Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity

by Wonsuk Ma

Overview

Although Pentecostalism worldwide represents the most rapidly growing missionary movement in Christian history, scholars from within and outside the movement have only recently begun academic reflection on the mission. This volume represents the coming of age of emerging scholarship on various aspects of the Pentecostal mission, including theological, historical, strategic, and practical aspects. The more than twenty authors from all five continents, men and women, academics, mission leaders, and practitioners, offer exciting perspectives on Pentecostal movements' contributions to the search of Christian unity in various global contexts.

""The Era of the Holy Spirit has arrived! Within the century since Edinburgh 1910, Pentecostal Christianity has grown to half a billion constituents, predominantly in the global South. Pentecostal mission's unique contribution to global Christianity is undeniable and the Edinburgh 2010 conference recognized it. Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity, in my view, is the most comprehensive treatment of a multidimensional and complex global Christian movement. This is a must read for anyone, scholar and lay Christian alike, who wishes to understand the wondrous phenomenon of contemporary Christianity.""
--Tetsunao Yamamori, Senior Fellow, Center for Religion and Civic Culture, University of Southern California

""Since its inception during the early twentieth century, Spirit-empowered mission has been a vital force in the spread of the global Pentecostal movement. Although scholars of late have noted Pentecostalism's phenomenal growth, they have focused primarily on its structural adaptations and acculturations while neglecting the pneumatological dimension. This excellent collection of articles moves beyond the shell of Pentecostal growth to the heart of the phenomenon. Without dismissing the problems that arise when religious experience is a propelling social force, taken together the contributed articles offer an illuminating portrait of the way Spirited mission is changing the face of global Christianity.""
--Margaret M. Poloma, Professor Emeritus of Sociology, University of Akron

Wonsuk Ma is Executive Director and David Yonggi Cho Research Tutor of Global Christianity at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, UK.

Veli-Matti Karkkainen is Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, and Docent of Ecumenics at University of Helsinki, Finland.

J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu is Professor of Contemporary African Christianity and Pentecostal Theology at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781498209571
Publisher:	Wipf & Stock Publishers
Publication date:	11/05/2014
Series:	Regnum Edinburgh Centenary Series , #20
Pages:	410
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 8.90(h) x 1.00(d)

About the Author

Wonsuk Ma is Executive Director and David Yonggi Cho Research Tutor of Global Christianity at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, Oxford, UK.

Veli-Matti Karkkainen is Professor of Systematic Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA, and Docent of Ecumenics at University of Helsinki, Finland.

J. Kwabena Asamoah-Gyadu is Professor of Contemporary African Christianity and Pentecostal Theology at the Trinity Theological Seminary, Legon, Ghana.

Table of Contents

Foreword vii

Acknowledgements xi

Introduction: Pentecostal ism and World Mission: Editors 1

The Emergence of a Multidimensional Global Missionary Movement: A Historical Review Allan Heaton Anderson 10

The Pentecostal Understanding of Mission Veli-Matti Kärkkäinen 26

'You Shall Receive Power': Empowerment in Pentecostal/Charismatic Christianity J. Kwabena Asamoab-Gyadu 45

'Everything Is Permissible, but Not Everything Is Beneficial' (1 Cor. 10:23): Pneumatological Christology of the Parousian Church of Christ and (Ab)nses of Spiritual Power in Nigerian Pentecostalism Innocent Ogueri Aguwuorn 67

Pentecostal Evangelism, Church Planting, and Church Growth Julie C. Ma 87

Church Growth: Reflections on Yoido Full Gospel Church Younghoon Lee 107

'Silver and Gold Have 1 None': Healing and Restoration in Pentecostalism Elizabeth Salazar Sanzana 124

Principalities and Powers Opoku Onyinah 139

Ministry of Mercy and Justice Johan Mostert 162

Christian Unity and Pentecostal Mission: A Contradiction? Cecil M. Robeck, Jr. 182

Global Christianity and Ecumenism in Asian Pentecostalism Connie Au 207

The Sevenfold Spirit: A Pentecostal Approach to Christian Theology of Religions Tony Richie 224

Pentecostal Interaction with Religions: A Nepali Reflection Bal Krishna Sharma 241

Word, Work, and Wonder as Holistic Ministry Douglas Petersen 255

Blessing in Pentecostal Theology and Mission Wonsuk Ma 272

Church and Society: A Pentecostal Perspective from the Southern Hemisphere Japie La Poorta 292

Pentecostals, Society and Christian Mission in Latin America Miguel Alvarez 301

Could Anthropology Contribute to the Future of Swedish Pentecostalism? Jan-Ålee Alvarsson 324

Pentecostal Theological Education and Ministerial Formation Teresa Chai 343

Ecology and the Future of Pentecostalism: Problems, Possibilities and Proposals Jonathan W. Rice 360

Conclusion: Editors 380

Selected Bibliography 385

Contributors 395