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Jainism participated in the event. This does not mean that Pentecostals have
changed their position entirely, but there has been a clear indication of changes in
their approach to other religious communities.
The globalization of Pentecostalism has caused churches to make more global
connections. Many churches have a desire to expand their vision to neighbouring
states and nations as well. For example, Mathews, the founder of FFCI, made a
public expression of such a desire. At the silver jubilee convention of FFCI in
2005 Mathews expressed his desire to change the title of the organization to
Filadelfia Fellowship of Churches ‘International’, instead of Filadelfia Fellowship
of Churches ‘India,’ as he said that there have been a number of prophecies over
the years that the church would expand its boundary to neighbouring nations.
According to him, the ‘I’ in FFCI should represent ‘International’ not ‘India’.
Although it did not make much impact at that time, it has greater appeal today
because Mathews died a couple of weeks after this convention. His desire has
become emotionally appealing to the current leadership, who have started thinking
along the same lines. Within two years of his death, FFCI expanded its vision
beyond the Indian Territory, and today has six congregations in Bhutan. 75
At the same time, Pentecostalism in Rajasthan has been affected by global
Pentecostalism in many ways, as discussed above. Young tribal Pentecostals in
Rajasthan are interested in replacing traditional patterns of worship and other
expressions of spirituality with global Charismatic features. As a result, there
75
For more details, see Special Correspondent, ‘An Opening in Bhutan,’ Cross and Crown 37,
no.2 (2007): 20-21.
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