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

Dalit Pentecostalism 37 and chiefly focus on the role of Dalits in the beginnings
and growth of Pentecostalism. Thomas argues that Dalits were the people who
largely responded to the movement in the early period. 38 As the Pentecostal
message appealed to the socio-economically weak Dalits in Kerala, many of them
began to follow Pentecostalism, at least in the initial decades of the movement.
Yesunatha Das criticizes the writers of Pentecostal history for neglecting Dalits in
the making of the Pentecostal Movement in Kerala. The third category of research
deals with the denominational identity of Pentecostalism. 39 This research studies
various Pentecostal denominations, mostly in south India. However, scholars
focus on only one particular church, namely the Indian Pentecostal Church of God
(IPCoG). A significant attempt is made to study the history of Assemblies of God
(AoG) in India 40 and a few attempts have been made in relation to Pentecostalism
in Rajasthan. 41 Although only the FFCI is given attention in all these
investigations, they demonstrate a clear indication of the concern about the
identity of Pentecostals in Rajasthan.
The above discussion concludes that the quest for identity is a subject for research
within the church in India. Therefore, it is imperative to study the identity of
Indian Pentecostals as well. Thus, in line with this research concern the present
chapter investigates the historical context and identity of Indian Pentecostalism.
37
Kutty, Place and Contribution of Dalits; Thomas, ‘Pentecostalism among the Dalits’; Das,
‘History of Pentecostal Dalits.’
38
V.V. Thomas, ‘Pentecostalism among the Dalits in Kerala from 1909 to the Present: A Subaltern
Reading,’ UBS Journal 3, no.2 (2005): 89.
39
P. Vimala Grace Darly. ‘The Indian Pentecostal Church in Kerala, 1924-54’ (MPhil thesis,
Kamaraj University, Madurai, India, 1989); Kunjappan C. Varghese, ‘Reformation Brings
Revival: A Historical Study of K.E. Abraham and His Contributions in the Founding of the India
Pentecost Church of God’ (PhD thesis, Trinity International University, Illinois, 1999); Abraham,
‘Critical Evaluation.’
40
A.C. George, Trailblazers for God: A History of the Assemblies of God of India (Bangalore:
SABC, 2004).
41
J.P. Abraham, ‘Study of the Life’; P. Abraham, ‘Significance of Theological Education’; W.
Abraham, ‘Pauline Concept’; M. Mathews, ‘Comparative Study’; John Philip, ‘A Study of Native
Missionary Movement with Special Reference to Rajasthan’ (MTh thesis, Union Biblical
Seminary, Pune, India, 2003); J. Samuel, ‘Study of the Impact’; J. Samuel, ‘Study on the
Influence.’
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