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

century. CMS interacted actively with the Syrian Christian churches, and
consequently influenced them greatly. According to A.C. George, CMS played an
important role in changing the face of Christianity in south India, especially
Kerala, and later there were spiritual awakenings among these Syrian Christians. 58
2.2.4. Precursor of the Pentecostal Revival
These missionary endeavours created many ripples in the spiritual life of Indian
Christians, which in turn produced an atmosphere conducive for revival. Here we
identify some of the most significant factors that can be considered as antecedents
to Pentecostal revivals in India.
It seems that there was a spiritual vacuum in the church in India before the
revival. G.V. Job described the dismal spiritual condition of the Indian church. 59
According to Job, the church was in need of ‘a definite spiritual lead,’ and he
asked, ‘Who can give these to India except those whose minds are disciplined in
the teachings of Jesus and whose hearts are inspired by a glowing vision of His
Kingdom?’ 60 This dead spirituality is the chief reason, according to George, why
many Christians at the beginning of the twentieth century embraced
Pentecostalism, when it came with a living spirituality. 61
The availability of Scripture in indigenous languages was another important factor
in the pre-Pentecostal era of Indian Christianity. The Bible was translated into
58
George, ‘Pentecostal Beginnings in Travancore,’ 219.
59
For more details, see G.V. Job, et al., Rethinking Christianity in India (Madras, India: A.N.
Sudarsanan. 1938), 15-16.
60
Job, Rethinking Christianity, 16.
61
George, ‘Pentecostal Beginnings in Travancore,’ 220-24.
60