II. This qualitative study uses primary and secondary data. The primary data are obtained through interview from the members of the church and the members of the music team of the church. The primary data are also collected through direct observation. On the other hand, the secondary data comes from the documentation of the previous relevant research and the digital sources from the internet. The obtained data are then analyzed using interactive data analysis which consists of the steps of data reduction, data display, and conclusion or verification. The findings show that the worship music team at the church of GPdI Karmel Tataaran II has a very important role in the worship experiences of the church members. The worship music team help the church members to have praying experiences full of happiness, to have a close relationship with the God, and to create a harmonic and happy atmosphere during the worship. The findings have important implications for the development of church worship and the enhancement of the music team's role in supporting worship objectives. Theoretically and practically, this research contributes to further understanding of the dynamics of music teams in Pentecostal churches.