scholarly journals Implications of Acts 1:8 for Ghanaian Neo-Pentecostal Missiology

2021 ◽  
pp. 191-209
Author(s):  
Paul Diboro ◽  
Boniface Blewusi
Keyword(s):  
Current Trend ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Valuable Insight ◽  
Christian Missions ◽  
Outreach Work ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
Book Of Acts ◽  
Pentecostal Missiology ◽  
Church Strategy ◽  
Religious Landscape

The book of Acts is often referred to by many scholars and preachers when discussing Christian missions with emphasis on Acts 1:8 as the centrality of the book. Unfortunately, very little exegetical study is done on the text by scholars in relation to missions. It appears that Luke fails to provide a detailed blueprint strategies or approaches to the command for missions (witnessing) in the text. This article therefore considers Acts 1:8 exegetically to establish its missionary importance. In the light of this, the article assesses the mission strategies of the Early Church, Historic Missions and Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic Churches in Ghana. The article contends that, a reflection on the current trend of Neo-Pentecostal/Charismatic approaches or strategies to missions in Ghana gives a valuable insight of a departure from the early missionary strategies in general. The article acknowledges that, the recent widespread involvement of Pentecostal and Charismatic churches in the use of radio, social media, television, open-air crusades, street evangelism, preaching in buses, prayer and prophetic meetings/conventions, medical outreach work and social welfare are ways to fulfill missions in the light of Acts 1:8. The article also highlights the need to broaden the understanding and task of Christian missions to meet the challenges of the recent changing Ghanaian Christian religious landscape. Keywords: Missions, Missiology, Neo-Pentecostal Churches, Early Church,Strategy, Book of Acts, Historic Churches.

scholarly journals The Contribution of Intercessory Prayer in the Growth of the Early Church According to the Book of Acts

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 229-248
Author(s):  
Bolean Silalahi
Keyword(s):  
Church Growth ◽  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Growth And Development ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Intercessory Prayer ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Healthy Growth ◽  
Book Of Acts ◽  
The Church

The Contribution of Intercessory Prayer in the Growth of the Early Church according to the Book of the Acts provide a great role and influence for the growth and development of the Church. The Church as a Spiritual Organization craves healthy growth and development, both in quality and quantity. One of the most effective and efficient ways is to intercede, in addition to other methods of course. Nowadays, Intercessory prayer is receiving less serious attention in some churches. The growth and development of the Gospels according to what is written in the Book of Acts shows an event that resulted in major and prominent changes to be examined. There is a significant growth in the preaching of the Gospel both in terms of quality and quantity, many prayers delivered to God are fulfilled and accomplished. In the development of Mission and Gospel in this world it cannot be denied that there are certain individuals, even certain groups do not agree that the creation of a Church growth and development is caused by one of the supporting factors, namely Intercessory Prayer. Luke the writer of the Book of Acts reveals the extraordinary events experienced by Jesus's disciples. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit became the basis of everything that happened and the disciples obeyed the commandments. Behind these events there is a very important thing to remember, that they gather and pray, and even intercede for the fulfillment of God's promises for them and the world. Disciples are baptized, equipped, and even empowered by the Holy Spirit to carry out the Great Commission of Jesus Christ. There is no denying that this miraculous event in the Book of Acts has had a great impact until now. Because through this event many people became believers in Jesus Christ and accepted the Gospel in their lives. So that the Church is growing rapidly and extraordinary. Everything that happened during the Early Church was the key to the growth and development of the Church today. May Churches today increasingly realize that behind the Intercessory Prayer there is a real power that will be fulfilled by God for His people. Especially at this time of the Pandemic Covid-19, Intercessory Prayer is very urgent and important because the Churches needed the power of the Holy Spirit poured out for the Churches in this world.

scholarly journals Pentakostalisme dan Aksi Sosial: Analisis Struktural Kisah Para Rasul 2:41-47

2018 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 136
Author(s):  
Yushak Soesilo
Keyword(s):  
Structural Analysis ◽  
Social Action ◽  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Rapid Growth ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Pentecostal Movement ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Ideal

