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

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will take into account <strong>the</strong> global impact as well as <strong>the</strong> particularity <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> local. It<br />

is hard for Pentecostal <strong>missiology</strong> to be restricted only to a particular context as<br />

<strong>the</strong>re are interconnections between Pentecostals at a global level.<br />

Pentecostalism can be understood as a religion <strong>of</strong> connection as Pentecostals are<br />

connected to <strong>the</strong> Holy Spirit and through <strong>the</strong> Spirit with o<strong>the</strong>rs. Spirit experiences,<br />

like prophecy, healing, exorcism, and o<strong>the</strong>r signs and wonders connect <strong>the</strong>m to <strong>the</strong><br />

needs <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> people, and <strong>the</strong>se needs are met through <strong>the</strong> power <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Spirit. The<br />

Spirit enables Pentecostals to receive prophetic insights about natural calamities<br />

like earthquakes, and o<strong>the</strong>r national and global issues. 155 Thus Pentecostalism, as a<br />

religion <strong>of</strong> connection, links <strong>the</strong> Spirit to local and global communities, so a<br />

contemporary Pentecostal <strong>the</strong>ology <strong>of</strong> mission should not only consider <strong>the</strong> local<br />

context, but also take account <strong>of</strong> what is happening around <strong>the</strong> world.<br />

There is tremendous interconnectivity between local Pentecostals and <strong>the</strong> global<br />

Pentecostal movement. For example, it is significant that despite strong opposition<br />

from Hindu militant groups, and consequently from <strong>the</strong> government, Indian<br />

Charismatics prefer well-known foreign tele-evangelists such as Benny Hinn,<br />

Roger Hosma, or Reinhard Bonnke to be <strong>the</strong> chief preachers in <strong>the</strong>ir mass<br />

ga<strong>the</strong>rings. 156 However, <strong>the</strong>re are a number <strong>of</strong> local Indian evangelists with a<br />

preaching style similar to <strong>the</strong>ir global counterparts. They preach in local<br />

155 A prophetic utterance was given in Rajasthan on 23 December 2000 by a prophet regarding <strong>the</strong><br />

fall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> twin towers in New York, and <strong>the</strong> congregation was encouraged to pray. The prophet<br />

said that he saw two huge buildings in a city near-by a sea shore were on fire.<br />

156 For example, Reinhard Bonnke was <strong>the</strong> chief guest speaker at <strong>the</strong> recent Good News Festival (a<br />

mass evangelistic crusade) organized in Kerala from 10-13 April 2008. Many Pentecostals believe<br />

that this attracted <strong>the</strong> largest Christian ga<strong>the</strong>ring in Kerala.<br />

314

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