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a contextual missiology of the spirit - eTheses Repository ...

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are from a classical Pentecostals background. The second aspect is <strong>the</strong><br />

unwillingness <strong>of</strong> non-Pentecostals to align <strong>the</strong>mselves with <strong>the</strong> Pentecostals.<br />

Many non-Pentecostals fear <strong>the</strong>ir church leaders. O<strong>the</strong>rs say that<br />

denominationalism is not <strong>the</strong> issue; ra<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit is to be given His due<br />

place in <strong>the</strong> church, and so <strong>the</strong>y are not interested in categorizing <strong>the</strong>mselves. 84<br />

Although early Pentecostal missionaries worked as independent missionaries<br />

without any external support, today <strong>the</strong>re are at least twelve Pentecostal<br />

organizations working in Rajasthan, apart from many independent local<br />

congregations in various places. Then <strong>the</strong>re are six o<strong>the</strong>r independent local<br />

congregations based in cities, but having out stations in <strong>the</strong> surrounding villages.<br />

Three out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> above eighteen Pentecostal organizations are concentrating<br />

mainly on south Indians in <strong>the</strong>ir missionary activities. Ano<strong>the</strong>r three out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />

eighteen focuses on only Rajasthanis. The o<strong>the</strong>r twelve are missionary<br />

organizations, with a multicultural focus. Seven out <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>se twelve have church<br />

planting missions in o<strong>the</strong>r states as well. Four <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>m are based in Rajasthan.<br />

FFCI has begun in Rajasthan and has expanded to o<strong>the</strong>r states and is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

largest indigenous missionary organizations in north India, having more than a<br />

thousand churches covering at least ten north Indian states.<br />

There are seven Pentecostal institutes for <strong>the</strong>ological education in <strong>the</strong> state today.<br />

Filadelfia Bible College, established by Thomas Ma<strong>the</strong>ws and Thampy Ma<strong>the</strong>w,<br />

is <strong>the</strong> first and <strong>the</strong> only established institute that <strong>of</strong>fers programmes that are<br />

84 For example, <strong>the</strong> CNI pastor at Beawar has <strong>the</strong> same opinion.<br />

132

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