Abstract. The Pentecostal Movement is a Christian movement that puts the power and work of the Holy Spirit at the first place. This movement sought to bring back the biblical Christianity as experienced by the early church. As the early church experienced a rapid growth of new souls, so it is with today's Pentecostal churches. The problem that arises is often in the effort to win the soul there is a dichotomy between power ministry, as emphasized by the Pentecostal movement, with social action. Some churches emphasize only one aspect of the ministry. Through a structural analysis approach to Acts 2: 41-47 the researcher seeks to find the ideal formulation in an attempt to win souls as in the experience of the early church. Through this approach the result is that the power ministry and social action must be carried out by the church at the same time and in balance that ultimately make the effort to win souls effectively.Abstrak. Gerakan Pentakostalisme adalah gerakan orang Kristen yang mengutamakan kuasa dan karya Roh Kudus. Gerakan ini berusaha untuk mengembalikan kekristenan yang Alkibiah sebagaimana yang dialami oleh gereja mula-mula. Sebagaimana gereja mula-mula yang mengalami pertumbuhan jiwa baru yang pesat, demikian halnya dengan gereja-gereja Pentakosta masa kini yang juga mengalaminya. Permasalahan yang muncul adalah seringkali dalam usaha untuk memenangkan jiwa ada dikotomi antara pelayanan dengan kuasa, sebagaimana yang ditekankan oleh gerakan Pentakostalisme, dengan aksi sosial. Beberapa gereja menekankan hanya pada satu segi dari pelayanan tersebut. Melalui pendekatan analisis struktural terhadap Kisah Para Rasul 2:41-47 peneliti hendak mencari formulasi yang ideal dalam usaha untuk memenangkan jiwa sebagaimana pengalaman gereja mula-mula. Melalui pendekatan tersebut diperoleh hasil bahwa pelayanan kuasa dan aksi sosial harus dijalankan oleh gereja secara bersamaan dan seimbang yang pada akhirnya membuat usaha untuk memenangkan jiwa berlangsung secara efektif.

‘Anglocostalism’ in Nigeria: Neo-Pentecostalism and Obstacles to Anglican Unity

2012 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-250 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Zink
Keyword(s):  
Changing Environment ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Religious Context ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The World ◽  
The Face ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
New Generation ◽  
Religious Landscape ◽  
The Church

AbstractIn the last several decades, the religious landscape in Nigeria has been transformed by the rise of neo-Pentecostal or ‘new generation’ churches. These churches teach a gospel of prosperity, advance an oppositional view of the world, focus on a supernatural arena of spiritual forces, accord a unique weight to the Bible, and practice a charismatic worship style. One result of the presence of these churches has been to change the face of Anglicanism in Nigeria. Concerned about the possibility of diminished influence and prestige, the Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has responded to neo-Pentecostal churches by adopting more of its rivals’ beliefs and practices. This paper argues that this changing environment explains, in part, Nigerian opposition to efforts at global Anglican unity and argues that it is impossible to address the future of the Anglican Communion without first understanding the on-the-ground religious context in Nigeria.

Post-Genocide Rwanda: The Changing Religious Landscape

Exchange ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 198-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anne Kubai
Keyword(s):  
Catholic Church ◽  
Social Economic ◽  
Christian Faith ◽  
Dominant Position ◽  
Spontaneous Growth ◽  
New Churches ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
Religious Landscape ◽  
The Catholic Church

AbstractThis paper seeks to examine the proliferation of Pentecostal churches and the changing religious landscape of Rwanda. The horrific genocide of 1994, left the country's traditional mainline churches bloodied and the Christian faith seriously challenged. Unlike elsewhere in Africa, prior to the genocide, Pentecostal churches had not got a foot-hold in Rwanda, then referred to as the most Catholic country in Africa. In the aftermath, Rwanda has experienced a spontaneous growth of new churches imported by returnees from far and wide. Though the Catholic Church still retains its dominant position, there has been an upsurge of Protestants and the Rwandan religious landscape is changing considerably. This gospel explosion has been attributed to the enormous challenges of social-economic reconstruction of a fractured society, where reconciliation and healing are of utmost importance. By packaging their messages with hindsight of the disillusionment with the traditional churches and the spiritual as well as the material need to arise from the ashes of genocide and rebuild their lives, these churches have attracted thousands of Rwandans.

scholarly journals Acts for today’s missional church

2010 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Cornelius J.P. Niemandt
Keyword(s):  
Faith Community ◽  
Missional Church ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Christian Missions ◽  
New Challenges ◽  
The Church ◽  
The Way

This article investigated the challenges associated with being a missional church in an everchanging world and possible patterns to live missionally in new contexts. The need for Christian missions to be radically contextual in facing up to these changes provided the basis for this study to build on the importance of context and the ways in which the early church in Acts reinvented itself continually in facing up to new challenges, opportunities, peoples, cultures and questions. The way in which the faith community emerged as a church when it became aware of its boundary-breaking mission was explored by using the seven phases in the development of the mission of the church, as identified by Bevans and Schroeder in their groundbreaking theology of missions. By reflecting on these seven phases, this article formulated patterns for a missional church.

