Research Outputs (Christian Spirituality, Church History and Missiology)
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Item Cross-Cultural Mission Among the Second Generation of African Pentecostals in the Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministry, United Kingdom(Common ground, 2025-03-21) Kgatle, Mookgo SolomonApostolic Faith Mission International Ministry in the United Kingdom (AFMIMUK) was founded in 2003 by a group of African migrants who came to the UK to work or study. This church has shown some signs of growth, but its challenge remains—winning the local British people. This article works within the framework of a cross-cultural mission to argue that the second generation of African Pentecostals in the AFMIMUK has the potential to win the local people. This generation refers to the young people who were either born in the UK or grew up there as opposed to their parents who were born in Africa. This crosscultural study found that, unlike the first generation, the second generation of AFMIMUK can act as change agents in their churches because of their understanding of the local culture inclusive of the local worldviews, values, beliefs, and lifestyles. The second generation has potential when it comes to the utilization of technology and media for the propagation of the gospel in cross-cultural communication. Lastly, this generation can fill the cultural gap between the country of origin and the host country when it comes to worship and preaching styles. Data were collected by using the participation observation method, as the researcher lived and fellowshipped among this second generation between 2020 and 2023. The article utilizes a thematic analysis by looking at the main themes of the cross-cultural mission that are relevant to unleashing the mission potential of the second generationItem Diagnostic and Prescriptive Prophecy in African Independent Churches: A Distinct Ritual Healing Process.(Commonground, 2025-01-27) kgatle, mookgo solomonAfrican Independent Churches express Christianity in the African context through divine healing. Hence, divine healing is popular among these churches. This article uses the ritual healing process as a theoretical framework to assess the role of prophecy in African Independent Churches. The argument is that both diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies are used in these churches as part of the divine healing process differently than mainstream Christianity, traditional healing, and modern medicine. Therefore, the African Independent Churches, unlike mainstream Christianity, do not confine divine healing only to conventional methods such as laying on of hands, but also include other rituals through diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies. The research objectives were achieved by providing background to the ritual healing process as a theoretical framework for the study. The diagnostic prophecy was discussed as part of the healing process in the African Independent Churches. Similarly, the prescriptive prophecy concerning the healing process was discussed. The aim is to demonstrate that both diagnostic and prescriptive prophecies are part of the ritual healing process in the African Independent Churches, which makes the latter have a distinctive healing process when compared to mainstream Christianity, traditional healing, and, to a certain extent, modern medicine. Data was collected by reviewing the literature on ritual healing and prophecies in the African Independent Churches. A case study evaluated ritual healing in churches such as Zion Christian Church, Saint John Apostolic Faith Mission, and the International Pentecost Holiness Church. The findings are that African Independent Churches do rely on diagnostic prophecy to trace the root cause of the problem but that such a prophecy and prescriptions should be differentiated from divination and other traditional healing methods.Item Racism and the Development of Pentecostalism in South Africa: A Socio-Historical Analysis.(Unisa press, 2024-11-16) kgatle, mookgo solomonThe historical role of the church in South Africa regarding the development of colonial racism and apartheid is well documented. South African Christianity and the concomitant ecclesiastical developments and counter-developments were directly influenced by the changing socio-political circumstances. The mainline or historical churches, including Catholics, Anglicans, Methodists, Congregationalists, and Presbyterians, were members of the South African Council of Churches that rejected and opposed apartheid. Some Pentecostal denominations were fundamentalists who believed personal salvation and private prayer would save the country. In practice, these Pentecostal churches were either largely silent or apolitical about the apartheid situation, or they isolated and segregated themselves. In reality, whether they acknowledged it or not, they were part and parcel of the system of white benefit and black oppression. This paper, therefore, attempts to investigate this phenomenon and also to put forward a theological praxis in the context of diversity.Item A Missiological Approach to Migration and Mission in the Apostolic Faith Mission International Ministry in the United Kingdom: a Pneumatological Missional Imagination(MDPI, 2024-12-11) kgatle, mookgo solomonThe intersections of migration and mission have been studied in past, but little has been developed regarding theoretical frameworks for approaching the subject from the discipline of missiology. This calls for the development of a framework that will assist in the missiological approach to migration and mission. The current study reflects on the current missiological approaches to migration and mission to identify the existing gaps such as relevance to Pentecostalism. To fill the gaps, this article brings together three theories of pneumatological imagination, missiological spirit and missional imagination to develop a pneumatological missional imagination. The findings are that a pneumatological missional imagination is relevant for dealing with some of the challenges in migration and mission in Pentecostalism such as an inability to minister relevantly to the host countries, cultural differences, and orientation to the mission of God. These challenges are outlined by using the Apostolic Faith Mission Ministry International in the United Kingdom (AFMIMUK) as a case study. The pneumatological missional imagination is relevant for witnessing to others, speaking foreign languages, and orientation to the mission of God.Item Towards Holistic Healing: A Pentecostal Ecotheological Perspective(MDPI, 2024-12-05) kgatle, mookgo solomonPentecostal ecotheology presents a holistic approach to healing that recognises the inherent worth of all creation and the interconnectedness of human and nonhuman creation. It draws on the Pentecostal full gospel and the experiences of biblical Pentecost to inspire an expansive pneumatology that transcends an anthropocentric soteriology and views the entire cosmos as the altar where human and nonhuman creation can tarry for and experience the sacred presence, power, and conviction of the Holy Spirit with a sense of eschatological urgency such that (inter alia) repentance from ecological transgression becomes normative. This framework envisions all of creation participating in the Spirit’s presence, power, gifting, and renewal. Leveraging Pentecostal ecotheology for holistic healing involves intentionally engaging, replicating, and contextualising the pneumatological experiences of the biblical Pentecost. It also involves embracing the pneumatological continuity between us and the biblical charismatic communities, enabling us to administer healing in contemporary environmental contexts through the Spirit’s anointing. Engaging in ecotheological intercession, overcoming the creational desacralisation that leads to the mechanistic exploitation of creation, and adopting a Spirit-born sense of solidarity with creation are further essential strategies for leveraging Pentecostal ecotheology for holistic healing.