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

the ‘Pentecostal-like movements’ in India preceded North American and
European Pentecostalism by at least forty years, and were unrelated to Pentecostal
happenings in North America. It gives brief accounts of the story of a few
revivals, such as the awakenings of Tirunelveli in 1860 and of the Khassi Hills (in
the north east part of India) in 1905. However, it labels these revivals as
‘Pentecostal-like Movements,’ and many other writers both indigenous 105 and
foreign 106 follow the same lead. On the other hand, careful research reveals that
these Indian revivals are similar to other Pentecostal revivals in many other parts
of the globe, including Azusa Street. The account of George Henry Lang 107 on the
life and work of J.C. Aroolappen as well as the study of J.C. Dev, 108 a former
Brethren church historian from Kerala, on the role of the Brethren movement in
Indian revivals, reveals that tongue speaking, prophecy, and interpretation of
tongues, visions, and the exercise of other spiritual gifts were in operation in the
Tirunelveli awakening under the leadership of Aroolappen in 1860. Moreover,
McGee’s study of Pentecostal revivals in India shows that in addition to the
manifestations of the Holy Spirit, the Tirunelveli revival resulted in strong
105 See George, ‘Pentecostal Beginnings in India,’ 42-43. However, it is interesting to note his
change in position. In his article ‘Pentecostal Beginnings in Travancore,’ (p. 220), he affirms that
the Pentecostal movement in south India (at least) began as an indigenous movement. However,
later in his work on AoG history, he included all the indigenous revivals as antecedents of the
Pentecostal revival, but began the south Indian Pentecostal story with the Azusa Street missionary
George Berg. See George, Trailblazers for God, 32-33.
106 Burgess, ‘Pentecostalism in India,’ 86.
107 George Henry Lang, The History and Diaries of an Indian Christian (J.C. Aroolappen)
(London: Thynne, 1939). Lang’s account of the Tirunelveli revival is based on the Diaries of J.C.
Aroolappen. For the details of revival, see pp.138-92.
108 J.C. Dev, ‘Bharathan Unarvukal: Oru Avalokanam’ [Indian Revivals: An Analysis],
‘Unarvukalum Bratharan Prasthanathinte Pankalithavum -3’ [Revivals and the Role of Brethren
Movement]. Good News Weekly 29, no.3 (30 January 2006): 4. Dev left the Brethren Church and
joined hands with Pentecostals in 2006. He has written a series of articles on the role of the
Brethren Movement in the Indian Revival, in Good News Weekly 29, no.3-6 (2006) preceding the
centenary celebration of Indian Pentecostalism.
71