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

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However, as <strong>the</strong> churches started growing, Pentecostals realized <strong>the</strong> importance <strong>of</strong><br />

education. On <strong>the</strong> basis <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ological education, Rajasthan Pentecostal ministers<br />

can be classified as those who are untrained, those who have received some<br />

informal training, those who underwent certificate or diploma level formal<br />

training, and those who have a valid Degree from a recognized institution. In <strong>the</strong><br />

whole state <strong>the</strong>re is only one <strong>the</strong>ological educational institute, namely FBC,<br />

Udaipur, which <strong>of</strong>fers programmes that are validated by an accreditation<br />

institution. FBC <strong>of</strong>fers various programmes from Certificate to Degree level,<br />

which are accredited by Asia Theological Association (ATA). However, <strong>the</strong>re are<br />

four o<strong>the</strong>r <strong>the</strong>ological institutes that <strong>of</strong>fer certificate or diploma level courses.<br />

These institutions can be regarded as denominational Bible Schools or Training<br />

Centres. The <strong>the</strong>ological education in <strong>the</strong> state can be classified as Informal<br />

Training, Formal Training - Certificate/Diploma Level, Formal Training –<br />

Undergraduate Level, and Formal Training – Graduate Level. Both Pentecostal as<br />

well as non-Pentecostal leaders agree that <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong>ological<br />

institutes was a key factor in <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Pentecostal movement in<br />

Rajasthan. 135 All Pentecostal leaders without exception emphatically stated that<br />

<strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> FBC is one <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> chief reasons for <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> FFCI. A leader<br />

who recently began a training centre admitted that he received inspiration from<br />

FBC to start a Bible school for <strong>the</strong> growth <strong>of</strong> his church. 136 Today <strong>the</strong>re is<br />

provision to study for a BA and MA from Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Udaipur<br />

135 Both Philip and Cherian argue that <strong>the</strong> formation <strong>of</strong> FBC was a significant factor behind <strong>the</strong><br />

growth <strong>of</strong> Pentecostalism, particularly FFCI in Rajasthan. See Philip, ‘Thomas Ma<strong>the</strong>ws<br />

Revolution,’ 22; Cherian, ‘Pentecostal Revival,’ 39. Anand Choudhary acknowledges <strong>the</strong> role <strong>of</strong><br />

FBC in <strong>the</strong> expansion <strong>of</strong> Pentecostalism in <strong>the</strong> state. Choudhary, interview, 09 May 2006.<br />

136 John (pseudonym), interview by author, Jaipur, Rajasthan, 09 May 2006.<br />

153

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