Key Issues in Biblical Studies and Their Bearing on Mission Studies

1996 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 93-109
Author(s):  
Marion L. Soards
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Biblical Studies ◽  
First Century ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Christian Missions ◽  
Beliefs And Practices ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
New Testament Studies ◽  
Key Issues ◽  
Life Work

This paper seeks to present and to summarize the importance of four areas of current New Testament studies for the work of missiologists: the beliefs and practices of first-century Judaism, the life of Jesus, Pauline studies (life, work, and theology), and the character of the early church. Contemporary New Testament studies have dramatic implications for interfaith dialogue and for the self-understanding of Christianity. Moreover, the article suggests that mission studies also remind biblical scholars that the documents they study originated in and addressed the work of early Christian missions.

scholarly journals Rural Pastoral Transfers in Classical Pentecostal Churches in Ghana and Pastors Children’s Holistic Development

2021 ◽  
pp. 23-28
Author(s):  
Job Wiredu
Keyword(s):  
Holy Spirit ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Holistic Development ◽  
Unequal Treatment ◽  
The Bible ◽  
The Holy Spirit ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
The Church

The transfer of pastors is an age-old phenomenon dating from the early church as recorded in the Bible. This process was conducted in consultation with the Holy Spirit and the leaders of the Church. In the contemporary Church, the same format is used. However, what is lacking is unequal treatment given to pastors who are posted to rural areas that were not evident in the early church. This paper employed the qualitative research approach in studying rural pastoral care in three Classical Pentecostal churches in Ghana. The study findings indicate that children of rural pastors face challenges which affect their holistic development. It recommends pastors and their families should be given fair treatment in the transfer process to ensure the holistic development of their children. Keywords: Rural Pastoral Transfer, Equity, Holistic Development

scholarly journals From Wesleyanism To Pentecostalism: Historical And Theological Perspectives

2020 ◽  
pp. 50-59
Author(s):  
Isaac Boaheng
Keyword(s):  
Spiritual Gifts ◽  
Religious Movement ◽  
Social Ministry ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Global Christianity ◽  
The World ◽  
Revival Movement ◽  
Pentecostal Churches ◽  
To Come ◽  
Religious Landscape

Undoubtedly, Pentecostalism is the most influential religious movement of the twentieth century. Not only has this movement changed the religious landscape of the world, but it has also contributed enormously to the growth of Christianity in many societies. The contributors to the rapid growth of Pentecostal churches as compared to mainline historic churches have attracted scholarly attention for some time now. Current theological interest in this subject has prompted this study that traces the success of Pentecostalism to its adherence to foundations laid by the Wesleyan Holiness revival movement of the nineteenth century. Through a historico-theological survey, the author contends that Wesleyan teachings and practices such as the authority of the Bible, holiness, use of spiritual gifts, evangelism, social ministry, and others, are key to the survival of global Christianity now and in the years to come.

Women and Evangelism in the Early Church

1987 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 291-298
Author(s):  
Walter L. Liefeld
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Early Church ◽  
Female Participation ◽  
The New Testament ◽  
Personal Level ◽  
Church Activity ◽  
Book Of Acts

From its earliest days Christianity has been characterized by active female involvement in ministry. In the New Testament period this activity is spoken of in the Gospels, the book of Acts, and throughout the Epistles. In the post-apostolic period, there are also references to female involvement in evangelistic ministry. These references, however, give only a glimpse of church activity as a whole, and it is difficult to determine the extent of female participation. Evangelism then was often conducted on a personal level; records of such activity are sparse. Yet there are stirring instances of women such as Vibia Perpetua and Quinta who publicly testified of their faith and suffered martyrdom as a result.

scholarly journals The implications of the book of Acts 8:1-8 for the Nigerian Church

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adenigba Olatayo Stephen ◽  
Kolawole Oladotun Paul
Keyword(s):  
Early Church ◽  
Contemporary State ◽  
Book Of Acts ◽  
The Church

During the early centuries CE of the Church, it was characterized by trials, contempt of the faithful and persecutions. Christians who were unwilling to compromise their faith were martyred in the process in the most terrible ways. The rationale behind this study is to focus on Christian persecution, especially beginning from the biblical context; in order to examine what Christian persecution is all about and what it is not. This research thus briefly examines the issue of persecution in the early Church with specific attention to Acts 8:1-8. An exegetical and descriptive methodology is explored in this research. The contemporary state of Nigeria is reflected the early church. This research not only discusses the issue of persecution in the early church, but also analyzes and places it side by side with such happenings in the nation of Nigeria today. In view of this, the contemporary Christians in Nigeria do and may in future also benefit a great deal from the early Church’s experience.

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