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.
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.
Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall, there has been a widespread affirmation of economic ideologies that conceive the market as an autonomous sphere of human practice, holding that market principles should be applied to human action at large. In the wake of the 2008 financial crisis, the ascendance of market reason has been countered by calls for reforms of financial markets and for the consideration of moral values in economic practice. This book intervenes in these debates by showing how neoliberal market practices engender new forms of religiosity, and how religiosity shapes economic actions. It reveals how religious movements and organizations have reacted to the increasing prominence of market reason in unpredictable, and sometimes counterintuitive, ways. Using a range of examples from different countries and religious traditions, the book illustrates the myriad ways in which religious and market moralities are closely imbricated in diverse global contexts.
Through its strength in numbers and remarkable presence in politics, Pentecostalism has become a force to reckon with in twenty-first-century Zambian society. Yet, some fundamental questions in the study of Zambian Pentecostalism and politics remain largely unaddressed by African scholars. Situated within an interdisciplinary perspective, this unique volume explores the challenge of continuity in the Zambian Pentecostal understanding and practice of spiritual power in relation to political engagement. Chammah J. Kaunda argues that the challenge of Pentecostal political imagination is found in the inculturation of spiritual power with political praxis. The result of this inculturation is that Zambian Pentecostals sacralize the political authority of state power through the charisma of the national president and other major political personalities. It has also contributed to the construction of Zambian Pentecostal leadership that is deified rather than leadership that is formed through the struggles and experiences of the marginalized and powerless. Kaunda argues that the solution does not lie either in desacralization of powers or the separation between the church and the state, but rather in rethinking the Christ event as a paradigm for the recovery of Pentecostalism's sociopolitical prophetic dynamism.
Our world has been divided into two distinct eras, the pre-coronavirus era and the post-coronavirus era. In the post-coronavirus era, everything is changing about how we live, think, work, study, travel, worship, do business and socialize. Our dispositions to the changes will determine what the post-coronavirus world will look like for us. Rigidity will be a great undoing for many in the days to come. We all have to prepare to learn, unlearn and relearn new skills in order to survive the impact of the pandemic. The church in Africa, and, indeed, ECWA is not immune to the changes taking place. If the church in Africa and beyond is to survive and be of impact in this new-normal era of the world, then it must be like the men of Issachar, ‘who understood the times and knew what Israel should do . . .’ (1 Chronicles 12:32). This book examines the effects of the coronavirus lockdown on corporate worship in ECWA. It discusses the response of ECWA to the same and extrapolates the implications to the church in Africa. These implications are important for the future of evangelical Christianity in Africa so the church can strategise to minister in the face of the new realities introduced by the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic.
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.
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.
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.
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.