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

example shown by a student from Chattisgarh, called ‘Manoj,’ who used to pray
for hours during the night. Academically speaking, he was not a bright student,
but the faculty members found that he was very active in evangelism and also was
devoted to prayer. Manoj is quoted as saying, ‘I cannot study for hours, but can
pray for days. I will not be exhausted even if I pray for the whole day.’ This
inspired the college authority to introduce a new award in 2003 for ‘Evangelism
and Prayer Life’. 91 Apart from normal church gatherings, there are special prayer
meetings, morning prayers, fasting prayers and even warfare prayers.
Worship is another significant feature of Rajasthan Pentecostalism. Praise and
worship is an integral part of every church. Prayer and worship are like two sides
of a coin for Rajasthan Pentecostals. They insist that every prayer must begin with
praise. Therefore, even in private prayer, people start with praise before they
actually enter into prayer. Rajasthan Pentecostals speak in tongues both in private
and public worship. Pentecostal leaders use tongues in a variety of ways. It is used
as a ‘praise language,’ both in private and in public worship, and as a ‘prayer
language,’ as well as a ‘warfare language’ in prayer. Prayer is also used as a
means of evangelism. Books, like Ed Silvoso’s Prayer Evangelism, 92 are used and
recommended by leaders involved in evangelism and church growth.
Pentecostal churches in Rajasthan can best be understood as healing communities.
The major reason for their growth is found in the healings, exorcisms and other
91 Filadelfia Bible College, Prospectus 2006 (Udaipur: FBC, 2006), 15.
92 Ed Silvoso, Prayer Evangelism: How to Change the Spiritual Climate Over Your Home,
Neighborhood and City (Ventura, CA: Regal, 2000). I was also given a copy of this book by my
church leaders, as it was believed to be a powerful tool in city evangelism.
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