Pentecostals and Charismatics
Pentecostals and Charismatics
The Pentecostal/Charismatic movement is not a monolithic church ‘tradition’ with a centralized organization. After a May 1860 revival in Tamil Nadu, revivals swept across India that included figures such as Pandita Ramabai and Minnie Abrams. Pentecostalism in Iran had an early start in the work of Andrew Urshan, who received the baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1908 in Chicago. There are several sociological factors unique to the region that have influenced the wide range of Pentecostal expressions. Some church movements have closely guarded their indigenous identity, while others have welcomed outside relationships. Independent local churches have become Charismatic as the result of a spiritual revival or of embracing Pentecostal teachings and constitute the largest segment of Pentecostals/Charismatics in the region. Pentecostal movements take on indigenous contexts fairly easily due to its autonomy, its spontaneity, and the arousal of cultural identity emerging from colonial experience. A personal experience of the Spirit and the emphasis on Charismatic gifts are central. Despite hostility in the region, Pentecostal and Charismatic churches are growing exponentially, aided by the creative use of media. The varied populations of South and Central Asia represent the most formidable challenge to Christian missions in the twenty-first century.
Keywords: Pentecostals, Charismatics, Christianity, Diversity, Colonialism, Indigenous, Persecution
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