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

motivates mission. 73 It is the mission of God the Spirit, and He directs and equips
the church to accomplish His mission in the world.
Second, a pneumatological missiology incorporates the theology of evangelism as
well as social action. The history of the Pentecostal Movement shows that there
has been a primacy placed on evangelism. As Anderson notes, ‘the power of the
Spirit in Pentecostal thinking is always linked to the command to preach the
gospel to all nations.’ 74 A pneumatological missiology does not undermine the
emphasis on evangelism. As seen in chapters three, four and five, the issues facing
Pentecostalism from inside and outside the movement have not arrested its growth
in Rajasthan, although they have affected Pentecostals in one way or the other.
Old methods of evangelism, such as literature distribution, street preaching and
the like have been avoided, but ‘Spirit experiences’ like healing, exorcism, and
other manifestations, bring growth to Pentecostal churches. Prayer evangelism
gradually takes the place of Street evangelism. Ordinary believers are encouraged
to be empowered by the Spirit and exercise their spiritual gifts by using them as
tools for community building and growth. The responsibility for evangelism has
been shifted from the clergy to ordinary believers, and consequently traditional
evangelistic methods have been replaced by charismatic experiences like healing
and exorcism. The story of the beginning of the FFCI church in Jawar village
illustrates that exorcism and healing help planting churches and growth.
Pannalal 75 came from a non-Christian tribal background, and practised witchcraft
73
Lord, Spirit-Shaped Mission, 37.
74
Anderson, Spreading Fires, 212. For more details of the Pentecostal priority of evangelism, see
pp. 212-15.
75
Pseudonym.
282