European Pentecostalism

An interconnected account of the progress of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Europe has long been needed but has never before been attempted because of the diversity of languages spoken across the continent. This book provides historical, theological and sociological perspectives on European Pentecostalism.

An interconnected account of the progress of the Pentecostal and charismatic movements in Europe has long been needed but has never before been attempted because of the diversity of languages spoken across the continent. This book provides historical, theological and sociological perspectives on European Pentecostalism.

In many ways, the story of the Pentecostal movement in Europe reads like the biblical book of Acts. Just as the early disciples were led by the Holy Spirit to carry the message of the Gospel from Jerusalem to the ends of the earth, so also the 20th-century Pentecostals were compelled by the Spirit to leave their homelands and share the Full Gospel with all of Europe. After his introduction to the early beginning and expansion of the Pentecostal movement, Paul Schmidgall tells the story of Pentecostalism in Europe. Moving country-by-country through Europe, he describes the theological soil from which the roots of Pentecost emerged; he recounts the lives and ministries of Pentecostal founders and leaders; and he unfolds the social, political, and theological trends that influenced Pentecostalism's development. Schmidgall's narrative reveals a variety of theological emphases and ecclesiastical commitments that persist in Pentecostalism throughout Europe. The story concludes with Schmidgall's vision of the future of Pentecostalism in Europe, in which he affirms the value of Pentecostal theology and practice for postmodern humanity. Extensive bibliographies and up-to-date statistics add to the value of this work as an introduction to Pentecostalism in Europe.

Global Pentecostalism and Charismatic Christianity in all its diversity is the fastest expanding religious movement in the world today. Allan Anderson, a former Pentecostal minister and a leading authority on global Pentecostalism, aims to make more visible the 'non-western' nature of Pentecostalism without overlooking the importance of the movement emanating from North America. Offering an innovative interpretation of Pentecostalism, he takes seriously the contributions of the Majority World to its development and, concentrating on its history and theology, reflects on the movement's development and significance throughout the world. Anderson also examines those theological issues that helped form a distinctive spirituality and how this relates to different peoples and their cultures. Finally, Anderson discusses the development of Pentecostal and Charismatic Christianity in the different countries from its origins at the beginning of the twentieth century to its theological emphases in the present, together with the impact of the processes of globalization.

This volume reviews manifestations of Pentecostalism throughout the world and explores what it means to be Pentecostal through multidisciplinary perspectives.

A criticism often leveled at Baptists is that they have no theology of ecclesial reality beyond the local. In this book Keith Jones describes the history and current reality of the European Baptist Federation (EBF), which brings together over fifty national Baptist groups in Europe and the Middle East and seeks to demonstrate that there is an ecclesial reality within the organization, expressed in its communal life, mission activity, working on theological education, in relationship to other Christian world communions and in its decision making processes. The role of the pivotal figure of the General Secretary of the EBF is examined with particular reference to two significant figures. The relationship of European Baptists during the cold war era is explored, as is the relationship to two key mission agencies from the USA who have done much work in Europe. This represents ground-breaking work in terms of an examination of how Baptists in Europe work together trans-nationally.

Since the 1830s, Holiness and Pentecostal movements have had a significant influence on many Christian churches, and they have been a central force in producing what is known today as World Christianity. This book demonstrates the advantages of analyzing them in relation to one another. The Salvation Army, the Church of the Nazarene, the Wesleyan Church, and the Free Methodist Church identify strongly with the Holiness Movement. The Assemblies of God and the Pentecostal Assemblies of the World identify just as strongly with the Pentecostal Movement. Complicating matters, denominations such as the Church of God (Cleveland), the International Holiness Pentecostal Church, and the Church of God in Christ have harmonized Holiness and Pentecostalism. This book, the first in the new series Studies in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements, examines these complex relationships in a multidisciplinary fashion. Building on previous scholarship, the contributors provide new ways of understanding the relationships, influences, and circulation of ideas among these movements in the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and Southeast and East Asia. In addition to the editors, the contributors are Kimberly Ervin Alexander, Insik Choi, Robert A. Danielson, Chris E. W. Green, Henry H. Knight III, Frank D. Macchia, Luther Oconer, Cheryl J. Sanders, and Daniel Woods.

Drawing upon the scholarship of eminent academics and practitioners in the field of Pentecostal and Charismatic studies, this anthology puts into the public domain theological and sociological literature that posits contemporary thinking in key areas of British Pentecostal and Charismatic thought. Contributors include: Professor Anne E. Dyer (Mattersey Hall), Professor William K. Kay (Chester University), Professor David Hilborn, (Moorlands College), Dr R. David Muir (University of Roehampton) and Dr Babatunde A. Adedibu (Redeemed Christian Bible College, Nigeria).