Pentecostal Mission and Global Christianity

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.