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

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There are changes even in terminology. In <strong>the</strong> vision statement <strong>of</strong> some churches,<br />

<strong>the</strong>ir purpose is stated as ‘transforming <strong>the</strong> communities,’ not simply as ‘reaching’<br />

<strong>the</strong>m. In many places <strong>the</strong> newly-established church buildings are no longer called<br />

‘church,’ but ‘community hall.’ The minister is called ‘community developer’<br />

instead <strong>of</strong> pastor. Much change is taking place in <strong>the</strong> light <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> change in<br />

context. It is suggested that in <strong>the</strong> future it will not be easy to go somewhere<br />

simply as a pastor or preacher, but ra<strong>the</strong>r as a community developer.<br />

Secondly, <strong>the</strong>re are definite changes taking place in <strong>the</strong> position <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ological<br />

education in Rajasthan. In <strong>the</strong> initial period, Pentecostals thought that only Bible<br />

knowledge and an anointing by <strong>the</strong> Spirit <strong>of</strong> God were <strong>the</strong> qualifications needed to<br />

be a minister. Early Pentecostal missionaries were not interested in <strong>the</strong>ological<br />

training and even discouraged people from having any <strong>the</strong>ological education. A<br />

senior leader has lamented that when he expressed his desire for <strong>the</strong>ological<br />

education, his leader told him, ‘Christ’s coming is nearing. Don’t waste your time<br />

in <strong>the</strong> Bible schools. If you are filled with <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit, that is enough. You<br />

should learn not Cemetery Theology 133 (Seminary <strong>the</strong>ology) but Kneeology’ -<br />

Theology on knees. 134<br />

133 Initially, Pentecostals in India were not willing to send <strong>the</strong>ir young people for <strong>the</strong>ological<br />

training in seminaries, as <strong>the</strong>y thought that <strong>the</strong> <strong>the</strong>ology youngsters learn from <strong>the</strong> seminaries is a<br />

dead <strong>the</strong>ology and that is why refer it as cemetery <strong>the</strong>ology. In an interview, T.G. Koshy, <strong>the</strong><br />

founder principal <strong>of</strong> Faith Theological Seminary (FTS), Kerala, explained <strong>the</strong> hardship he faced<br />

from his fellow Pentecostal leaders, pastors and believers. FTS is <strong>the</strong> first Pentecostal institution in<br />

India which obtained validation for its degrees from <strong>the</strong> Senate <strong>of</strong> Serampore. T.G. Koshy,<br />

interview by author, Birmingham, 11 April 2008.<br />

134 There was an impression among <strong>the</strong> early Pentecostal leaders in India that a minister should<br />

spend time on his/her knees before God in prayer and learn <strong>the</strong> Bible on knees. It is believed that<br />

<strong>the</strong> Lord would reveal <strong>the</strong> ‘mystery <strong>of</strong> His Word when people are on <strong>the</strong>ir knees.’ Those who<br />

advocate such a concept have coined <strong>the</strong> term Kneeology.<br />

152

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