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

esult he changed his position. He also said, ‘it is only when we meet with
challenges that we are forced to receive a clear guidance from the Lord, otherwise
we will stay with our preconceived views.’ 139 The change in attitude of Mahesh 140
and family from Kherwara also shows the role of Spirit experiences in resolving
intercultural tension. This family were members of CNI church, but later became
Pentecostals. Mahesh said that they did not favour south Indians, but when came
to Pentecostal faith, the charismatic experiences changed their attitude towards
south Indians. 141
Spirit experiences have changed the mission theology and practice of Pentecostals
in Rajasthan just as they did in the Acts community. Like the Jewish apostles who
were motivated by the Spirit experiences to develop a missiology that
accommodates Gentiles also, many south Indian pastors began their ministry
among south Indians only, but later became involved in the mission among
Rajasthanis because of the Spirit’s intervention. For example, John said that his
focus was only people from Kerala and Tamil Nadu, as he was not interested in
cross-cultural mission, but later he had a dream that his church is ‘full of people
wearing different types of dresses in various colours.’ He interpreted that the Holy
Spirit wanted him to have a multi-cultural ministry, and so he started to learn
Hindi, and subsequently form a multicultural ministry. 142
139
Daniel, interview by author, Udaipur, Rajasthan, 22 May 2006.
140
Pseudonym.
141
He shared this with me when I was invited to give a Christmas message in their church on 25
December 2001. Later he became a constant supporter of the south Indian crusade evangelist
D.G.S. Dinakaran due to his charismatic ministry. Dinakaran died in 2008.
142
John (pseudonym), interview by author, Ajmer, Rajasthan, 19 May 2005.
307